Australian Mining June 2012 by Prime Creative Media

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VOLUME 104/6 – JUNE 2012

SERVING THE MINING INDUSTRY SINCE 1908

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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AM.JUN12.PG003.pdf

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COMMENT

Mining Back where we started 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 – Martin Sinclair Email: martin.sinclair@reedbusiness.com.au Editor – Cole Latimer Tel: (02) 9422 2352 Email: ozmining@reedbusiness.com.au Journalist – Andrew Duffy Tel: (02) 9422 2884 Email: ozmining@reedbusiness.com.au Key Account Manager – Sarah Bateman Tel: (02) 9422 8994 Mob: 0408 991 585 Email: sarah.bateman@reedbusiness.com.au Key Account Manager – Tim Richards Tel: (02) 9422 2818 Mob: 0407 948 774 Email: tim.richards@reedbusiness.com.au QLD and SA Sales Manager – Sharon Amos Tel: (07) 3261 8857 Fax: (07) 3261 8347 Mob: 0417 072 625 Email: sharon.amos@reedbusiness.com.au WA Representative – Jamie Wade Mob: 0435 945 868 Email: jamie@wadebusiness.com.au RBI Manufacturing & Electronics Group: Production Co-ordinator – Tracy Engle Tel: (02) 9422 2707 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

The BMA Bowen Basin industrial battle has taken yet another step backwards.

ust what is happening in the Bowen Basin. The continual back and forth between the unions and BHP Billiton is beginning to resemble a playground fight with the two playing “he said/she said” and neither giving the full story. It is nearly two years since this industrial relations breakdown began and it seems as though very little, if any headway has been made in finding a solution at all. And frankly, it doesn’t seem as though one is likely to be found in another 18 months considering the war of words between the unions and the miner. While BHP has had success at its other coal mines in New South Wales, and seems to have used the BMA strikes as a learning curve for its

Comment Cole Latimer ozmining@reedbusiness.com.au operations in the Pilbara, the Bowen Basin stalemate looks to remain exactly that – with no sign of either party acquiescing ground. BHP chairman Jac Nasser told us he was perplexed over the fact that it has been going on for so long in a time when both the unions and the miner should be going from strength to strength. Instead it saw yet another enterprise agreement voted down, and a 15 per cent pay raise over three years knocked back.

The unions claim it isn’t a pay issue, it’s a safety issue. The miner claims it isn’t a safety issue, it’s a power play. While the whole situation is no doubt giving BHP Billiton – and to a lesser degree its joint venture partner Mitsubishi – a headache, it has taught them a lesson. BHP took the initiative and dealt directly with its Pilbara workers before their enterprise agreement was up, asking them to nominate a union rep or bargaining

agent to discuss upcoming pay deals. And this really is a huge turnaround considering it is the first time the miner has done this since 1999. Although, no doubt the recent High Court battle between unions and Rio Tinto regarding union access to site played a part it, the fact still remains that BHP was on the front foot this time. Still, once bitten twice shy and there does some to be some positives out of what has mostly been a massive negative in the Bowen Basin. We can only wait and see how this battle in the Bowen will turn out, but judging by the way its progressing, a solution before the end of the year seems almost unlikely.

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On the front cover of this June edition we have featured the minerals processing facilities at the Ravensthorpe nickel mine. In this isasue we have focused heavily on the race to unlock nickel laterites, such as those found at Ravensthorpe, and how the latest research is showing better ways to extract the nickel without losing the majority of it during processing. We also throw the spotlight on Victoria and Tasmania and highlight how these states are contributing to Australia’s mining boom. Importantly we also ask the major players in mining if this is the last great mining boom Australia will ever see?

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June 2012

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Contents Features

Last boom ever

VICTORIA/TASMANIA SPOTLIGHT

Lighting up La Trobe The development of Victoria’s brown coal resources ........................................... p12-13 Finding invisible gold New nano particle research from UTAS ...... p14 Walking with giants Tasmania’s part in the mining boom ........... p16 On the cutting edge Do tradies know how to use their tools? ..... p18 Trouble in the Tarkine Tasmania’s largest mining issue ................... p20

PROCESS CONTROL & INSTRUMENTATION

Down and dirty Control platforms for site remediation ... p24-25

QUARRYING/CRUSHING/SCREENING

Leading liners Cutting maintenance and costs .................... Loading your options An Australian first in a Victorian quarry .... Crushing concerns Gyratory crushers on site ............................. Grinding out the issues Ending the mill liner duopoly ......................

HARD ROCK MINING

p26 p28 p30 p32

Prediction predilection Radar surveying take the danger out of mining ........................................................... p34 Ernest Henry gets shafted Continued development at Xstrata’s massive mine ................................................. p36 Back to the future Revitalising tungsten .................................... p38 Brave new world The wave Aussie A first D_ A M K of RC J A Ngold _ 1 in 0 .West pdf Pa ge Africa ....................................................... p40-41

June 2012

AustralianMining

How long can this boom last?....p22-23

MINERALS PROCESSING

Drying out in the desert Dry tailings management ........................ p44-45 Creating ‘super’ workers New processing programs ............................ p48 The nickel laterite challenge Improving nickel’s viability ..................... p50-51 Mining is going organic A better, safer way to extract nickel laterites .......................................................... p52

SAFETY

Has national OH&S created harmony? Examining the impact of national harmonisation ............................................... p54

Good job, good pay

1 Looking 1 2 / to 1 1the / U.S. 0 9 ,for miners....p42 9 : 5 4 AM

June 2012 issue MAINTENANCE & MONITORING

Relentless and reliable Taking the plunge into maintenance software ........................................................ Managing risk Keeping cutting safe ..................................... Linked in Remote site maintenance .............................. Keeping an eye on the job The narrow averting of an underground disaster .......................................................... Breathe easy How Australia compares globally in ventilation ..................................................... Controlling costs Wearing tyre maintenance ...........................

p56 p58 p59 p60 p62 p64

CONVEYORS & MATERIALS HANDLING

Keeping things moving Impact beds taking the time out of maintenance .................................................. Pilbara rail upgrade Additions to the Pilbara infrastructure ........ From pit to port The latest industry trends ............................. A palatable solution Innovative conveyor recycling ......................

p66 p67 p68 p70

Regulars NEWS .............................................................. p6 INDUSTRY COMMENT ................................... p8 MINING FAMILY MATTERS ....................... p10 PRODUCT FOCUS: Test & Measurement ........................................... p72-76 Q&A: Honeywell .......................................... p78 PRODUCT SHOWCASE ......................... p80-84 PROSPECT AWARDS ................................. p86 JOBS ........................................................ p88-89 EVENTS ........................................................ p90

www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMATLJUN_12.pdf

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HEADLINES

The latest mining news and safety Australian Mining presents the latest news and safety affecting you from the boardroom to the mine and everywhere in between. BMA ballot fails, unions call for more strikes BMA proposed enterprise agreement ballot has been voted down by workers, as unions serve the miner with a notice for more strikes. This is the second rejection of a proposed work agreement from the miner, and comes as the ACTU announces it support of the union’s action. According to the CFMEU, the AEC says more than 82% of miners voted against the latest workplace agreement, a drop from the previous 92% who voted against the last EA proposal. CFMEU district president Steve Smyth said this demonstrates that BHP is out of touch with its workers.

WorkSafe’s lack of guidance is partly to blame for the accident. Kathleen Price from Oilfields Transport said the conviction of it and Baker Hughes highlighted the lack of safety support provided to remote businesses. “I’m not saying both companies aren’t at fault, but there has to be some responsibility taken by Worksafe for not providing enough documentation for companies,” she said. “I know probably in the cities they do, but up here, being remote, information isn’t provided enough for companies.” Oilfields Transport and Baker Hughes were fined $60,000 and $80,000 respectively following the death of two men in an explosion in 2008.

While it was estimated to be worth around $12 million, the cutting process has highlighted a number of internal flaws throughout the diamond, which have dramatically dropped its value. The stone is believed to have had a single major internal fault line that put the stone at risk if cutting continued, so Rio decided instead to donate the partially finished stone to Museum Victoria.

Nasser hits out at industrial relations Visit www.miningaustralia.com. au to keep up to date with what is happening.

at the Argyle mine, to a Melbourne museum. The diamond, which was previously Company blames WorkRio Tinto donate world 12.76 carats, has cut and polished Safe for death record pink diamond down OneAofDthe companies fined over the Rio Tinto is donating its massive _ A MT R E F E B _ 1 2 . p d f Pa ge 1 5 / 0 1 / 1to2a ‘disappointing’ , 3 : 2 9 eightP M carats. death of a worker in Broome says pink diamond, found this year Tread-AustralianHorizontal1-2pg2Page 1 earlier 12/19/11 1:15:13 AM

BHP chairman Jacques Nasser has hit out over the government’s industrial relations policy and the union stalemate at its BMA coal mines. “In recent years, it’s hard not to feel as if our industrial relations system has been like a pendulum, swinging from one approach to another,” he said at the Australian Institute of Company Directors lunch.

It comes after close to 18 months of constant industrial action at BHP’s joint venture BMA coal mines in Queensland, which has caused a significant slump in the miner’s coal output and also contributed to its forced closure of the Norwich Park coal mine. “I am not casting blame here, either at management, the government, unions, or the workforce. I basically believe the framework is just not appropriate and doesn’t recognise today’s realities,” Nasser said. “It is imperative for companies to have the ability to be represented but it also recognizes the right of management to run the business without the constant threat of a veto over operational decision making.” When asked by Australian Mining his view on the BMA union action in particular and its effect on the miner’s coal output, Nasser said the industrial action doesn’t help”.

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INDUSTRY COMMENT

QME 2012 UPDATE

Program announced for 2012 QME conference Paul Baker, Director of QME 2012 organiser Reed Mining Events, provides an update on what’s happening with Australia’s biggest mining show of the year. Once again, this year’s edition of the Queensland Mining & Engineering (QME) exhibition will include a twoday conference – following our highly successful conference as part of QME 2010. With the theme of “Productivity, Responsibility & Sustainability”, it is designed as a landmark two-day forum focusing on the key issues central to the Queensland mining industry’s future success. It will feature highly practical and insightful information from leading experts, aimed at assisting mine company personnel and other stakeholders to develop strategies and methodologies to operate successfully in these booming, yet economically constrained times. The conference will be chaired by Ian Leslie, well-known business and political journalist and corporate communicator – and a member of the original 60 Minutes team. Already key speakers confirmed include Michael Roche, CEO of the Queensland Resources Council, and Andrew Cripps, Queensland’s new Minister for Natural Resources and Mines. The 2012 QME Conference will have a strong focus on corporate responsibility and sustainability, with sessions covering the development of vibrant mining communities, workplace health, safety and well-being issues, and indigenous employment opportunities, as well as case studies on environmental best practice in mining. Other sessions will include automation in mining, supporting SMEs in local communities, and planning better quality infrastructure for transporting resources from pits to ports. Registrations for the 2012 QME Conference are now open. For registration details, and the full conference program, please go to www.queenslandminingexpo.com.au, then click on the CONFERENCE link at the top of the page. And don’t forget that visitor registration for QME 2012 is also now open. To register, simply go to the event website at queenslandminingexpo. com.au, and click on the “REGISTER TO VISIT” link on the front page.

June 2012

AustralianMining

THE WORLD is not enough

Unless life is found on Mars next year, Australia may have to quickly rethink its strategy on finding the skills it needs, The Resources Channel’s Jody Elliot writes.

n recent joint research undertaken by The Resource Channel and communications and marketing specialists, Marketforce, it found most of the countries Australia typically sources from are also experiencing, or expecting to experience, significant skills shortages. Simply, Australia is not alone in its growth plans. Not only is seven of the world’s LNG producing countries planning to double their production in the coming decade, but the mining industries of South Africa, Canada, the United States and South America also cite significant growth plans, demanding more than 250,000 new entrants to the industry globally in the next decade. In other cases, like China and India, growth plans relate more to their economies, but still look to absorb the total of their own home-grown engineering and technical skills. This means that the majority of the target countries identified as potential sourcing options – including South Africa, Canada, United Kingdom, and the United States in particular – become far less feasible given their own growth plans. In fact, according to The Resource Channel’s research, there is not one country that offers a potential strong supply of skilled labour. Given the current economic climate means that anticipated growth plans

for some may not eventuate in the short term, it may mean that Australian organisations will need to deploy a more tactical short-term approach to engaging international candidates whilst they develop new skills locally. Not only does the Australian resource sector plan to significantly expand in the next decade, but the 5,000 or so replacements required each year to account for retirements and exits from the industry means employers will need to consider alternative sourcing options. Essentially, it means far greater consideration needs to be placed on entry level opportunities for local labour – apprentices, graduates, trainees, and cross-skilling those from other sectors with transferable skills. Now is not the time to decrease opportunities in these areas – for any Australian resource sector employer, the study confirms. Whilst the United States produces 76,000 engineering graduates a year and is the world’s leading exporter of engineering services, the number of graduates receiving bachelor’s degrees in engineering from US universities has remained virtually constant over the past decade. The National Mining Association also estimates that the US will require more than 100,000 new miners in the next 5-10

years to meet demand and to replace retiring mine employees. Most recently, the CEO of Caterpillar in the United States said that despite the high unemployment rate across the country, there is a desperate shortage of skilled workers, with many job vacancies going unfilled in some of the most depressed regions of the country. Whilst Detroit has been hard hit by the economic downturn with nearly 50% unemployment, Caterpillar distributors in the region have up to 50 job openings at a time for service technicians that they cannot fill. Despite the bad economic outlook in the United States, Caterpillar is an example of a resource sector employer that has been hiring. It picked up 10,000 people in the last 18 months, and 300 in the first weeks of August 2011 alone. Canada claims a place as the world’s third largest exporter of engineering services (after the US and UK), and it is estimated one in five dollars earned by Canada’s engineering consultancy sector is earned overseas. This is reflective of the country’s internationally-recognised engineering education programs, which promote rigorous standards and qualifications and the export of high-value add skills. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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INDUSTRY COMMENT

However, the Canadian and global mining industry faces a serious human resource challenge in the coming decade. MiHR estimates in its Canadian Mining Industry Employment and Hiring Forecasts 2010 report that the sector will need to hire 10,000 new workers per year for the next decade to satisfy replacement needs and fill new positions – in effect, to meet the industry’s baseline production targets. This need comes at a time when the skilled core of the industry, including some 65% of geoscientists, will reach retirement age. Ernst & Young estimates that 40% of the industry’s workforce will retire by 2014. In virtually all skill categories, the number of Canadian mining workers over age 50 is two to five times greater than the number below age 30. South Africa too, is experiencing a significant shortage of new engineers and trades during a ‘growth spurt’ with more than 130 resource sector projects in advanced stage. Research into what has been seen as the underproduction of engineering graduates in South Africa has identified that the nation has 315 registered engineers per million people, twice this if unregistered engineers are counted. This is considerably A D _ A M Jsmaller A C 2 than J U Nthe _ 13,320 2 . p per million in the UK, 33,000 per

million in Japan or 8,190 per million New entrants into engineering in Norway, and adds to the evidence however are too few to replace resuggesting South Africa has its own tirements. The Royal Academy of significant shortage of engineering Engineering reports that there has professionals. Part of this problem is been a modest 5% rise over the last a completion rate of students in en- six years in the number of engineergineering and trades qualifications. It ing and technology graduates with is estimated that only a third of reg- first degrees although this is not istered students in engineering ever consistent across disciplines. graduate. Within some specific skill Whilst there is a reduction in ensets the retention of graduates is also ergy reserves, there is also a sharp low. It is estimated that only 15% of push within the UK to ‘de-carbon’ mining engineers remain in the indus- the economy, with reports citing the try for a long creation of up career. to 500,000 Labour channels for Australia The Enginew jobs in remay dry up as other neering Counnewable enercountries experience their cil of South gy fields in the own predicted growth. Africa indinext decade. cates that the This increased shortage of engineering profession- attention on renewable energy supals means that they now require all ply is likely to attract workers from engineering personnel to register if within the natural gas and coal secthey wish to work as professional tors. engineers, technologists and techniChina and India are not tradicians under the new Identification of tional markets from which engineerEngineering Work Act. ing staff are typically sourced for Britain has long been a fertile Australia; however they are growsourcing ground for skills, largely ing in importance as the numbers of due to its large and mature engineerengineering graduates in these couning and resource sector workforce, tries increase. with Engineering UK estimating China has an estimated 575,000 some 4.5 million people are em- engineering graduates a year, with a third of d ployed f P awithin g e what 1 1 it5 broadly / 0 5 / 1calls 2 , engineering 3 : 5 1 Prepresenting M ‘the engineering sector’. all first university degrees. There are

concerns over whether the number of engineers in China is sufficient to service its own burgeoning infrastructure and energy sector however. In addition, there are questions over India’s own ability to sustain its own growth – its economy is projected to expand 9% in 2012 – while maintaining its advantage as a low-cost place to do business. The challenge is especially pressing given the country’s youthful population; more than half of India’s population is under the age of 25, and one million people a month are expected to seek to join the labor force In India over the next decade, according to Indian government estimates. These numbers suggest India will also face challenges relating to experience and mature skill sets. Whilst there are a large number of potential sourcing channels available to Australia, these may fast evaporate should countries experience the growth they are predicting. Couple this with what is clearly an engineering skills shortage globally and Australian organisations will need to start thinking more creatively about how they resource their operational and project needs. The research highlights that there is no one location that can be targeted as a total recruitment solution.

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AM.JUN12.PG010.pdf

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MINING FAMILY MATTERS

Surviving FIFO parenthood Mining Family Matters pyschologist Angie Wilcocks provides tips for new FIFO parents.

eing a new parent is tough, especially when your partner works away. On top of all of the normal worries of early parenthood, FIFO/DIDO couples worry about the impact of one parent working away on their child. Truth be told, the lifestyle is probably not ideal for the first six to 12 months of parenthood. But we can’t always choose the timing of babies! If you have recently transitioned from a mining couple to mining parents (or are considering the scenario...) have a think about the following issues:

For the person at home:

• Practical and emotional support is absolutely vital for new mums. (I know that some mums work away, but mostly it’s dads, so please excuse me for referring to the person at home as mum. Of course the same information will apply if you are a dad whose partner works away!) In our culture we put a lot of emphasis on mums getting all she needs from her partner, but in many other cultures it’s other women who offer support, comfort and guidance. If your partner works away, you’ll need to think and plan where your support will come from. One advantage of the FIFO lifestyle is that families can live wherever they like (as long as it’s near an airport) D _ A MA B L J U N _ 1 2 . p d soA it might be possible to live near

family or friends who can help out. If not, you might choose to pay for help (cleaning, gardening, meals etc) and seek out local support services or meeting places for new parents. • Look after yourself. It’s hard to look after a demanding baby when you are not feeling great. I know it’s boring, but making sure you are eating well, resting enough and getting a bit of exercise will all help you cope better in the long run. • As soon as possible (often when For the person working away: your baby is about four months • You’ll need to feel connected to what’s going on at home, even old) get into a good routine for you when you’re away. Familiarise and your baby. Some families have yourself with your baby’s routine the ‘luxury’ of not needing a rouso you can take part when you tine for day-to-day life with baby, get home. Think of questions to but single parents and parents ask your partner when you speak whose partners work away don’t. to her rather than relying on her Having some predictability in your to ‘spoon-feed’ you baby inforday is really important when you mation – she won’t always have don’t have someone coming home the energy. You might even want in the evening to give you a break. to spend some time while you’re • As a new mum, it can be really away reading about baby develophard to know how you’re going ment and milestones so you can be and if what you are experiencing informed and interested in where is normal. Some days are hard for your baby is at. all new parents. Here’s a rule of thumb: if you are coping OK and • Of course communication with bubs when you’re away is going enjoying being a new mum most to be tricky. A baby can’t have a days out of each week, and things phone conversation! This is not an are gradually getting easier, then excuse to back off though, you just you’re probably doing fine. If it’s have to get more creative in stayall getting harder as time goes on, ing connected. Some FIFO/DIDO you probably need a bit of extra f Pa ge 1 4 / 5 / 1 2 , 8 : 4 9 AM dads record themselves reading a support or help.

story or singing a song for their baby to listen to; or read a bedtime or good morning story via Skype. • It can be really hard being away from your partner and baby. Some dads feel very lonely and sad thinking of what they’re missing, and some even feel quite depressed or angry. Regularly assess what’s working about FIFO/DIDO and what isn’t. If, after weighing up the pros and cons, this is still your choice, then you have to get to work changing your thinking style to one that will help you cope better. And finally, remember you are working as a team and each of you has a different role to play. There’s no point getting into a competition about who is more tired or working harder. Fact is; you’re both tired! For further information and heaps of simple strategies to keep your relationship healthy and your family happy, visit www.miningfm.com.au.

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AM.JUN12.PG012.pdf

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VICTORIA/TASMANIA SPOTLIGHT

LIGHTING UP La Trobe Support for developing the La Trobe Valley’s huge brown coal reserves is growing stronger, Andrew Duffy reports.

Environmentalists oppose developments because of brown coal’s high carbon emissions.

ictoria has the potential to become a huge part of Australia’s coal industry. But unlike NSW and QLD it’s home to vast reserves of brown coal. And therein lies the problem. Brown coal is significantly dirtier than its black counterpart, which means it’s an unattractive prospect in our more climate conscious age. It’s also more dangerous and harder to handle. Both problems mean Victoria’s La Trobe Valley remains relatively untapped. While used in local power generation an export market is yet to start up for the region. But if resources minister Martin Ferguson gets his way we may one day see the La Trobe Valley rival the Pilbara, Hunter Valley, or Bowen Basin.

Politics

Victoria is home to around nine per cent of the world’s recoverable brown coal. The resource has powered the state for almost a century and still provides around 90 per cent of its electricity. 12

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One of the biggest boons of Victoria’s brown coal is the cost effective energy it can provide, something the Government claims is not yet offered by renewable sources. And that’s why, with the help of some new technology, it’s pushing the case for an increased consideration of developing an export market in the La Trobe Valley. “New technologies are generating interest in what was otherwise seen as a resource limited to domestic electricity generation,” Ferguson told a conference earlier this year. “These technologies have the potential to allow Victoria to export brown coal and allow the La Trobe Valley to join the ranks of Australia’s other great mining regions.” Unsurprisingly Ferguson’s vision isn’t shared by everyone. Soon after his speech the Greens slammed plans to develop the La Trobe Valley as a “last century vision”. “Creating a new coal industry in Victoria is completely at odds with the clean energy future of Australia’s economy,” Victorian Greens senator Richard Di Natale said. “The Government’s energy Min-

ister is singing from the coal lobby song sheet by suggesting that there is new technology just around the corner that will make coal environmentally friendly.” “They have been saying that for over 30 years with no results.”

The problems

While Di Natale’s provocative comments will unlikely strike a chord with most in the industry, they do sound an important truth for Victoria’s brown coal sector. So far research and development has not been as fruitful for the La Trobe Valley as some had hoped. And the main barriers to development are not just environmental. Managing the risk of spontaneous combustion, as well as lowering the moisture count to make transport economical are important considerations for developing Victoria’s brown coal. The political debate, in trying to encourage developments opposed by environmentalists, will also be a challenge. For developing an export market out of the La Trobe Valley technology to dry the coal is fundamental.

Without it the ore’s high moisture content means companies are effectively transporting as much water as they are coal. Such an arrangement quickly becomes unviable. To handle spontaneous combustion and minimise the impact on the environment dust must also be kept to a minimum. While there are a number of techniques available to combat this problem reducing their cost and impact on the bottom line is also a problem. Clear solutions are available to these issues, but for the political fight the answer is much muddier. Conflicts with other land uses in the La Trobe Valley, most importantly the tourism and agricultural sectors will require extensive consultation and a delicate hand if miners are to win over unwilling locals.

Solutions

University of Newcastle professor Terry Wall told Australian Mining the key to keeping brown coal safe was controlling dust. Echoing Di Natale’s criticisms, he said while there had been a lot www.miningaustralia.com.au

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of study dedicated to making brown coal viable they had not yet been successful. “There has been a lot of research and development on this both in Victoria and Germany,” he said. “The CSIRO has also been looking at it for quite some time. “The technology has been established at a pilot scale but it’s never proved economic.” Wall said making brickets out of the coal was one way companies went about cutting down on dust. “The more dusty it is the more prone to spontaneous combustion it is when it’s placed in a pile,” he said. While not an insurmountable problem Wall said the efforts required to cut down on dust all added to the cost of a potential export operation. “These things can always be overcome but it’s an imposed complexity in the operation,” he said. “It means you’ve got to have smaller stockpiles, and you’ve got to compress them to keep there air out. “There’s various tricks people do but it becomes far more complicated. “For that reason the brown coal power stations in Victoria are right on the mines.” On the environmental side Ferguson said carbon capture and storage was “arguably the most effective avenue for dealing with brown coal’s direct emissions”. Ferguson also said because it was not a new technology, CCS was “commercially proven” and perfect for providing the environmental incentive needed to get brown coal off the ground. He sounded confidence that with Governments and industry working together a solution could be found to the carbon footprint of brown coal, opening the door for development in the La Trobe Valley. “There is clearly a lot of funding and a lot of thought going into managing and reducing the emissions from brown coal,” he said. “The Australian and Victorian Governments are committed to working together to develop technologies that can provide for its higher value processing.” And Ferguson said La Trobe Valley developments would be a boon for local governments, workers, and the community. “As well as safeguarding Gippsland communities and the industries that coal-fired electricity supports, our actions are creating completely new opportunities for Australia,” he said. www.miningaustralia.com.au

Brown coal power stations, like the one at Hazelwood, have drawn environmental criticisms. Courtesy: Nick Carson

The future

While Wall said the future of an export industry in the La Trobe Valley might be far off it wasn’t impossible. “I would never say never,” he said. Wall said with the research continuing to build, the economic foundations would be the determining factor for future projects. “It’s a matter of where it sits compared to the cost of other options,” he said. “You need to get the cost of that system down below the cost of what you can do with black coal.” With the drying and dust control costs, Wall said brown coal developments were more challenging than just digging up dirt. But regardless the potential of Victoria’s brown coal is strong. “The Victorian Government see it as a fantastic resource and a resource that we’ve got to find a way of using somehow,” Wall said. “That’s been an ongoing driver for the Government to fund research projects and research centres, and that’s been ongoing for quite some time.” And as it stands the Federal support for such schemes is strong. Earlier this year Ferguson said the Government was keen to drive new research and development to help exploit new reserves. “We are leading the charge into

the more effective utilisation of fossil fuels,” A D _ Ahe M said. L ANJ UN_ 1 2 . p d “The knowledge, skills and tech-

nologies we are developing are great f assets P aand g e will1 be 1in5 increasing / 0 5 / 1 inter2 , 3 : 4 8 national demand in the coming years.”

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Finding ‘invisible’ gold UTAS and Newcrest have come together to uncover gold on a nano level, Cole Latimer reports.

estern Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, these are the states where mining is booming, where the advances are made. But they are soon to be joined by another state – Tasmania, following the announcement of a new research facility that will make ‘invisible gold’ obtainable. The University of Tasmania (UTAS) has secured a $2.5 million grant from gold miner Newcrest to develop a world leading mineral research facility. Late last month the two signed an agreement that will see Newcrest contribute $1 million to the development of the research facility and an additional $1.5 mil-

The new facility, with the support of Newcrest, will develop technology to uncover gold trapped in other minerals.

lion in ongoing support over the next five years. This gold research facility will use

UTAS has focused on solving ore problems in mining, Large says.

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micro-analytical techniques developed at the ARC Centre of Excellence in Ore Deposits (CODES) to help solve ore definition issues. The University stated it will also tell us about the type of minerals that occur within a deposit and the trace elements such as arsenic which could affect the extraction and recovery of gold. Speaking to the director professor of CODES, Ross Large, he explained to Australian Mining how this facility will change gold mining. “The basic reason why Newcrest has invested this money into the facility is because we’ve developed new technology for laser ablation in mineral testing and analysis,” Large said. “We’ve been working with Newcrest for a number of years as they understand technhology. “This technology will allow us to look at the full range of gold deportment in sulphide minerals, unlocking previously hidden or unobtainable gold.”

Large explained that a problem with many gold deposits is that they are ‘invisible gold’, and either trapped in other minerals or deposits or so small that they can not be uncovered. “With Newcrest’s backing we will be able to put into the lab technology that will be able to get right down to a nanoparticle level, and see the gold that may be hidden in silver or copper. “The result may be more economic mineral discoveries in a shorter time frame with lower upfront costs.” University of Tasmania deputy vice chancellor (research) Paddy Nixon described the agreement with Newcrest as “further recognition of CODES’ international research leadership over two decades. “It helps to lay the foundation for both CODES’ future and that of the Australian mining industry,” Nixon stated. Large added that with this new technology and funding, Tasmania is likely to become the new hub for analytical testing in mining

within Australia and beyond “as this lab will be the only one like it in the world, the only one that has this level of technology for gold deportment”. Currently, CODES has three laser ablation piece of equipment and has spent a number of years working towards developing its wider ores focus. “Where we differ is that we have focused on ore minerals and actually solving problems in mining, rather than taking a more academic approach to it.” Large believes that it will take about six months for the fit out of the laboratory, the hiring of staff, and to get the program fully up and running. “Over the next two years we are also looking to attract another six to eight companies which will provide funding,” Large told Australian Mining. At the time of the interview Large was on his way to South Africa to hold a workshop at Anglo Gold Ashanti’s South African operations for gold analysis. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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Walking with giants Tasmania is becoming the little state that could.

he mining boom is engulfing Australia, dragging every state and territory along with it – whether they want it or not. But while are some are kicking and fighting every step of the way, case in point Victoria, others such as Tasmania are using the opportunity to rebuild an industry that has been suffering in the doldrums. The State’s minister for resources and energy, Bryan Green, last month declared Tasmania’s mining industry “open for business”. “The Government considers mining a key industry for Tasmania’s economic prosperity and we are doing everything we can to promote it,” Green told the Tasmanian Minerals Council’s annual conference in Launceston. “The facts speak for themselves and they are that investment over the past year has exceeded pre global financial crisis levels and mineral exploration has increased by over 25 per cent. “Mining is an extremely important industry to Tasmania, it has a bright future and the Government is committed to supporting future investment and jobs in the sector. “There is no way the Government will compromise future prospects for the mining industry, including the heavily mineralised areas of the North-West and West Coasts,” he said. It is this positive stance that saw Tasmania move ahead of West-

ern Australia on the Fraser Institute’s survey’s “Room For Improvement” table, that shows there is a smaller gap between mineral potential under ‘current’ regulation in Tassie and what would be its mineral potential under miners’ ‘best practice’ regulation, compared to WA. Tasmania also came third globally for its geological database, beaten only by South Australia which took first position. The State was also singled out for its “clear rules towards tendering and the granting of tenures”. This openness to mining business and investment has shown on the ground, with miners spending record amounts on exploration, as well as its placement ahead of both New South Wales and Victoria on the recent Fraser mining survey, standing at 30 out of 93 for attractiveness globally; ranking only just behind resources powerhouse Queensland which came in at 28th. Last year around 80 mining companies spent close to $38 million on exploration in the State, with spending also exceeding pre-global financial crisis levels, according to the Tasmanian Mercury. Tin, iron ore, and tungsten have been the major minerals on the horizon for Tasmania, as the state looks to fill the massive existing gap between tin demand and supply – which currently stands at more than 60 000 tonnes.

Tasmania is “open for business”, according to its resources minister Bryan Green.

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www.miningaustralia.com.au

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Saint-Gobain hopes to make its Victorian facility a research and development hotspot, writes Andrew Duffy.

utting and grinding might seem two of the most straightforward and common tasks for workers servicing and constructing our mine sites. But according to abrasives manufacturer Saint-Gobain they’re two practices often poorly understood and commonly done wrong. Earlier this year Saint-Gobain opened a $250,000 training centre in Victoria to help develop better tools and skills in the industry. Managing director Steven Chaur told Australian Mining the move was about training the workers that would be using Saint-Gobain’s cutting and grinding tools. He said it would also be used to funnel research and development into new products, and perform specific tests for users. “Our customers might come and ask us about what the right blade or material to cut something is,” he said. “We can do that testing for them.” “Through that testing regime we can also look at things like safety performance, and whether the product meets Australian standards.” “We can then take all of this information and build it into the R&D of our future projects.”

Chaur said the centre’s ‘abrasives academy’ also trained beginner to advanced workers on the idiosyncrasies of cutting and grinding equipment. The learning combines practical and classroom teaching, and can also be done remotely via the internet. With the dollar as high as it is, Chaur said a higher understanding of equipment was becoming more important. “There’s an influx of cheap imports coming in and a lot of them are coming from Asia,” he said. “I’m not saying Asia is a bad place to source products, but there has been a real question mark over the quality of some of these products.” Chaur said training and quality was also important for safety, an aspect often overlooked by those using the tools. “Angle grinder wheels spin at 12,500rpm, which is about 300km/h,” he said. “Tradespeople in general don’t think about things like that. “If one of those wheels bursts, they might be half the price, but they might actually kill you too.” Beyond safety concerns

Chaur said Saint-Gobain’s centre also worked at finding simple economic benefits for customers through testing. “If you use the wrong wheel on the wrong machine you can wear the machine out a lot quicker or you can consume more energy, which ultimately costs you,” he said. “A lot of our customers are really interested in performance, not just the cutting or the grinding of the application.” At the centre Saint-Gobain runs costs-benefit analysis on equipment to get the best results for companies. Chaur said running these tests meant companies might, for example, save $50,000 a year in energy costs by matching more suitable equipment. He said significant improvements equipment lifestyle could also be achieved. Located in Victoria, the centre marks a well-needed addition to the skills and research of the state’s industry. An often overlooked region of Australian industry, the centre will go some way to casting attention back to Victorian skills and knowledge exports. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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Trouble in the Tarkine A quick resolution to one of Tasmania’s biggest mining issues so far looks unlikely

housands of new jobs, millions in royalties and the future of heritage listed rainforest hinge in the balance in the debate over mining in Tasmania’s Tarkine reserve. While around ten companies and almost 60 exploration licences are eyeing the region, so too are an ever increasing number of protestors. National activist group GetUp has joined the fray, along with the Tarkine National Coalition, the Australian Heritage Council, and grassroots campaigners. At the centre of the debate lies a disagreement over whether several Liffey falls in the Tarkine region. projects, mainly led by Perth-based Venture Minerals, should receive A recent report by former Aus- other businesses, would be a boon the green light for development. tralian heritage commissioner Peter for the state economy. Over the past For a state languishing in reces- Hitchcock said it was likely the Tark- few months the war of words has sion and hemorrhaging workers to ine could qualify for world heritage reached new heights, with activists the mainland, the developments listing. On the flip side Venture Min- accusing proponents of cooking the are an attractive prospect in a state erals says its Mt Lindsay tin mine books over some proposed developdevoid of investment. will create around 1,200 new jobs. ments. Tasmanian Minerals CounBut in such a fragile wilderness The company has plans for develop- cil CEO Terry Long has previously theA line between D_ A M D T Hdevelopment J U N _ 1 2 . and p d f ment P a beyond g e 1 Lindsay, 9 / 0 5which / 1 2 com, 4 : gone 0 8 public P M to allay fears over Vendamage is thin. Mining-half page:Layout bined with activity 3:04 of around Riley Creek and Stanley River DT-Australian 1 the 8/5/12 PM ten Page ture’s 1

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developments. The council claims Riley and Stanley will only claim a small part of the Tarkine region. The claims were rejected by the TNC and GetUp, which say Stanley affects 363 hectares of the Tarkine and Riley around 118ha. The TNC said Long was “playing with the numbers”, but Long stood strong. Pointing to the area’s history as a mining region since the 1800s, Long said protestors should “get over it” and let applications be approved or denied on their merits. Venture Minerals has repeatedly sought to quell fears by committing to best environmental practices but so far protestors are unconvinced. While it’s still too early to know the possibility of mining in the Tarkine this argument sounds as a test case for the region’s viability. Federal environment minister Tony Burke and the Tasmanian Government have yet to take a position on the issue, but have hinted at granting most of the region heritage listing while excluding some areas.

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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THE MINING BOOM

Last

BOOM ever?

How long will the mining boom last and will we ever see another? Andrew Duffy reports.

BHP has given firm indications the sun may be setting on the mining boom.

ining companies are a nervous bunch, and in some parts of the industry they’re already getting anxious. But what’s making some nervous is the same thing keeping them buoyant. After years of rocketing growth China’s transformation is starting to waver. Whether this holdup can be termed a ‘slowdown’ or whether it’s a pause before the next spate of growth is now hotly debated. And the future of the mining boom, so closely tied to China’s fortunes, is now equally questioned. Tying together strands from each side of the industry, Australian Mining has this month asked how long our mining boom has left, and if we’ll ever see another.

The analyst

Fat Prophets resource analyst David Lennox told Australian Mining trying to predict an end to the mining boom was a “really difficult question to put a finger on”. “It’s been running throughout the global financial crisis period without missing a beat,” he said. “That performance is probably going to continue on for another few years.” 22

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Unsurprisingly Lennox said sheer demand from China was driving the boom. “We can’t see the physical demand for a number of key commodities waning to a point where supply can match them, particularly with iron ore and copper” he said. But outside these high growth areas the forecast was less bullish. Lennox said there was a possibility of weakening Chinese demand for base metals like nickel and lead, and commodities like zinc were “borderline”. In part this weakening is due to a slowdown in China, which Lennox wholeheartedly accepted. But while not as strong as it used to be, Lennox said China would continue to make extraordinary demands on resources companies. “There’s no doubt the Chinese economy is slowing. There’s clear evidence of that over the last six months,” he said. But Lennox added that “it’s not slowing to a point where the physical demand for metals can be impacted majorly. “The pressure is diminishing but not enough to impact on the supply side being able to keep pace.” Lennox said while tapering off, China’s growth was still strong, and

with its massive population the economic flow-on was extraordinary. “We’re talking about 1.3 billion people, of which probably 600-700 million are trying to move from one way of life into another,” he said. Such a phenomenon, according to Lennox, is unlikely to be repeated. “I would suggest that we will probably never see another resource period like we’ve seen,” he said. “I can’t see another period of time where we will have such a quantity of people moving up the economic lifestyle scale.”

The miner

No story questioning the boom would be complete without the opinion of Australia’s biggest mining company. With much of its future hinging on China, BHP Billiton’s analysis is one of the most telling indicators for industry. And its most recent comments aren’t promising. Stepping back from previous commitments, BHP Billiton chairman Jacques Nasser recently told Australian Mining the company would not be expanding as fast as it previously announced. Sounding alarm bells for the in-

dustry, Nasser said the miner would not spend the $80 billion it had previously earmarked for growth. He also claimed executives had been reconsidering spending measures “every day” in the current environment. In revising the future industry Nasser made it clear that it was more than simply demand from China that kept the mining industry strong. Regional concerns, such as our Government’s carbon, mining, and industrial relations laws, also make or break the boom. Reviewing ongoing industrial action in the Bowen Basin, Nasser told Australian Mining strikes had hampered the company at a time when it should’ve been growing. “It has been 17 months of constant issues when really it should be growing in this time of strength,” he said. “It is perplexing and I am trying to understand why it is ongoing at a time like this.” Nasser also said the industry was “fighting for survival” during negotiations over the mining tax in 2010. Nasser said no single party, be it Government, business, or union, was wholly responsible for any dent in confidence. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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But altogether the web of local concerns had altered Australia’s landscape. Such changes meant the red hot company we’d last year seen announcing an $80 billion expansion had quickly cooled off. “When [BHP CEO Marius Kloppers] talked about that $80 billion … the environment was different,” Nasser said. While unwilling to commit to a new target or outlook on the industry, Nasser’s comments inject an important caveat into our industry’s confidence. Though driven by demand from China, the mining boom is not only about Asia. Policymakers, miners, and workers around the globe are also integral to its survival. And while each one of these groups has the right to make its own decisions, those choices have repercussions on our industry.

Kipp said while there was an unreliable economic climate, led primarily by Europe but also impacted by local policy, uncertainty was something “all companies have to learn to deal with”. Sounding more bullish on the present and the future, Kipp said there was “nothing surprising” in how the industry was playing out. “We haven’t changed our strategy amid the uncertainty,” he said. But looking beyond the top tier, the drilling boss said the legacy of the global financial crisis was still hurting the ability of juniors to find funding. Overall Kipp said Australia was a “hot market” and it didn’t look like slowing any time soon. He also downplayed the negative impact Australian unions and governments were having on the boom. “If I was to list where I had my problems, Australia wouldn’t be in my top ten,” he said.

The driller

The verdict

While BHP is a good case study for what’s happening right now, other industries can help paint the broader picture. Given its exposure to the exploration sector the drilling industry is a good proxy for global exploration trends and the future production outlook. And US-based Boart Longyear CEO Craig Kipp, who leads the world’s largest drilling company, told Australian Mining he didn’t share BHP’s pessimism. “We haven’t heard from a lot of majors outside of Australia that there’s a change in their plans, change in budget, that there’s massive realignment or expectations going on,” he said.

There’s no doubt we’re still operating through a mining boom, but there’s some doubt about how long it’ll last. We need look no further than the world’s largest miner to see cracks in the market. But we need look no further than the world’s largest driller to find confidence. Somewhere in between lay a lot of different opinions. And the best answer is probably that of the analyst, which is that at this stage it’s too difficult to read the future. In the meantime the industry will keep moving, good times or bad. And with no better time than now we best enjoy it while it lasts.

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PROCESS CONTROL & INSTRUMENTATION

DOWN and DIRTY Adelaide teams dig deep to design and build a sophisticated control platform for a soil remediation machine, writes Hartley Henderson.

here are various reasons why soil may be affected by contaminants such as chemicals and heavy metals. This is often the case in mining, where various processing chemicals and heavy metals may leak into the ground, contaminating the soil. ECO-WARRIOR is a soil remediation machine built by Adelaide company Broons Engineering for UK company SoilXchange that is designed to solve these contamination issues. The machine accepts waste soil and mixes it with a range of additives such as lime, cement, water or biological reactants to produce a product at the other end which has certain geotechnical or other improved properties. Designed to be mobile, the machine is fitted entirely on a custom built semitrailer platform, allowing it operate on site or in a depot with soil brought to it for processing. The machine consists of an infeed conveyor, inline belt weigher, additive hopper on load cells with rotary vane feeder, water sprays, mixing chamber and discharge conveyor. Power is provided by a 300hp turbo charged diesel engine which drives a hydraulic system as well as providing electrical power. Electrical systems were designed and built by Adelaide company APC Integration (APCI), and hydraulics were designed and built by Adelaide company Staker Hydraulic Specialists. APCI managing director, Anthony Dally, said the main challenge was the 24

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selection and design of a control platform that met all of the customer’s requirements. “To meet these requirements, only a Beckhoff PLC platform satisfied the versatility, performance and price criteria,” he said. “The control system is based upon a main Beckhoff CX9000 series PLC which also serves as the HMI platform, EtherCat remote I/O controller, CANBUS master and Ethernet IP camera interface. The PLC performs all sequencing on the machine to start, stop and pause operations, as well as monitor the machines health and control the addition of water and additives to the required ratios. “Setpoints to operate the machine are entered via the HMI interface. As soil is loaded onto the infeed conveyor the infeed conveyor

The machine takes waste soil and mixes it with additives.

moves the soil forward over an inline weigh cell which measures the tonnes/hour and volume/hour of material entering the machine. “Water dosing is PID controlled with a modulating valve and fixed speed pumps fed from a tank to achieve the correct flow rates. Additive dosing is done by the hopper which is fitted with a speed control-

The soil remediation machine is transportable.

led hydraulically powered rotary vane feeder, load cells to measure the weight of material in the hopper, air fluidisers to keep the material flowing and air hammers to break additive bridges. The control system operates this process with feedforward control, continuously trimmed by a PID loop working on loss of weight in the additive hopper. The

system automatically recognises when the hopper is being refilled and pauses the PID component during this process. Control algorithms on the machine can work on a weight or volume basis so that the machine can continue to operate with the loss of any of the load cell systems. “A significant challenge encountered during the project was filtering the load cell signals distorted by operating induced vibrations. The infeed conveyors inline belt weigher was successfully processed by the Beckhoff PLC using digital filtering techniques. However, the complexity of the filtering on the additive hopper required a dedicated load cell conditioner from Metler Toledo which communicated the filtered hopper weight signal via an Ethernet connection using Modbus TCP,” said Dally. He says the operator interacts with the machine through the use of the control panel buttons and the HMI software which was custom written by APCI. “The HMI is used to communicate with the Beckhoff controller to collect www.miningaustralia.com.au

AM.JUN12.PG025.pdf

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PROCESS CONTROL & INSTRUMENTATION

information, accept touch tion and commissioning of screen inputs from the op- the hydraulic system that erator, enter operating set- powers all primary rotary points, and select operation drives and linear actuators by volume or mass for some on the ECO-WARRIOR. of the control loops,” he exAccording to SHS direcplained. tor, David Rogers, one of “It also provides the op- the main design directives erator with feedback while was to deliver power for they use the control panel the primary drives with the buttons to increase or de- highest possible efficiency in crease setpoints or adjust order to keep fuel consumpthe speed of various mation to a minimum. chine components in man“The upper and lower ual or automatic modes. In mixing chamber drives, addition, the HMI is used which are the main power to view the images from consumers, are powered the two Ethernet IP cam- by hydraulic closed loop eras attached to the system, transmission systems, and record production informa- the speed of these drives is tion, view machine alarms controlled by 4 to 20 mA and status information, and analogue signals from the connect to the 3G router for machine’s primary PLC to remote access. No off-the- the pumps servo control shelf package could easily valve,” he said. Feedback integrate all these features of current rotor speed and seamlessly enough, so we drive load is displayed on used our years of custom the operator’s console. software development ex- These speed and load feedperience to write a custom back signals are delivered HMI application for the by high frequency proximmachine.” ity switches in the motors Staker Hydraulic Spe- and pressure transducers at cialists A D _ (SHS) _ 1 0 was . p dresponsf P a g the e 1pumps. 1 6 / The 0 3 machine’s / 1 0 , 3 ible for the design, installa- primary PLC sends required

www.miningaustralia.com.au

speed drive commands via the CAN to a Sauer Danfoss Plus1 programmable controller that then sends analogue command signals to the proportional valves. “The infeed conveyor and product delivery drives utilise electronic closed loop speed control, which is a feature provided by the Plus1 controller. “These two drive motors include high frequency proximity switches that deliver drive speed feedback to the Plus1 controller which constantly updates the command signal to the proportional valves. This ensures that these drives operate at consistent speed irrespective of oil viscosity and load variations.” Rogers points out that one of the hydraulic design requirements was to build a system capable of operating within a wide range of ambient temperatures (-10 degrees to +35 degrees C). “The ECO-WARRIOR hydraulic system is equipped valves and :with 1 4 additional PM thermostatic controls which

The machine can chew through various soils.

deliver an oil heating process while the engine is running at low speed. Once the oil heating process has been

completed the machine can be put into full operation irrespective of the current ambient temperature.”

AustralianMining

June 2012

AM.JUN12.PG026.pdf

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QUARRYING/CRUSHING/SCREENING

Leading M ill liners are an essential part of the processing progression. Every day they come under constant barrage as you process your materials. No liner and your milling and processing equipment is going to wear; and wear quickly. However while standard liners provide protection, they too wear quickly, forcing workers to replace them often, a task that requires them to stand in the ‘drop zone’ of the liners - a dangerous job. Seeing this, Metso has developed its Megaliner Poly-met shell liner to maximise mill availability while improving worker safety on site. According to the company “the new Metso Megaliner shell liner keeps downtimes in large mills to a minimum, utlising an innovative design that offers speedy replacement. “It also improves worker safety during maintenance or replacement, as the liners are bolted into position from the outside of the mill, so workers do no need to stand in the ‘drop zone’ of the liners.” The Megaliner uses larger than average liners, however they can still be placed with the same 6- to 8-axis liner handlers used with many large AG mills. By using larger liners it means mills require fewer of them.

LINERS Composite mill liners are cutting maintenance and increasing safety.

The liners are easily positioned before bolting due to the aid of highly visible coloured guiding markers.

Following this, Megaliner has been designed with fewer attachment points compared with other conventional liners, which speeds up liner installation and replacement even more. The liners themselves are easily and accurately positioned before bolting with the aid of highly visible coloured guiding markers. “This system makes removal and replacement of liners just as quick, safe, and easy as installation,” Metso said. Bolting and unbolting is straight-

forward as the threaded portion of the standard hex-head liner bolts are protected from dust, corrosion and general mechanical damage. Once the bolts are loosened, workers can even remove the liner bolts simply by hand turning them. Fewer tools are required in mill maintenance as “pneumatic or recoilless hydraulic hammers are not needed to dislodge the worn liners, as gravity alone is generally sufficient”. The liner is suitable for large AG

Each liner covers an area of up to four square metres and weighs 60 per cent less than metallic liners.

June 2012

AustralianMining

mills with large trunnions. Each liner element integrates multiple lifter and shell plate rows, and covers an area of up to four square metres. The rubber and metal composite liner weighs between 30 and 60 per cent less than metallic liners of a similar size. “Overall, installing and replacing mill liners with the Megaliner system creates a much safer and less stressful environment for the liner handler operator and installation team,” Metso says.

Once the bolts are loosened they can be hand turned. www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMMMDJUN_12.pdf

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Iron clad track record

in metalliferous mining

Established to design and manufacture equipment for the British underground coal mining industry, MMD patented the twin shaft Sizer in 1978 and then went on to refine and develop sizing technology to the stage where MMD Sizers are currently used by both open pit and underground mines to exploit over 70 different minerals in more than 50 countries.

Among the first Sizers into the demanding metalliferous mining industry was an MMD 1500 Series machine, installed in Australia in 1995 to reduce ROM iron ore to a conveyable size. Its efficiency and reliability has led to the installation of further Sizers for both primary and downstream reduction in iron ore mines. These subsequent installations, and the fact that the original unit is in operation provides tangible proof that MMD Sizers have an iron clad track record in metalliferous mining.

An independent company that focuses on Sizing and developing IPCC sizing solutions, MMD works with customers to develop systems adapted to their needs and has an unmatched record for the development and supply of effective trend setting static, semi and fully mobile sizing systems.

See us at

MINEXPO 2012 Booth 2603

MMD Australia Pty. Ltd. Brisbane Mackay Singleton

sizers@mmdaus.com.au

THE MMD GROUP OF COMPANIES W W W. M M D SI Z E R S . C O M

AM.JUN12.PG028.pdf

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QUARRYING/CRUSHING/SCREENING

Loading your options A Victorian quarry has seen an Australian first on site.

uarrying is beginning to see a resurgence. The industry was particularly hard hit following the construction slump, as the demand for aggregates and sandstone dropped rapidly. However, as the mining boom gathers in speed the need for civil construction on site and infrastructure is fuelling new growth. Boral has been acquiring and reviving quarries in North West Queensland, while in Central Queensland and New South Wales’ Central West quarries have been expanding. And it’s not just confined to the major mining states, in Victoria Northern Quarries have also achieved an Australia first by purchasing the country’s first Terex TL310 wheel loader. The quarry, which extracts Class 1, 2, and 3 crushed rock for road construction, as well as commercial grade crushed rock for roads and buildings subbase explained that it had to expand its capabilities. “We needed to upsize our tool carrying capability, as our small tool carrier wasn’t large enough to act as a backup sales loader when needed,” Northern Quarries manager – extractive, Wayne Deken, said. The TL130 handles capaci-

ties of between 3 and 6.5 cubic metres with a bucket breakout force of 15 664 kilograms. It is powered by a 149kW Cummins Tier 3 turbocharged diesel engine. A hydrostatic drive allows it to travel at 40 kilometres per hour, while also working as a wear free brake. The TL310 has an operating weight of 17 tonnes and tipping loads of 13 tonnes straight and 11.5 tonnes when articulated. Deken said it chose the TL 310 wheel loader as “the TL310 is a larger machine and is capable of loading trucks a lot quicker for those times when one of the other loaders are being serviced or out of action. “We were satisfied with the performance and support for our other Terex equipment, so we felt confident being the first to take delivery of the TL310 in Australia. “Our TL310 wheel loader is primarily used for tool carrying, including a forklift, jib, and numerous other jobs around the quarry that always keep this type of machinery fully deployed,” Deken said. For easy forklift operation the loader has a frame with TSP kinematics, which combines power at the buck-

The loader has a bucket breakout force of 15 644 kilograms.

June 2012

AustralianMining

The wheel loader can be fitted with a forklift or jib for lifting operations on site.

et with parallel handling of the bucket and loader equipment over the entire lifting height. He went on to say that the wheel loader’s high lifting height capacity, for its size and weight, had made it attractive. “This was highlighted with the use of the Construction Material Processors Association’s (C.M.P.A) ‘Advisory Pre-Purchase Checklist for Loaders’ and meant we didn’t have to outlay the additional cost for a larger loader.” Safety was also a concern on site. The cab has a removable ROPS/FOPS steel frame and provides high rear visibil-

ity through the large, tinted windows. A wire screen installed in front of the high volume cooler protects the operator from dust and debris, while the fan is automatically able to switch to ‘reverse’ to help clean out the system. On top of this, the air intake is located in a dust free zone behind the driver’s cab. It also has simple operator controls. “A joystick sites on the right hand side of the arm pad, so selection of forward and reverse just involves flicking a switch left and right. “This means the operator always has one hand on the joystick and another

on the steering wheel.” The loader has as standard versa steering mode (which allows for easier operation in applications requiring multiple steering movements) and automatic self locking differentials on both axles for better traction on poor ground. It also has a rear axle oscillating function. “The machine’s stability is very good, as the hydrostatic drive has enabled the engine to be positioned at the back. “This counterweight effect results in good side stability and enables all wheels to remain in positive ground traction, even with a full bucket load.” www.miningaustralia.com.au

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AM.JUN12.PG030.pdf

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QUARRYING/CRUSHING/SCREENING

Crushing concerns Australian company Minprovise has installed a new crusher at Rio Tinto’s Pilbara operations.

“ Now we are also level switching with non-contact microwave technology.”

ith the greater push from the government for a higher ratio of Australian services on Australian mines, the capabilities of home grown companies have drawn more focus. One such company, Minprovise, has seen its capacity to serve miners recgonised by one of the big three. The company, which is known for its Dugless remote control maintenance machines, has received a massive order from Rio Tinto for a gyratory crusher on site. Rio Tinto ordered an EarthTechnica Kobe-style 54-74 GY gyratory crusher to be installed as part of the primary processing operations at Rio Tinto’s Western Turner Brockman (WTB) iron ore project. The crusher will operate at Rio’s Western Turner Syncline deposit and is part of the miner’s expansion at the site and its wider plan to increase overall export capacity. The EarthTechnica 54-74 GY gyratory primary crusher weighs more than 230 tonnes, and comes with around 450kW of

installed power. The crusher has a feed opening of 1370 by 3350 mm. It has a space saving design and a large capacity for its size, on top of this the discharge opening can be easily adjusted in one minute with a hydraulic mechanism. The syncline itself is an open pit operation near the Tom Price iron ore mine in the Pilbara. The Western Turner Syncline expansion incorporates the construction of this primary crusher and a 20 kilometre overland conveyor to deliver ore to the Tom Price primary stockpiles. The overland conveyor will be fully enclosed to minimise dust and noise, thus lowering Rio’s environmental footprint. Within the town of Tom Price existing infrastructure will be utilised, including the high and low grade processing plants, stockyards, train load outs, and on-site facilities. Minprovise’s minerals processing manager, Peter Cook, welcomed the move by Rio, stating that it was a competitive tendering process for the Australian company.

New from VEGA: the microwave barrier VEGAMIP. Maintenance-free technology for level switching under rough r conditions. Ideal for abrasive media or very high temperatures and reliable, reli even with buildup. www.vega.com/au/innovation Phone: 1800 817 135

The Aussie company will provide the massive gyratory crusher to Rio’s iron ore mine.

June 2012

AustralianMining

www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMDYNFEB_12.pdf

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Reliable, good quality conveyor componentry delivered on time. Dyna Engineering can supply quality conveyor componentry on time, every time. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re well established conveyor specialists and will be pleased to design, fabricate and maintain your conveyor systems or just supply quality, reliable, well-priced componentry. So if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking for great service and high quality conveyor components delivered on time, pick up the phone and call Graeme, Reddy or Carol on 08 9248 4111 or visit www.dynaeng.com.au

Tel: 08 9248 4111 Freecall: 1800 801 558 Web: www.dynaeng.com.au Email: dyna@dynaeng.com.au

13379 AusMin

AM.JUN12.PG032.pdf

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QUARRYING/CRUSHING/SCREENING

Grinding out the issues A new agreement has opened up Australia to more mining equipment.

t’s not just heavy machin- ed that “Aceros has a reputaery that is in short supply, tion as a quality supplier of it also the very essentials mill liners…and have some to do the job on site as the of the best quality control mining boom stretches thin processes I have seen. the supply chain. “Whilst we remain pragMill equipment is also matic regarding our entry suffering a shortage across into Australia’s grinding Australia as demand rises. mill liners market we believe A recent agreement be- we can provide an alternatween Australia’s Crushing tive to the duopoly that cur& Mining Equipment (CME) rently exists and we look with South American com- forward to becoming a mapany Aceros is set to ease the jor supplier over the coming burden. years,” Smith said. CME is now the sole disBrett Holmes, CME’s tributor for grinding mill lin- product development maners throughout Australia, New ager added that “the benefit Zealand, Indonesia and Africa. for us was the level of quality This perpetual agreement control and technical supcovers the complete range of port that was offered, as well mill liners for SAG and ball as the product traceability”. mills. According to the comIt also provides CME with pany all products manufacan additional source of manga- tured by Aceros undergo a nese wear products for cone, quality control and inspecgyratory, jaw A D _ Aand MD M F Dcrushers. E C _ 1 1 tion . p dvia f multi-level P a g e 1valida4 / 1 CME’s chief Jeff Smith stat- tion and testing procedures

throughout the design and manufacturing process. In addition to this CME has implemented its own independent controls after delivery. On top of this, Crushing & Mining Equipment’s engineering department is also developing proprietary mill modelling software, based on its in-hours experience as well as industry wide research. This design will also allow CME’s engineers to validate their current designs against theoretical considerations, which will then benchmarked against its growing application database, providing future design control practices. The company also says that it has recently secured a supply of rubber mill liners and components to provide 1mills / 1 1an, option 3 : 3 instead 2 P Mof the standard steel liners.

CME is “planning to end the mill liner duopoly,” Jeff Smith said.

HIGH SPEED DOORS . . . DUST AND TEMPERATURE CONTROL

High speed roll doors, and PVC doors, designed for the mining and waste management industries. For over 40 years, DMF has been providing solutions to control busy doorways from temperature loss, dust entry, and draft. There is an increasing need in the mining industry for this control, in workshops, critical spares warehouses, and in some underground applications. DMF’s high speed roll doors operate at 2m/sec, and are designed for large openings, high wind capacity, and high frequency of use. And, we will custom manufacture to suit your needs. Increase your EOHS proﬁle, and reduce your carbon footprint. Contact DMF today.

WA enquiries ASA Flexible Doors P/L ph 08 9248 1055 fax 08 9248 1135

June 2012

AustralianMining

Opening speeds of 2.0m/sec Sizes over 7m H and 10m W High wind capacity

Sales and service throughout Australia and SE Asia

www.dmf.com.au Aust wide and export DMF International Pty Ltd ph 02 9636 5466 fax 02 9688 1531 www.dmf.com.au

www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMMINJUN_12.pdf

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

Robust structure design frame; The crushers process various characteristic ore. The structure of HPC crushers are designed to stand the large fracture loads of hard ore.

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

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

Special crushing chamber for high performance crushing

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

Long life roller bearing

No leakage fourfold V-packing Strong and silent spiral bevel gear and pinion. 1500kW, large head diameters exceeding 2700mm

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

www.minprovise.com.au

Call Perth (08) 9470 9180, Brisbane (07) 3255 5919 or Mackay (07) 4952 4272 for more details. 14008 A4+

AM.JUN12.PG034.pdf

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HARD ROCK MINING

Prediction T he steadily increasing size and depth of hard rock open pit mines in Australasia, coupled with the more aggressive slope designs being adopted to maximise productivity, has led to an increase in the risk of failures. In Tasmania the Savage River open cut iron ore mine saw a highwall failure that dumped around half a million tonnes of rock fall into the pit. While last year the Sunrise Dam mine saw a massive highwall failure that took out a number of haul roads and managed to move an EX1900 digger nearly a 100 metres. And this doesn’t take into account bench failures that have the potential to drop draglines into the pit, such as at Blair Athol. While a bench or wall failure can sometimes be predicted, they are able to happen in a matter of seconds and often ‘without warning’ before they give way. The use of traditional surveillance methods, such as visual inspection, geotechnical mapping and manual or automated surveying, cannot provide reliable early warning of potential failures. As a result, mine management practices lean heavily on the side of caution in order not to endanger personnel and equipment. This, in turn, has led to potentially serious loss of productivity or, in extreme situations, a negative impact on overall mine reserves and viability. These conditions have prompted, over the past decade, the introduction and rapid growth of the use of sophisticated radar surveillance systems in open pit mines in Australia and overseas. Mining contractor/manufacturer, ROCK Australia, has played a lead role in the development of this fledgling industry. 34

June 2012

AustralianMining

Doug Minchin, who initiated the company’s specialist surveillance division, estimates that from inception in 2002 there are now about sixty radar systems operating in open pit mines in Australasia. Minchin explained that to meet the safety and operating standards of the leading international mining companies, a radar system needs to offer pinpoint accuracy 24/7, be georeferenced and be as close to fail-safe as engineering standards permit. ROCK distributes the South African Reutech MSR (Movement and Survey Radar) system, which is guaranteed to provide 95 per cent availability and, in practice, over the last three years has delivered 98.5 per cent mean availability on all MSR systems worldwide. The latest “Australianised” MSR 300 system can be remotely operated 24/7 in virtually all but the most weather conditions. It has an effective range of 2500 metres and can detect and be alarmed for slope movements of one millimetre or more, virtually in real time. Measurements are fully geo-referenced to a level of accuracy that allows seamless integration with surveyed Digital Terrain Maps of the mine.

PREDILICTION Radar surveying is taking the guesswork out of mine stability.

The accuracy and reliability of radar monitoring allows mine operators to maximise productivity without putting personnel or equipment at heightened risk. Reliable early warning of imminent failures provides a realistic lead-time to evacuate problem areas without the inevitable loss of production that results from the conservative approach necessary when conventional surveillance methods are used. As a graphic example of the benefits of this sophisticated radar surveillance, Minchin cited a major open pit copper and gold mine in Australasia that had ROCK install its first Reutech MSR system at the beginning of 2009. In September of that year, crack meters showed a slight increase in gaps, but

Highwall failures are often sudden and dangerous.

there were no indications of potential slope failure from the mine’s automated prism system or its laser scanner. The MSR, on the other hand, delivered a clear warning of imminent failure and, acting on the radar data, management immediately moved all personnel and mobile equipment from the area. Later that evening, a massive rock fall of over two million tonnes occurred over 17 benches, taking out the junction of two major haul roads that many large trucks had been using while servicing shovels. “Clearly the potential for loss of life and equipment was substantial, so the early warning – which was not duly detected by the mine’s conventional surveillance equipment – would have delivered a generous payback on the cost of the MSR within nine months of its installation,” Minchin said. “The key point in this incident is the ability of MSR to pick up brittle failures. Most other monitoring systems are designed to show trends over a longer time frame,” he added. This mine’s owner also installed a second MSR system in 2010 and then a third at the beginning of 2012, to provide increased critical slope monitoring around all its haul roads. The mine’s movement and survey radar

systems have since provided early warning of a number of further slope failures, all of which had the potential to cause loss of life, plant and equipment. “This impressive track record, coupled with virtually 99 per cent availability, has given management the confidence to experiment with steepening pit walls and increasing angles and batter dimensions to optimise strip ratio, knowing this will not expose personnel and equipment to unnecessary additional risk,” Minchin explained. “Thus today’s sophisticated radar monitoring has graduated from being an important part of an open pit mine’s safety management system to also being a very valuable productivity tool. “It permits a more aggressive approach to slope design and may make it feasible to mine what were previously sterilised ore zones, while maintaining a low-risk profile for personnel and equipment, day and night,” he said. Minchin believes that as the high safety and productivity benefits of accurate radar surveillance become more widely recognised, and are weighed against the relatively modest costs involved, this cost-effective approach will become an industry standard on major open pit mines across the region and eventually on a global scale. www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMPYBMAR_12.pdf

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ROCK

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Visit www.PYBAR.com.au to see our current list of vacancies

At PYBAR our business is moving hard rock. We’re an Australian-owned and focused national company employing 1000 + people with exceptional growth fuelled by a flexible, collaborative approach to projects and secure on-going equipment supply. Our size and growth develops fast-track careers and our small company culture means you’re not just a number in a crowd. We work with each team member individually to develop a rock-solid career.

AM.JUN12.PG036.pdf

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HARD ROCK MINING

Ernest Henry gets shafted The changes at Xstrata’s Ernest Henry mine are continuing with construction of a new hoisting shaft.

lans are rarely stagnant at Xstrata Copper’s Ernest Henry mine in north-west Queensland. On the back of already significant changes the company last month announced the start of construction on a new hoisting shaft on site. The company says the shaft will allow the mine’s production to double once it comes online in 2013, and marks yet another step toward extending the life of the operation. Ernest Henry has been operating since 1997 as an open cut operation, but started a major makeover in 2009 to transform into an underground mine. The transformation was made on the back of a 600 per cent increase in underground reserves, and breathed another 12 years of life into the operation. Ernest Henry Mines general manager Myles Johnston said the new seven-metre wide shaft would reach a depth of around 1,000 metres over the next year. “We transitioned to underground mining late last year, following the completion of our open pit operations, and we are currently trucking ore from the mine via a decline at a rate of approximately two million tonnes per annum,” he said. “Our production will ramp up to three million tonnes per annum by the end of 2012, producing around 25,000 tonnes of copper and 35,000 ounces of gold concentrate.” “Following the commissioning of the shaft at the end of 2013, production will increase to six million tonnes per annum producing 50,000 tonnes of copper and 70,000 ounces of gold concentrate.” Johnston said the new shaft was only part of a number of developments on the constantly changing site. “Over the last year we have installed and com36

June 2012

AustralianMining

The underground shaft area at Ernest Henry.

missioned key pieces of infrastructure, including six winders and a 28 metre tall sky-shaft, to enable shaft sinking to commence and to progress at a rate of up to three metres per day.” Xstrata Copper north Queensland chief operating officer Steve de Kruijff said in a statement the new shaft played an important part in sustaining the mine and its community.

After 15 years operation Ernest Henry is now a permanent and important part of the Cloncurry/Mt Isa region. And with the new jobs and extended life the developments bring with them, Kruijff said Ernest Henry would continue to form an important part of the community. “Our $589 million investment in this project will

extend the life of our Ernest Henry operations by at least 12 years, creating 330 jobs during the construction phase and 400 full time jobs from 2013, and provide ongoing economic security for the Cloncurry community,” he said. Xstrata said it in 2011 its north Queensland copper operations contributed almost $1.6 billion to the Queensland economy and

Contractors working to install a winder in preparation for the shaft sinking.

employed more than 4,400 people. “We also expect to create an additional 100 jobs with the development of our nearby Mount Margaret Mining Project, which we acquired for $175 million in June last year.” The Mount Margaret operation has its sights on around 52 million tonnes of ore at 0.77 per cent copper and 0.23g/t gold. Xstrata has previously slated a three to four million tonnes per annum production target for the development, which is expected to last about five years. The ore from Mount Margaret will feed directly to the Ernest Henry mine concentration along with ore from the standard underground operation. For the bigger picture Ernest Henry’s new hoisting shaft and the wider developments on site are good news for both workers and the wider community. Helping contribute to bigger, better, and longer mining in the region, the developments will help north Queensland communities keep reaping the rewards of the boom. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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HARD ROCK MINING

Back to the future Vital Metals is aiming to resurrect a long forgotten tungsten project in Queensland’s north, writes Andrew Duffy.

ight now all of Queensland’s attention is fixed firmly on coal and coal seam gas. But outside these burgeoning industries a number of exciting projects are developing. One such project is Vital Metals’ Watershed development, which aims to reignite a forgotten sector of Australia’s industry. The lesser-known mineral Vital has set it sights on in north Queensland is tungsten, a metal hardening element that’s indispensible for industrialised societies. Used in the chemicals, machining metals, and drilling and exploration industries, among others, demand for tungsten is currently on the rise. Fuelled by a shortfall out of China, Vital is part of a small group of companies scrambling to get tungsten projects online.

History lesson

Vital CEO Mark Strizek told Australian Mining Australia once had a significant tungsten sector and with a historical view of the market you could understand its demise and resurrection. He said the initial closure of tungsten mines in Queensland, Tasmania, and around the world, was linked to the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. “China was supplying a large amount of tungsten to the Union,” he said. “When it collapsed they flooded the western market. Essentially all the mines in the west got shut down.” But twenty years on the story is much different. “China now control 90 per cent of the market and have actively been reducing supply,” Strizek says. With China cornering the market, reducing supply, and forcing consumers into buying more expensive downstream products, cus38

June 2012

AustralianMining

Scheelite mineralisation fluorescing under UV light.

tomers are now looking to other regions to fill the gap. Tungsten carbide metal makers in Japan, Korea, the USA, and Europe are leading the push, with Governments also eager to waterdown overreliance on single nations.

Global interest

Strizek said Vital had been approached by the stateowned Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation for potential investment. “The Japanese need 10,000 tonnes of tungsten a year and they currently source around 90 per cent of it from China,” he said. With Watershed set to

The core yard at Watershed.

produce anywhere between 1,000 to 2,000 tonnes of metal a year, the project looks an attractive prospect for a number of international buyers. And the Japanese aren’t the only ones searching for more tungsten. Some of the world’s most prominent investors, including Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, are betting big on the metal. Buffett recently tipped $70 million into reopening Woulfe Mining’s South Korean tungsten operations. “Warren isn’t necessarily a gold bug, but he’s certainly a tungsten bug within his business units,” Strizek said.

Strizek said outside the China shortage, the growing economies of India, Brazil, and South America were also driving demand. And in terms of their competitors, including Woulfe, Strizek said Watershed’s building costs, which were around three times less than some others, were one of its main benefits.

Watershed

Watershed was originally located and explored by the Utah Development Company in the early 1980s. Vital acquired the project in 2005, and shelved it during the Global Financial Crisis, so while there’s still work to do some of the

initial costs have been taken care of. Strizek told Australian Mining working on securing final environmental approvals and weighing up export options were at the top of the company’s to-do list. “Since we last looked at it in 2009 the environmental bar has been raised and we’ve had to do additional test work,” he said. “But by the end of the year we should have most of the environmental work in place.” With a heavy Japanese interest, Strizek said the company was also looking at the possibility of exporting directly to Japan, but there were also other options on the table. “Currently there is capacity to export concentrate directly from Watershed to Japan,” he said. “But it could also go another route, as Japanese companies have special economic zones in China and Vietnam. There’s a variety of routes we could do.” Either way Strizek said the company is focused on exporting out of the port of Brisbane but Townsville was still “definitely an option”. “If Townsville gets enough critical mass then it can become a place we can do business from,” he said.

The future

Between high profile investors like Warren Buffett and a tightening market led by the Chinese the tungsten industry is one to watch. Reviving a project originally operating throughout the early 1900s, Vital’s local business represents an interesting conflation of history, politics, and business. And with production just around the corner, the development is an encouraging diversification of Queensland’s traditional coal and gas focus. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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Gryphon Minerals is leading a new wave of Australian investment in West Africa, writes Andrew Duffy.

ne of the biggest new stories in the mining industry is the prospect of developing West Africa. And plenty of Australian companies are taking notice. One country in particular, Burkina Faso, has been slated for development by a number of Australian and international companies. The region has vast mining potential, particularly for gold, iron ore, and other base metals. But it also has its own problems and challenges, both in business and politics. This month Australian Mining caught up with one of Burkina Faso’s most prominent Australian miners, Gryphon Minerals, and got the low-down on developing business and politics in the region from managing director Steve Parsons.

Banfora project

Gryphon is an exploration company that’s developed a presence in Burkina Faso through its Banfora gold project. Parsons told Australian Mining Gryphon was the first Australian company to settle in the region in modern times and the country was a “great place to do business”. While the potential for development is now high, Parsons said the country had not always been so busy. “When we first arrived there were no mines operating in Burkina Faso,” he said. But since a change to the mining code in 2004, the country has seen a spate of new discoveries and a rush of international investment. Parsons said at present there were six mines operating in Burkina Faso and around 20

Australian companies interested in the region. These figures are set to grow higher based on the rising confidence in the region. “It’s gone from zero gold production to the fourth largest gold producing country in Africa, which is quite remarkable in the space of only a few years,” he said. “The Government is really supportive of foreign investment in mining and they see it as a way to pull themselves out of poverty.” So far Gryphon has made an inferred resource discovery of 2 million ounces at Banfora, with more to come at a target of 3 million ounces. “This time next year we’ll be in development on the project and by 2014 we’ll be pouring gold in Burkina Faso,” Parson says. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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If it stays on schedule the com pany is set to be the first Austra lian miner to be pouring gold in the region.

Risky business?

Translated to English Burkina Faso means ‘the land of incorruptible men’ and Parsons says Gryhpon has not had any trouble in the region since it started there in 2007. “We’ve never seen any corrup tion there at any level, it’s a really good place to be,” he says. “It’s a country that’s never had any violence in its history, there’s never been a war there.” Parsons also told Australian Mining Burkina Faso’s democratic leaders were “genuinely loved and respected” and because there were few tribal factions “everyone gets on with each other”. But while companies continue to line up to make a start in Burkina Faso the Australian Government says all is not well in the region’s local politics. Like many countries in West Africa Burkina Faso is struggling with poverty and with poverty comes unrest. The Australian Government cur rently advises travellers to reconsid er visiting Burkina Faso because of the risk of “civil unrest and violent crime. “Armed bandits operate throughout Burkina Faso. You should avoid travelling alone or after dark,” it says. The Government also strongly advises against travelling near the border regions around neighbouring Mali, which has suffered significant A D _ A MC P S F E B _ 1 2 . p d civil strife and which has a “high

Locals see the industry as a way to pull themselves out of poverty.

risk of kidnapping targeting foreign But global issues are as much a nationals”. concern for the company as Burkina While Parsons told Australian Faso’s local politics, and on this Mining Gryphon’s projects were front the experts are bullish. well removed from any violence or crime, a question mark still remains The market f Pa ge 1 3 0 / 0 1 / 1 2 , 1 1 : 0 3 AM RBC Capital Markets analyst Geoff over much of the wider region.

Breen told Australian Mining the wider perspective for West African focused gold companies was gener ally positive. But he said market instability led by the crisis in Europe was making life hard for emerging miners and had caused an overall derating in the market. Breen said while such uncer tainty would normally boost confi dence in gold, it had impacted costs and “squeezed margins” for mining companies. “That’s part of the derating of the sector,” he said. On Gryphon’s share price in particular Breen sounded confi dence but said the company would have to wait out some of the current economic turmoil, which it had the profile and cash reserves to achieve. “Gryphon is in line with the emerging sector,” he said. And on the market in general he was bullish, despite some of its problems. “It’s complex. It’s all about confidence at the moment and con fidence in the market has shattered,” he said. “But I think the risk/reward on the gold sector is heavily skewed to the north.” While Gryphon is undoubt edly facing some challenges with its Banfora project the development sounds a welcome and exciting international presence in Burkina Faso. The mine will be a well needed development in a region desperate for investment, and as one of the most established Australian miners in West Africa, Gryphon will be one to watch.

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AM.JUN12.PG042.pdf

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SKILLS OZ

Good job, GOOD PAY Miners, recruiters, and the Government are looking to the US to fill job vacancies, Andrew Duffy reports.

he necessity of foreign workers is now a harsh reality for mining companies. They’re increasingly becoming the only alternative against delays and cost blowouts, and will soon be a common occurrence across Australian sites. While we’ve typically looked to the UK and Ireland to find workers, the Government’s Skills Australia Needs Expo in Houston last month targeted United States workers. An uncommon sight on Australian mines compared to their European counterparts, US workers represent an attractive prospect for local companies. A region with a strong skills base suffering economic downturn, many stakeholders are looking to the US to become part of a solution to Australia’s skills shortage. But before US workers start streaming onshore, the Government and recruiters have identified key issues that need solving.

Education

New Latitude director Josh Dundon, who represented a number of Australian resources companies in Houston last month, told Australian Mining he’d previously traveled the US looking for workers. He said a key problem in sourcing US talent was a lack of awareness about the possibilities in Australia. “My overall finding was that we need to educate workers about the 42

June 2012

AustralianMining

opportunities that are here,” Dundon explained. “There’s no knowledge about Australia in general and there’s certainly no knowledge of any kind of boom happening. “Most people over there have never considered that there might be an opportunity to work in Australia.”

Recognition

After ensuring awareness Dundon said two important changes, lead by the Government, would make it easier for companies to source US citizens. The first change was simplifying the visa application process, which the Government has already announced its intention to change. The second, and more important, was recognising skills before workers made it onshore. “The big thing that scares people from coming here to work is that they risk coming here and waiting a long period for their skills to be recognised,” Dundon said. Dundon told Australian Mining the Government had been at work to make changes to skills recognition, and a new system would be in place from 1 July.

Culture

A final problem to getting workers on site is the cultural difference between Australia and the US. Dundon said geographical distance, as well as difficulties in how US

citizens viewed far-off countries like Australia, needed to be addressed. But he said these problems would likely solve themselves over time, and were already less of an issue in the younger generation. “Australia is probably the furthest place in some people’s minds because it takes the best part of 30 hours for your average inland American to travel to Australia,” he said. “And there are some cultural differences, but if you compare those to the differences in South East Asia and places like that, then I would confidently say we are more culturally aligned.”

The expo

With all of that in mind, Dundon told Australian Mining his trip to Houston as part of the Skills Australia Needs expo was more about education than signing contracts. “Our primary focus is educating workers on the opportunity and making sure that they walk away with the correct information,” he stated. Dundon while he didn’t rule out New Latitude or other recruiters signing up workers on the spot, the expo was more about building lists and contacts to then follow-up on. “At the end of the day there’s a due diligence process that any employer would be required to follow,” he said. “We need to know who we’re potentially putting in front of our clients.”

“I don’t expect that to be a long drawn-out process, but I don’t think signing someone up on the spot would allow us to do that.”

The targets

Dundon said New Latitude was targeting a mix of blue and white collar workers in Houston. He said as well as resources the company was focused on construction workers, as the industry was also suffering a shortage caused by the mining boom. But one thing all workers will have in common is experience. All US attendees at the Houston expo were registered and prescreened, with no workers turning up out of pure curiosity. Like in Australia, the focus will be on workers with skills and experience, workers companies are having trouble finding locally. In hiring foreign workers Dundon said his views were consistent with the Government’s in that “the primary focus is always ensuring the correct amount of investment in local skills training”. “I certainly don’t promote my business in a way that we are only focused, narrow mindedly, on engaging Americans into Australia,” he said. Dundon said some of the broader issues in the labour market, including the cost of training and the high rate of attrition, meant it was often unattractive for employers to invest heavily in training. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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AM.JUN12.PG044.pdf

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MINERALS PROCESSING

DRYING OUT in the desert A dry tailings system is cutting water usage and site rehab times.

ater is the ever looming issue on mine sites. Particularly for minerals processors. This issue is compounded by the dry, and often remote location of many mines in Australia, which makes access to water suitable for processing difficult. Gindalbie’s Karara iron ore mine is no different. In building its tailings management system, which typically consume high levels of water, the miner aimed to dramatically reduce its water requirements and produce tangible water savings. It hired Bis Industries, which worked with FLSmidth, to design a system that emphasised the miner’s focus on water management. The two companies commissioned and designed an advanced dry tailings management system. This system at Karara will be the first of its type in dry tailings in the country. Dry tailings systems are considered ideal for dry climate mining operations, such as in Australia and for the Karara mine in Western Australia’s Mid West in particular. Along with a cut in water usage 44

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AustralianMining

(which is achieved through process water recycling and the virtual elimination of water losses through evaporation and seepage), other benefits of dry tailings systems include a significantly smaller tailings storage footprint as well as improved site rehabilitation potential. According to Gindalbie’s managing director Tim Netscher, the Karara mine has incorporated a clarification process into the overall ore benefication process which al-

lows the de-watering of tailings to produce tailings that are dry and inert, which allows for the application of a state of the art tailings management system. “The resulting tailings comprise a dry, inert material composed predominately of silica that will be stockpiled and progressively rehabilitated,” Netscher said. The system has been designed and engineered by FLSmidth, and will see a RACHO stacking con-

Karara’s remote location forced it to approach water usage in a different way.

veyor used on site to stockpile these tailings. The technology behind the mobile stacking conveyor to be utilised at the mine is reportedly well proven, with more than 25 systems working throughout the world, operating at more than 12 000 tonnes per hour. At Karara, a vacuum belt filter will reduce the retained moisture of the iron ore tailings to around 15 per cent, giving the tailings the consistency of wet sand. After this the tailings will then be delivered to the designated storage area by conveyor and dispersed by the mobile stacking conveyor. An area of four kilometres square has been allocated for this tailings storage. According to FLSmidth, by comparison a more traditional pond storage system would use an area of about 52 kilometres square to store the tailings that Karara is projected to generate. “This is the case if the area required for such a pond storage system is based on a three metre deep pond, for a fully lined six metre deep pond these space requirement would www.miningaustralia.com.au

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be halved, however even at six metres deep the total area required is still significantly more than that allocated for the dry storage tailings system.” Filling this tailings storage will be a site specific designed GPS controlled mobile stacking conveyor that will run for just over 370 metres. Constructed of space frame truss sections, it is mounted on crawler tracks that are able to level and move individually to maintain the required levelling and alignment as material is continuously stacked. The conveyor has been designed to climb or descend a 10 per cent slope while operating, and a 20 per cent slope when travelling with an empty, non running belt. Initially operating at 14.6 million tonnes per annum (eight million tonnes of dry magnetite concentrate production), the system has been designed to meet the increased output from the processing plant as Stage 2 of the Karara iron ore project comes on line. When fully operational the mobile conveyor system will stack the tailings approximately 90 metres high (in three stages) over a 20-plus year period. director ABis D _Indsustries A MA F C A P R Jim _ 1 Ahearn, 2 . pd who led the team which investigated

storage methods at Karara, said a mobile stacking conveyor system offered a number of benefits for the project and would help the miner in meeting its site and minerals processing water reduction target of 30 per cent. “We examined a number of options,” Ahearn explained, “and finally arrived at the mobile stacking conveyor solution as more environmentally appealing, much less water dependent, and ultimately lower cost for our customer”. Ahearn went on to say that in choosing the FLSmidth RAHCO system fit a number of criteria in the mine’s aim of water reduction. According to Bis the geotechnically stable dry tailings – which are composed most of silica – will provide a secure and workable base for the mine’s future reclamation and revegetation program. The dry nature of the tailings will make them easier to work with, and as there is no water to remove – as would be the case with traditional tailings dam rehabilitation programs – it significantly cuts down on the program’s time. “This tailing strategy will cement our environmental credential by simultaneously delivering several f significant P a g e environmental 1 8 / 0 3 / benefits,” 1 2 , 5 : 3 7 PM The stacker is designed to operate at a rate of 14.6 million tonnes per annum initially. Netscher said.

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AustralianMining 6/03/12 June 2012 45 12:11 PM

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AM.JUN12.PG048.pdf

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Creating ‘super’ workers Schneider Electric and Edith Cowan University are training the next generation of processors.

he ongoing skills shortage is affecting all facets of the mining industry, especially minerals processing. In an attempt to battle this dearth of qualified miners, Schneider, in conjunction with Edith Cowan University (ECU), has opened a new state of the art process control lab that will train the next generation. Speaking to Schneider’s national support and training manager Lyle van der Veer, he explained that the opening of the lab is part of a wider strategy to develop sustainable skills in Western Australia and make the state more self sufficient when it comes to labour. “It is widely reported that the mining states, such as Western Australia, are really feeling the sting of finding the right tools and resources needed to equip students and young professionals with the skill sets needed to be job-ready on completion of their degree. “These laboratories are designed to provide students with the practical, handson-training needed and are set-up to be both operational pilot plants and functional labs to allow students to talk with process and product experts and experi-

June 2012

AustralianMining

ence new technologies and solutions,” van der Veer added. The partnership between Schneider and ECU will focus on processing skills in mechatronics – such as conveyors and heavy machinery, as well as outright minerals processing skills – such as in coal washeries and processing for chemical engineers. “In regards to processing skills it will depend on what customer requirements are, in the east we have focused mostly on coal washeries and using gravity for washing, but on the west coast we will have to try and align our skills and technology with demand, so more focus will be on the iron ore space.” Van der Veer told Australian Mining the end plan is to create ‘super skilled workers’ who are able to operate across a number of different fields. “We need to pool these skills together, it’s a tough ask, but the aim is to create workers who can not only operate the technology, but also improve its design and efficiency.” The first courses are expected to properly begin in August, later this year.

Operating pilot plants will be set up to train students.

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AM.JUN12.PG050.pdf

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The nickel laterite challenge The CSIRO’s David Robinson discusses the work to improve nickel laterite’s viability.

merging economies and the demand for stainless steels and other alloys are driving demand for nickel. With continued challenges and delays in increasing output from existing operations and bringing new operations on-line, supply will struggle to match this increase in demand and thus a simplistic view of the outlook for nickel can be summarised as ‘robust’. Nickel occurs in essentially two ore types; magmatic sulphides and (‘wet’ or ‘dry’) laterites. The sulphides typically are found hundreds of metres below ground with principle mineralisation including pentlandite (Ni, Fe)9S8 . Major deposits such as those in Canada and Russia have historically provided the bulk of nickel production. Nickel laterites on the other hand are found nearer or at the surface and are generally classified as limonitic (the upper layer, based on nickeliferous limonite; (Fe, Ni)O(OH)) or saprolitic (the lower hydrous A Dlayer, _ A Mbased F L Eon J U N _ 1 2nickel . pd silicate; (Ni, Mg)3Si2O5O5(OH)).

A new nickel laterite processing plant under construction in Australia to extract the mineral.

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AM.JUN12.PG051.pdf

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tions (such as Cawse, Murrin Murrin, Bulong) and managing runaway project costs and time delays on new projects (such as Ravensthorpe and Goro). A number of hydrometallurgical technology options have been and continue to be employed as means of alleviating the challenges presented by the ore body and the individual process limitations with recent ‘favourite’ flow sheets being built around ammoniacal based processes (Caron) or sulphuric acid based processes such as high pressure acid leaching (HPAL), Heap Leaching (HL), atmospheric leaching (AL) and combinations or variants of these latter options. Choice of the flow sheet end point also varies site to site with production of saleable ‘intermediate’ products such as mixed sulphide or mixed hydroxide usually being favoured over processing through typically solvent extraction to a final metal product.

Taking a strategic approach

In Australia more than half of our nickel reserves occur as nickel laterites and although the nickel (and cobalt) grade is low and the mineralogy complex these are increasing going to be targets for processing. With this in mind, Researchers within the CSIRO Minerals Down under National Research Flagship (MDU) have identified nickel laterites as a strategic target and they are engaged with a variety of research programs aimed at reducing the cut-off nickel grade of Australian laterites that would be considered economically viable to process. Success in this area will be measured in the billions of dollars value to the Australian economy. CSIRO’s Minerals Down Under Flagship is also a leader in innovations in the exploration, mining and processing areas and is working across Australia to better understand and quantify Australian opportunities to exploit nickel laterites. Innovations around surface and airborne sensors, more efficient drilling, automated characterisation, intelligent mining machines, down-hole analysers hyperspectral core logging and rock characterisation, just to mention a few, continue to assist industry.

Process challenges

One of the first process related challenges with nickel laterites is the low and variable grade. Most attempts to upgrade feed material into a hydrometallurgical plant have largely failed to achieve meaningful increases in nickel concentration www.miningaustralia.com.au

While nickel laterites are attractive from a mining perspective, they are mineralogically complex to efficiently extract.

without loss of a significant proportion of the nickel. With the range of sophisticated mineralogical characterisation tools available to CSIRO we are able to rapidly determine the potential (and metallurgical cost) for ore upgrading on individual ores. Analytical and geometallurgical techniques that identify the distribution of the value metals through varied mineralogical matrices and the gangue mineralogy are critical to understanding, modelling and then optimising leach conditions for best nickel (and cobalt) recovery and minimal excess acid additions (i.e. operating cost). With collaborators, CSIRO has also explored a number of standard and novel beneficiation options with the degrees of success again being reliant on the mineralogical matrix and the value distribution therein. Building on this understanding models have been developed to optimise the performance of both the mild HL and extreme HPAL options for leaching nickel and cobalt into solution with reduced reagent consumption and subsequent neutralisation costs. Subsequent processing then depends very much on understanding the solution chemistry and opportunities and methods for impurity rejection. CSIRO researchers have been able to recently complete and publish research in each of these areas. In parallel to assisting industry optimise ‘traditional’ leaching options we have been working with industry partners to develop alternative acid leaching options and in

at least one of these cases we are currently building a one-tonne-aday demonstration plant which will demonstrate very efficient reagent recycle processes and potentially offer A Dto_ industry A M N O Va Jradical U N _ 1new 2 . oppd tion with very different process eco-

nomics. The issue of recovery of the value metals, nickel and cobalt from the solution remains. This includes post major impurity (mainly iron) removal as an economic improvetoe producing f ment Pa g 1 9 / 0 5intermediate / 1 2 , 4 : 1 1 product.

AustralianMining

June 2012

AM.JUN12.PG052.pdf

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Mining is going organic A miner has found a better, safer way to process nickel laterites, Cole Latimer reports.

t all started with a com pany that would not take no for an answer. Resource Mining Cor poration (RMC) had held its key project the Wowo Gap for some time. Hosting nickel and co balt, in the words of the company it is “a large re source, lies close to the sur face, and is of high quality”. It has an indicated and inferred resource estimate of 125 million tonnes at 1.06 per cent nickel and .07 per cent cobalt. However RMC faced a small problem. This Papua New Gui nean project is two thirds saprolite and only one third limonite. So in actually processing its nickel and cobalt in the traditional method – using sulphuric acid – it was in danger of losing much of its minerals. Resource Mining man aging director Warwick Davies told Australian Mining it needed a better way to process. “If we used conventional sulphuric acid we found it just digested the magnesia in the saprolite,” Davies said. RMC need a solution, so it developed its own by using an organic acid that is able to digest the other minerals to allow the miner access to more of the nickel and cobalt, without sacri ficing it as would have been the case with sulphuric acids. “This development is really a positive for nick el laterites,” Davies told Australian Mining. “What really drove this development,” Davies said, “is that while carrying out feasibility studies with sul phuric acid we found that the project would become uneconomical; we essen tially had a resource that we couldn’t process with con ventional technology. “So instead of aban 52

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AustralianMining

The acid can be used with poly piping instead of steel, allowing mines to scale down.

doning such a prospective project, we went off and investigated other processes; knowing that there are hun dreds of acids we knew that there would be the potential to do this job with another organic acid, and eventually found one.” He explained that this was new territory as the use of sulphuric acids in the di gestions of nickel laterites has typically been the proc ess of choice, as sulphuric acid was cheap, readily available, and it had simply

been the way it was always done in Australia. The study into using this organic acid leach really kicked off in December last year following a $250 000 grant from Commercialisa tion Australia to provide the proof of concept for its organic acid nickel recovery process. At the time Davies said “the organic leaching pro cess provides a more cost effective alternative to a standard high pressure acid leach process and this grant

The acid is capable of 98 per cent extraction within half an hour.

is especially important be cause it has the potential to change the project eco nomics from a development perspective and be better for the environment”. He told Australian Mining that this technology has since demonstrated its abil ity to be used on limonite and saprolite ores. “Now we are working towards optimising its effi ciency.” Recent test works have shown it can achieve 98 per cent nickel extraction from

saprolite materials after less than half an hour. Test work on the li monite materials has con firmed leach extractions of up to 80 per cent after 90 minutes. “We are now optimising conditions, looking at dif ferent acid strengths, con ditions, and time,” Davies said. Resource Mining is also looking at extracting the dissolved nickel and cobalt from the solution as well as acid regeneration and leach ing kinetics. Aside from the immedi ate value to Resource Min ing, Davies explained that processing nickel laterites using this organic acid will make a number of previ ously uneconomic deposits viable, not just to process but also for capital costs. “What this does is not only make deposits more economical, but also pro vides scalability in process ing because with this organ ic acid you don’t need high tech equipment or require ments – you can use poly pipe instead of stainless steel tanks and piping, so you can have a much smaller plant size which means that your capital costs will be lower,” Davies explained. “This changes the dy namics as the processing operations is scalable down wards. “Importantly it also has the potential to process lower grade nickel depos its; however we don’t see this organic process really changing the nickel price.” Resource Mining Cor poration has engaged the CSIRO, under a Consulting Services Agreement, to aid the miner in scoping and mass balancing of the leach tests under a variety of conditions; test optimisation; and acid purification and recovery. The initial contract with the CSIRO is for a six month period. www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMOUTJUN_12.pdf

Page

1 18/05/12,

10:20

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AM.JUN12.PG054.pdf

Page

21/05/12,

3:39

SAFETY

Contractors are now responsible for every aspect of safety on site.

The harmonisation of safety laws across Australia has increased focus on OH&S.

Has national OH&S created harmony? Rob Stummer* investigates how the national OH&S laws have affected you.

n the past few years the interest in Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S) has increased considerably within the resources sector. Not only did harmonised Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws commence in New South Wales, Queensland, the Commonwealth, the ACT and the Northern Territory on 1 January 2012, resources companies have also placed increased importance on OH&S. An effective OH&S policy reduces accidents, which have a direct impact on the efficiency of an organisation, and is vital to attract and retain the best people. In Australia, large resources companies generally have OH&S policies and procedures in place – many of them company and/or sitespecific – which are well in excess of minimum legislative requirements. These are constantly being refined and improved and these large companies have information systems which play a crucial role in supporting them. However, companies in the Engineering, Procurement & Construction (EPC) industry often find it challenging to demonstrate OH&S compliance and the lack of integrated information systems is a key contributing factor.

EPC CONTRACTORS

In the EPC industry, a contractor agrees to complete a fully operational installation. This is comparable with a contractor who, at the end of a real estate project, offers the owner the key to his building. This turnkey EPC approach is becoming in54

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AustralianMining

creasingly common in the resources industry. One advantage is that this approach shifts all the risks to the EPC contractor which designs and constructs the installation and manages all purchasing activities and subcontracting. Also, the contractor is responsible for every aspect of safety, although the contracting company must also ensure that the contractor demonstrates OH&S compliance.

OH&S MANAGEMENT

In order to comply with OH&S regulations – which despite harmonisation efforts, still differ between states – and meet the more stringent demands of clients like resources companies, an efficient OH&S management system is key. In such a system the responsibilities, practices, procedures, processes and means are laid down for the execution of an OH&S policy which is often unique to both the client and the particular site. The advantages of an effective OH&S Management system go beyond meeting any legal requirements. Improving processes and preventing accidents and environmental damage will also increase a company’s efficiency and improve profitability.

CONTRACTOR MANAGEMENT

An important part of OH&S Management is Contractor Management. Here, the client measures the performance of subcontractors, suppliers and other parties involved. Measurements are performed on the

basis of agreements on safety and working methods. In general, parties will document in detail agreements made with regard to roles and responsibilities, in order for organisations to properly control them and create an accident free workplace on a day-to-day basis. For a company that outsources work to a contractor or subcontractor, it is far more efficient to work with an integrated system which records and can report on health and safety information, insurance data, training programs and specific contractor and owner/client documents.

RISK AND CONTROL

While outsourcing has many benefits it can also increase risk. While companies involved in the execution of projects find it relatively easy to monitor their own OH&S performance, this is more complex for companies that commission assignments. Importantly, outsourcing does not relieve a company of its responsibility for safety management. Therefore, organisations will benefit from a clear insight into how their contractors and/or subcontractors deal with OH&S policies. While this insight is increasingly easy to realise by deploying modern automation tools, not all companies involved have the systems in place to efficiently capture and report on the necessary information. This can be an issue for EPC companies when they are gearing up for a new project. Many lack

the systems to efficiently coordinate the right resources and demonstrate OH&S compliance. This can have a knock-on effect when mobilisation timeframes are compressed – for example, when contract negotiations take longer than expected – and can lead to client companies imposing additional and costly procedural requirements.

AUTOMATING PROCESSES

For many organisations, monitoring incidents and reporting on them is a complex matter. A common reason is that incidents are registered in stand-alone information systems that support only a part of the entire OH&S policy. As a consequence, the organisation lacks a complete overview and it is impossible to coordinate with other business processes. The question here is what the best choice would be in automating business processes: an integrated system that supports all processes, or a best-of-breed approach where separate specialised applications are deployed for different types of processes. While efforts to harmonise different OH&S regimes in Australia are welcome, there will never be a one-size-fits-all solution. Systems which can be easily configured to meet different OH&S policies are far more valuable and cost-effective than those requiring expensive or time-consuming customisation. *Rob Stummer is the managing director for IFS Australia and NZ. www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMMACJUN_12.pdf Page 1 Mining Review_235x297_V3 11/05/12 1:45 PM Page 1

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AM.JUN12.PG056.pdf

Page

18/05/12,

1:53

MAINTENANCE & MONITORING

Relentless AND reliable GE has taken the plunge into the already crowded mining maintenance software market.

orking all day and all night for most of the year, mining operations are designed to keep machinery operating for as long as possible. Time is money, and delays as small as an hour can sometimes cost millions in lost productivity. With that in mind GE Intelligent Platforms, a division of GE that offers software and computing services, has introduced the SmartSignal Shield software for the oil and gas industry. The announcement marks GEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s expansion into an already crowded market for mining companies. There are already plenty of products out there for monitoring and detecting downtime on site, so to be viable GEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s offering will need to stick out from the pack. Like products already on the market, the Shield is designed to help a companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s maintenance AD _ A M Q M WA U G _ 1 0 team . pd detect equipment problems early.

It also guards against surprise failure, the most costly downtime for a miner. In a statement GE said the Shield warned of impending problems and gave diagnostic guidance. It said with the software users could move from â&#x20AC;&#x153;reactive to proactive maintenanceâ&#x20AC;? by working on the most critical problems first. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They can focus their efforts on action, not analysis â&#x20AC;&#x201C; increasing reliability, availability, efficiency, and compliance,â&#x20AC;? it said. GE said it developed the software based on shared blind data from its customers. It said such data had supplied it with â&#x20AC;&#x153;the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest base of predictive-diagnostic intelligenceâ&#x20AC;?. â&#x20AC;&#x153;From experience based on millions of machine hours and tens of thousands of failures from over f 12,000 P a g rotating e 1 2and 2 / 7non-rotating / 1 0 , 1 assets, GE was able to identify fault

The Shield aims to predict downtime early and avoid unplanned maintenance

patterns, in context of operating behaviour, that are critical to the Power and Oil and Gas industries, and incorporate them into software.â&#x20AC;? In a statement GE said the Shield worked by combining observations on multiple sensors to pinpoint machinery failure. Moving beyond traditional vibration and thermal analysis, 0 the : 5 company 9 A M said the Shield also modeled data on critical rotating

and non rotating equipment. It said this monitoring operated automatically and relentlessly, working 24 hours a day. At this point itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard to tell whether these selling points will gain traction for GE in an industry already crowded with similar software. But with the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s size and access to research and data, the Shield will likely draw some customers, if only out of curiosity.

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 ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ Â Â? Â? Â? Â? Â Â Â&#x20AC; Â? 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

www.qmw.com.au 56

June 2012

AustralianMining

www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMMIN2OCT_11.pdf

Page

25/08/11,

9:08

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AM.JUN12.PG058.pdf

Page

21/05/12,

2:17

MAINTENANCE & MONITORING

Managing risk Fluke’s equipment is helping keep welding and cutting on site safe.

o matter how hard eters, service and training Fluke said because it was employees or com company Capability Re fanless the meter prevented panies work at safe sources says it’s been able dust buildup, which in ty and maintenance, there to keep track of its gear and creased reliability and made are still going to be things ensure welding equipment it perfect for use in mining’s that put workers at risk. meets guidelines. harsh environments. Cutting and welding is Capability’s team visits It said the tool made one such liability. mines across NSW to assist safetycertified measure According to test tool companies and employees ments possible, which were manufacturer Fluke, weld with welding safety com “critical in safely trouble ing is one of the highest risk pliance. shooting electrical devices in activities in the industry. The company also highenergy applications”. This risk has been con makes recommendations, Capability also said us firmed by the NSW Govern equipment repairs, and ing the meter on its equip ment, with the Department provides new equipment ment helped minimise the of Primary Indutries releas when required. risk of electrocution from ing its own guidelines for In a statement Fluke said faulty equipment. safe cutting and welding at the ScopeMeter measures In a statement Capability mines. and displays voltage signals operations manager Andrew With not only the opera and allows users to deter Carter said the meter helped tion of the mine but the mine whether glitches, dis give “peace of mind for op wellbeing of workers and tortion, or noise is affecting erators and management in the community at stake, equipment. the knowledge their equip the testing and reliability It said the meter’s elec ment is being maintained to of welding equipment is an trically floating inputs, and the highest standards”. important consideration for fanless and batterypowered “The meters are fit for mining it eapart purpose A D _companies. A M B E A J U N _ 1 2 operation, . pdf Pset a g 1 from 1 8 / 0 5 / 1 2 ,allowing 9 : 3 3us A to M Using Fluke ScopeM other products. undertake our testing safely,

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AustralianMining

The NSW Government has ranked welding as one of the riskiest activities on site.

accurately and efficiently.” Carter said Capability had also conducted Scope

Meter training to ensure staff could use the tool properly.

www.miningaustralia.com.au

AM.JUN12.PG059.pdf

Page

21/05/12,

3:57

MAINTENANCE & MONITORING

Linked in Remote links via the internet are making complex maintenance tasks easier for miners.

ost mining plants now in clude complex machines with software and systems geared around automation. In such environments mainte nance and repair is increasingly call ing for specialised personnel. And in some cases only one manu facturer can provide the right service. With the skills shortage already crippling the industry, and skilled workers getting harder to find, spe cialised maintenance looks set to hit companies hard in the future. Whether large or small, the con stant pressure on mine production means companies are always look ing for systems to operate more ef ficiently and economically. Downtimes not only hit the bot tom line, but also risk worker safety and a company’s reputation. According to Phoenix Contact with maintenance of automatic sys tems becoming increasingly difficult, miners are now linking their plants to theAmanufacturer via D _ A M WA D J the U Ninternet. _ 1 2 . pd This link enables them to get

www.miningaustralia.com.au

Remote links with manufacturers can keep equipment running longer

quick support from manufacturers maintenance applications, to ad and save time and money. dress those needs. In a statement Phoenix said Phoenix said the FLMGuard companies were primarily focused also provided a firewall to ensure a on cost, security, bandwidth, avail safe link over the internet. ability, and service when setting up The company said in the era of a remote maintenance link. the Stuxnet worm, which attacks It said it had expanded its FLM automation systems, protection from Guard f P a gsecurity e 1 1appliances, 8 / 0 5 / 1which 2 , 1 the 0 :outside 2 4 was A Mparticularly important. can solve simple routing and remote Phoenix said its FLMGuard had

systems builtin to “work just like an antivirus sensor”. “Operators can thus run fire walls in parallel to achieve maxi mum protection of their systems in a way not previously possible,” it said. When it works well a remote maintenance link offers several benefits to a mining company. The biggest are savings on out sourcing and warranty costs, with both the miner and manufacturer able to cut down on driving or fly ing experts on site. “The cost for travelling to and from the machine location as well as the working hours can almost be halved if the manufacturer draws on the possibility of remote mainten ance,” Phoenix says. In a statement Phoenix said while companies “generally cannot afford to have an expert on staff for each of the different systems” link ing to external workers represented an “attractive, economically viable alternative”.

AustralianMining

June 2012

AM.JUN12.PG060.pdf

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11:10

MAINTENANCE & MONITORING

Keeping an eye on the job Continual maintenance averted a potential underground disaster.

n experienced eye on site can pick up minute changes and this can make all the difference. From a potential wall failure to a roof collapse, having the right people watching is key. However, monitoring of your equipment is not just something that occurs at the mine itself, with proper monitoring crucial from OEMs onwards. Training aids in creat ing this maintenance and monitoring experience, with roof bolt manufacturer Dy widag Systems International (DSI) saying experience and diligence recently averted a potential disaster at an un derground coal mine. In early December last year, during a scheduled 2.1 metre roof bolt production run, one of the operators working the shear noticed that some of the steel bars being prepared for roof bolt manufacturer would cut much more easily than oth ers in the same batch. After carrying out an in spection, the operator found that all bars were labelled correctly – AX Grade steel as ordered – but following further testing they found that a few of the bars in the bundle being worked were actually 300Plus Grade. The difference between AX Grade and 300Plus Grade is high. While both exhibit the same physical characteris tics, the 300Plus only has a nominal load bearing capa city of 19 tonnes compared to the tougher AX Grade at 34 tonnes. DSI explained that to achieve the improved load bearing capacity, the AX Grade contains about one per cent manganese – which the company would use as a reference point as part of its inspection programs. As soon as the cross contamination of the steel batches became apparent, 60

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AustralianMining

A close eye during roof bolting uncovered a potentially dangerous fault.

the company said that it car ried out a massive ‘Quality Assurance and Quality Con trol’ program to track and quarantine any and all mis labelled roof bolts that had been manufactured and sent to customers. “As a roof bolt manu facturer, this was not the type of scenario we wanted to be confronted with,” DSI

chief executive Derek Hird explained. Luckily “we knew we had the QA and QC system in place to track down any bolts that had been dispatched”. According to the compa ny, following the program it quickly received ‘some early good news’ from a steel sup plier who was able to con firm that the ‘contaminated’

AX Grade steel was con fined to a very small group of products supplied to DSI. “Apart from reassur ing the broader coal mining market that bolts from other manufacturers were safe … such knowledge also helped DSI track any delivered bolts more quickly,” Hird said. More than 2500 bolts were tested.

Within four days of the discovery DSI had testing teams on site to test every suspect roof bolt.

DSI said that in all, four underground mines were identified as the potential recipients of the bolts manu factured from the lower grade steel. Hird stated that each customer was contacted and given a full run down of the situation, as well as advised of a site inspection. “We decided that our staff would go to sites where products had been received and, in conjunction with the site authorities – typically the technical services man ager – physically test all their bolts, both those installed and in storage,” he said. Each inspection team had an XRF Alloy Analyser to detect the bolts’ manga nese levels. With the manganese levels in the 300Plus Grade typically only in the .65 to .85 per cent, the teams were quickly able to separate these from AX Grade bolts with levels of 1 per cent and over. The testing teams made sure to brush all bolt surfac es to obtain better readings. Hird said that on 12 December, within four days of the first discovery, these inspection teams hit mine sites. “The inspection pro gram continued over the Christmas holidays and was completed by 21 February.” He said that despite the initial problem, the overall outcome was positive as it has given the company a real life test of its monitoring and response procedures. “As a company we put policies in place as a step by step guide to resolving issues around scenarios such as supplying product contrary to what was ordered. “This incident involving the incorrect feed steel supply took us one step before qual ity production policy was ac tive but we could still resolve the situation quickly, effi ciently, and maintain product quality,” Hird added. www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMHENJUN_12.pdf

Page

15/05/12,

3:54

Enough said.

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AM.JUN12.PG062.pdf

Page

18/05/12,

2:21

MAINTENANCE & MONITORING

Breathe easy Global ventilation expert Gary Thorison shares his views on how Australian mines stack up against other countries.

ary Thorinson has travelled the world, and visited mines on nearly every continent. The ABC Ventilation Systems director has seen the best and the worst, and watched the industry grow and change over the years. After recently visiting Australia the Canada-based ventilation expert said he’d been impressed by what he’d seen. But he also saw room for improvement. Thorinson said most Australian sites had the basics of mine ventilation down-pat. “Australian mines in general have very good primary ventilation and that takes a bit of pressure off the secondary ventilation, that is, the fans and ducts inside the mine,” he said. “Primary ventilation, or large fans placed at the surface, are the key to getting good ventilation.” He also said ventilation management and standardisation in Australia was some of the best in the world. “I see more standardisation in sizes of ducting and fans here than any other place,” he said. “With standardisation you have a better chance of succeeding in getting the right things in the right places.” But he said there was one practice used widely in Australia he’d seen avoided in other countries because of its risk to safety. A D _ A MS E I J U N _ 1 2 . p d “The one unusual thing about

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AustralianMining

Thorison says while ventilation has improved it can still get better.

Australia is the high use of poly “The other installation error ducting, which in many mining we see is that of trying to bend the countries is considered unsafe due straight ducting around corners – to variable burning characteristics you need to get smooth transitions in flame testing,” he said. to get low resistance and good air.” Thorinson said the most comStressing the importance of venmon errors seen on mine sites glo- tilation, Thorison said it was vital bally were maintenance and instal- miners paid more attention to the lation problems. topic to ensure the safety of their “We really believe that repair workers. is key to good ventilation – a good And he said while improved installation with holes in it will not ventilation systems were seeing deliver the air required to give the improvements in site safety and miner a safe and healthy working worker health, the progress was not f Pa ge 1 8 / 5 / 1 2 , 1 1 : 0 4 AM environment,” he said. happening fast enough.

“There is a greater awareness today on the part of the companies and miners of the importance of protective equipment.” “Nonetheless we are continuing to see miners with respiratory problems and that is certainly a reflection that we are not able to keep the air as clean as we want.” Thorison said the industry needed to work harder on making sure the equipment was there to ensure safe work and that employees understood how to use it. “Many mines have all of the right equipment for ventilation but it is the use of that equipment that sometimes produces substandard results,” he said. No matter where in the world the operation was, or the kind of development it involved, Thorison said this commitment to safety united the global industry. He said the companies and regions that wanted to have the highest skilled workers and the best producing mines would be the regions that made this commitment. In assessing Australia’s performance, Thorison said it was “in the lead” on mine education of all types, which fed into its rising reputation. “The system in Australia for developing miners and mine managers is the best I see anywhere and it is showing, Australians have become big exporters of mine personnel for all of the new mining areas,” he said.

www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMENEJUN_12.pdf

Page

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AM.JUN12.PG064.pdf

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MAINTENANCE & MONITORING

Running on worn tyres can impact safety, fuel efficiency, and maintenance costs.

Controlling costs With the cost of running vehicles back in the spotlight, TyreSafe has started a new awareness push.

n the lead-up to the Federal Budget speculation the Government was eyeing a cut to the diesel fuel rebate scheme drew a strong reaction from the mining industry. Companies warned the plan could shave millions off the bottom line, and threaten the viability of some projects. From junior operators to BHP Billiton’s massive Olympic Dam development, concern over the cost of running vehicles and equipment was brought to the forefront. Once the budget was announced the industry breathed a collective sigh of relief over the Government’s move to leave the rebate intact. But concern over the cost of vehicles remains strong, with efficiency, reliability, and maintenance prices a key issue for most companies. The impending carbon tax, and what that will mean for businesses running large fleets of vehicles, also remains a concern for some organisations. With the rising costs of running vehicles back in the news cycle maintenance specialists TyreSafe have restarted an awareness campaign among Australian businesses. In a statement Tyresafe said maintaining tyres on a large vehicle fleet improved safety and cut costs on emissions and maintenance. It said with the carbon tax now ready for introduction in Australia such improvements were becoming more important for large fleet operators. 64

June 2012

AustralianMining

“Whether your fleet is in Australia or New Zealand your carbon footprint and operation costs are coming under closer scrutiny by not only your immediate customers, but also by your staff, your investors, the government and the larger supply chain,” it said. “A large number of responsible fleet operators, are already running efficient fleets, and have invested a large amount of time and money on reducing running costs, including fuel consumption.” Tyresafe said while companies were already acting on emissions they were also looking to cut vehicle spending in other areas and “the big savings seem to be in tyres”. “Proper tyre care plays a big part in reducing costs and improving safety – and it all starts with checking tyres often for inflation and wear,” it said. The company said automatic monitoring systems like the offering from Pneuscan, which automatically measures tyre pressure, tread depth, axle weighs, and wheel alignment, were helping reduce fuel usage and decrease tyre wear. “Tyre-related costs are the single largest maintenance cost item for commercial vehicle fleet operators,” it said. “Yet, most vehicles on the road operate with worn, under-inflated tyres which affect road safety, fuel efficiency and maintenance expenses.” www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_LMHJACAPR_12.pdf

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AM.JUN12.PG066.pdf

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CONVEYORS & MATERIALS HANDLING

Keeping things MOVING Flexco’s DRX impact beds are saving time and money on site.

ne of the lesser known details of a materials handling system – the impact beds on a conveyor belt – play a vital role in keeping things moving. Placed strategically under the belt at loading points the beds adsorb impact forces from the transfer of lumps and material on the conveyor. In announcing its range of impact beds global conveyor supplier Flexco said it had aimed to expand on the protection already available to miners. In a statement Flexco managing director Chris Bayliss said the company’s DRX range provided protection “through the entire structure, not just the bars”. Flexco said its DRX range also controlled acceleration in order to deaden the impact force and reduce reaction force. meant AItD said _ A Mthe B R result E MA R _ 1 2 more . pd protection for conveyors.

The DRX range also features what Flexco calls a “distinctive inverteddesign” on the impact bar supports. The design allows the product’s bars to expand and function as a first level of defence. Isolation mounts also provide a second level of force reduction, adsorbing impact energy whilst minimising transmission back to the belt. Flexco said the entire design Impact beds help extend the life of conveyor belts. gave three main benefits to the user. The first and most obvious was longer belt life. With slide-out service the impact spend up to eight hours replacing This was achieved through less beds are separated in the middle, the bars. belt wear and reduced belt damage. with the two sides allowed to slide But with its new features a twoThe second was lower rebound- apart and out. person crew can change the bars in ing and material degradation. The company said the feature just one to two hours. The third was greater protec- allowed workers direct access to all Such improvements mean signifition through two levels of impact bars and bolts on the equipment. cant savings for the time of workers adsorption. It said the beds also offered and money of businesses. In making maintenance quick, rapid changes between the run and “To assist in fast turnaround for easy, and safe, Flexco said the DRX servicing position. replacement work, Flexco Australia f range P a also g e included 1 1 7a/ slide-out 0 2 / 1 serv2 , 1 2 : Flexco 1 1 Psaid M some conventional hold a range of impact bars locally, ice feature. beds required two-person crews to ex-stock,” the company added.

No two conveyors are the same. At Brevini Australia, we have tailored-solutions based on our unique PIV Drives. With efﬁciencies at up to 97%, these compact drives are easy to install and align in very restricted spaces. We also design and manufacture take-up winches to provide the tension requirements unique to each conveyor. Our Engineering Department has experience and capability to design to your speciﬁc needs. And, our Brevini Service is there 24/7 to see to your maintenance and parts requirements. Your investment in Brevini equipment is a long term proposition, with big returns for your peace of mind. Call us NOW to discuss your needs.

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June 2012

AustralianMining

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AM.JUN12.PG067.pdf

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Pilbara rail upgrade

Handling Bulk Powders and Granules? We are System Designers, Suppliers and Integrators for heavy duty mining work.

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Minetec is speeding up work on its upgrades to Pilbara infrastructure.

ew tracks, new sleepers, and new routes are what usually come to mind when you hear the words ‘rail upgrade’. But in the Pilbara Perth-based communications company Minetec is supplying the hardware for an equally important, though lesser known part of a rail improvement. The company has recently commenced construction of a data communications network along 250 kilometres of rail in the Pilbara. The $12.5 million first stage involves the construction, commissioning, and testing of more than 100 radio poles beside the railway. The company said it expected this work to be completed by the first quarter of 2013. Stage two will then involve the construction of 13 radio base stations and the installation of “microwave communication technology,” according to Minetec. In a statement Minetec general manager Steve Hannah said work was underway and the company was already looking at making additions to speed up work. “We have an eight person crew constructing and concreting towers into place and are looking to add a second crew in coming weeks to speed up work,” he said.

Once up and running the entire system will enable the track user to transfer data along the line. Hannah said the important yet often overlooked system means train drivers, depots, and the computers managing the line can interact with each other. In the increasingly busy Pilbara rail traffic, the network means users can operate efficiently and keep aware of important updates. Minetec’s contract is not the only new rail work being considered in the Pilbara, with QR National and Atlas Iron making headlines earlier this year after news the two companies were considering building a new independent line for the region. “The system is far more than just enabling train drivers to be in contact with their depots,” he said. “Coordinating the actions of locomotives is critical in ensuring the trains operate in the most effective manner.” “It is also important that track conditions and ore cars are constantly monitored because of the stresses involved in transporting iron ore.” Hannah said the total upgrade contract was an extension of the technology Minetec had developed to help communications on site.

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AustralianMining

June 2012

1 : 2 9

AM.JUN12.PG068.pdf

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CONVEYORS & MATERIALS HANDLING

From pit to port New industry trends mean miners need to be aware of rising infrastructure costs, writes Andrew Duffy.

ransportation costs make up some of the biggest outlays for a mining company. Choosing the right options can therefore make a big impact on a mine’s operation. According to Aureco mining and infrastructure leader Andrew Keith while the costs of transportation are already high they’re set to grow worse in the future. In a post conference workshop at the Indonesia Pit to Port Summit Keith listed some key trends that looked set to hike future costs. One was the rising distance mines were getting from the coast and from buyers. Others included more challenging terrain and difficult political and environmental conditions. Keith said because of The ratio of infrastructure costs vs. equipment costs has dramatically shifted in the last decade. these trends infrastructure now needed as much con- cent of development costs ments and sustainable cost land conveyors and there is sideration as geology, mine and plant and machinery tak- reduction could produce a 13km one running at nearplanning, and processing. ing up around 20 per cent. long lasting and significant ly 9 metres a second.” He told Australian MinIn some parts of the improvements.” “Technology is pushing ing a Government study world, such as the developKeith told Australian the boundaries of what was indicated back in 1998 ing regions of Africa and Mining “incremental in- previously regarded as how that plant equipment and Indonesia, Keith said those creases” in infrastructure things worked.” machinery made up some costs were likely to be higher. technology were starting to Keith said historically 60 per cent of a mine’s de“Trends in the mining address the issue. companies hadn’t focused velopment cost while infra- industry mean that transpor“Ten or fifteen years ago on infrastructure but if they structure (such as transport, tation infrastructure and op- it would have been unthink- wanted to stay on top of power, and water) made up erational costs are becoming able to have a 20km long costs they needed a greater around 40 per cent. increasingly vital to the vi- overland conveyor running awareness of the issue. But by 2011 the figures ability of resource projects,” at greater than five metres a “With the changed balhave switched dramatically, he said. second,” he said. ance of costs going towards A Dinfrastructure _ A M A X I Anow P R _ac1 2 . p “This df Pkey a garea e 1is one 2 3 / 0 3 “There / 1 2 , are 8 : 1 now 4 AM with a these long supply lines, both Axiom Mining 80 Ad 02e 1 20/03/12 12:19 PM counting for around per- 60x210.pdf where efficiency developnumber of 20km long over- in terms of the ore chain out

and the supply line out, that previous approach ceases to be a reasonable way to asses mine development,” he said. “Inevitably the project will have cost blow outs if infrastructure isn’t taken more into account.” And he said in some cases companies lacked the awareness. “When you’ve been doing things one way for many decades then there’s an inertia involved in adapting to changed circumstances,” he stated. As broad generalisations to cut infrastructure costs he offered two main tips, of which he said most miners were already aware. “Reduce you reliance on fuel oil, electrify what you can, and get stuff off the road.” With some big name developments in Queensland’s Galilee Basin sorely lacking infrastructure networks the topic is likely to take an increasingly large take of the future mining news cycle. Bitter tonnage allocations fights at Port Hedland in Western Australia, as well as rail access negotiations in the Pilbara are already a sign of more to come. The companies that start to take notice of infrastructure, and keep it at their planning forefront, are likely the ones who will succeed in the future.

CMY

Phone Email Web Postal

June 2012

(08) 8118 6151 sales@axiomic.com.au www.axiomic.com.au PO Box 243 Melrose Park SA 5039 Australia Wide AustralianMining

www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMNACJUN_12.pdf

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Change is inevitable But your downtime doesn’t have to be. When you’re working in demanding environments you need your equipment to work for you – not the other way round. The Hyster lift truck with tyre handler attachment is the most efficient solution for every over-sized tyre changing job. With a lifting capacity of 15 tonnes and the functionality to complete a tyre change without the operator leaving the cab, the Hyster tyre handler is a change for the better that can deliver both safety and cost efficiency to your bottom line. To find out more call 1300 880 335 or visit AALHYSTERFORKLIFTS.COM.AU today.

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AM.JUN12.PG070.pdf

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CONVEYORS & MATERIALS HANDLING

A palatable solution Kinder and Co are saving money and the environment with an innovative conveyor recycling method.

onveyor specialists Kinder & Co are doing something a little out of the ordinary with their used conveyor parts. In the Melbourne suburb of Braeside the company is converting their customers’ rollers into recycled shipping pallets. The initiative means that after years of bulk handling the worn rollers are reborn to serve a second purpose. Kinder says after reaching the end of their useful life, the conveyor rollers are shredded, granulated, and mixed with a special formula. The material is then recycled into new lengths, cut to size, and rebuilt into pallets. The born again pallets are then used by the company to transport new loads of rollers back to clients, completing the cycle. Kinder said the entire process had reduced costs and saved “thousands of tonnes of timber” that would otherwise be needed to build pallets. InA aD statement _ A M S U the H J company U N _ 1 2said . p the recycling process had been made

A packed pallet ready for reuse

possible through a commercial ar- technology that had taken nearly 15 rangement with Victoria-based Aus- years to perfect. tralian Composite Technology. Sweeney said the recycled pallets ACT director Roger Sweeney offered df Pa ge 1 3 / 0 5 / 1 2 , 1 : 1 9 many P M benefits to companies, said the process involved specialised extending beyond the preservation of the world’s forests, which were the “traditional starting place for pallet manufacturing”. He said the pallets had a longer life cycle due to immunity from marine, insect, and fungal attacks. He also said they could be “recycled indefinitely,” and be manufactured to produce non-slip features for grip and safety. The pallets can be totally fireproofed without the use of chemi-

cals, and don’t need to be fumigated in an export environment. Kinder said the pallets had sparked interest not only from clients, but also from businesses and companies that have traditionally relied on wooden pallets. It listed local energy provider TRUenergy as one prominent business that had taken them on. “As one of Kinder & Co’s longest serving and environmentally conscious clients, TRUenergy has recently started utilising these recycled pallets and is finding them a very good fit with their environmental policy,” it said. Kinder CEO Neil Kinder said in a statement the recycled pallets were only one move in a series of environmentally conscious steps for the company. “Recycling is not a new phenomenon at Kinder,” he said. “In this day and age with the global environmental sustainability imperatives, no company can afford to accept the status quo.” But Kinder also said the initiative was not only about the economic incentives. “This is not just about new taxes, carbon credits and the emissions trading scheme,” he said. “It’s about companies being good stewards for those who will come after us. We don’t want them in 20 years time to have to have a massive repair bill in a seriously compromised world.

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June 2012

AustralianMining

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AD_AMWIRJUN_12.pdf

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SURFACE MINING AND CRUSHING – TECHNOLOGY AND RELIABILITY

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18.03.10 16:06

AM.JUN12.PG072.pdf

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PRODUCT FOCUS: TEST & MEASUREMENT

Inductive proximity switch

Pressure sensors SChneIder electric has announced the release of its new range of XmLK pressure sensors. the osiSense XmLK pressure sensors are a cost effective range of pressure sensors with a high degree of accuracy for controlling both air and water pressure in various pumping applications. As a tested application, when using the XmLK pressure sensor in conjunction with Schneider electric’s Altivar variable speed drives, the XmLK sensors help to optimise motor efficiency and reduce the energy consumption of various pumps. Key features and benefits of the osiSense XmLK include a light weight plastic body design that is made available in eight pressure range options (100, 150, 200, 300 psi & 6, 10, 16, 25 bar). the different pressure range models allow for 0-10V or 4-20 mA output signal control. • Schneider Electric 1300 369 233 www.schneider-electric.com.au

Has a large detection distance. AutomAted Control engineering (A.C.e.) and Has a lightWeber have introduced the new 2400-2500 inductive weight body. proximity switch. the proximity switch has large detection distance and is designed for use in harsh industrial environments. Proxi-captor type 2500, and its coil, has been especially conceived for application in environments where normal proximity switches are restricted by the presence of surrounding machinery. the self-adjusting property of this system assures constant oscillation under all working conditions, thus the units adjust themselves to their environment automatically whilst keeping their operating condition constant with changing temperatures. metromAtICS is distributing Acromag’s new I/o Server For applications which require an adjustable Industrial PC with Intel® Atom® n270 1.6Ghz CPu. Acromag’s switching range, proxi-captor type 2400.-- has IoS-7400 Industrial I/o Server is a rugged Industrial PC with been constructed to allow adjustment by means of a integrated support for user I/o. the IoS-7400 has built-in carrier potentiometer. card which interfaces up to four plug-in I/o modules to the It features remote inductive proximity switch; is Cooling plates wick away heat. CPu. the embedded computer supports video, audio, ethernet, available in switching or analogue versions; comes serial, and uSB devices. A wide variety of I/o modules provide completely encapsulated; has no moving parts; and is mix and match flexibility, high channel density, and a clean cable interface. the I/o constructed with a rugged aluminium housing. Server’s fanless design employs advanced thermal technology and high-performance • A.C.E. components to accommodate a wide operating temperature range -30 to 75°C. 02 4954 5004 • Metromatics sales@aceg.com.au www.metromatics.com.au www.aceg.com.au A D _ A ML I N J U N _ 1 2 . p d f Pa ge 1 9 / 0 5 / 1 2 , 4 : 0 6 PM

Industrial servers

June 2012

AustralianMining

www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMTIAJUN_12.pdf

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CRACKIN’ NUTS... Model shown: M18 Heavy Duty High-I High-Impact Wrench

AND GRINDING SLAGS

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THE TH HE B BIGGER...THE ..THE BETTER ..T

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AM.JUN12.PG074.pdf

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TEST & MEASUREMENT

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Testing plant defence

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AustralianMining

s we consider facilities operating process control, especially those associated with critical infrastructure, we are increasingly concerned with the defence of the environment – protecting it from intrusion both from the inside and outside. We have made great strides in building this defence, and a small percentage of top tier suppliers of control systems and customers are applying best practices to this problematic area. Over the next three to five years, new and maturing technologies will be added to the portfolio of available and proven strategies for defending and protecting control system assets. To get started addressing the security challenge, organisations will benefit by implementing a security feedback loop that operates on the following premise: Threats intending to exploit

vulnerabilities require countermeasures to minimise risk to assets. That’s the Threat/Risk Assessment portion of the loop. Viewed graphically, it looks something like the image below. As shown, the security feedback loop represents an ongoing process. Consistency and confidence in the process is the goal. Through the process, security awareness and defence continues to evolve to meet the ever changing threats and new vulnerabilities. One of the logical first steps in determining the exposure of a control systems environment is a Risk Assessment, providing a summary of risk areas and actionable recommendations to either remove or neutralise the risk. And as technology advancements are introduced into the control systems environment, we’re seeing requirements for

increased vigilance and the application of best practices and techniques that will continue to offer increased peace of mind. Where do we go from here? With the process security foundation defined above, the next question is – what technology and process evolution can help us make a step change in security process control systems into the future?

Whitelisting

Why white list? Perhaps your first introduction to the “white list” approach was for email management – specifically, for eliminating spam and allowing messages you want to receive. We see it today as a way to prohibit unapproved software/applications from running on the protected system. “Good” software makes its Continued on page 76 www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMHITJUN_12.pdf

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AM.JUN12.PG076.pdf

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TEST & MEASUREMENT

Continued from page 74

way onto the white list, while unauthorised software is prohibited from executing and doing whatever “bad thing” it was intended to do. Many enthusiasts believe whitelisting is a good defence against “zero day” intrusions – preventing some, but not all of them. Forward-thinking whitelisting advocates in Australia are looking at advancements in whitelisting as a way to quarantine unauthorised software upon discovery, quarantine after blocking, enhance whitelist management, and as a way to produce a file system inventory that can accelerate verification of software on a hardware platform. Regardless of the depth of initial usage in control systems, whitelisting is a technology that provides another layer of defence and will be available for process control systems.

Encryption

A key issue we are seeing today is that almost all communication on a control system is cleartext, sometimes used synonymously with plain text. With this situation, a man-inthe-middle (MITM) attack, a form of active eavesdropping, is 1possiAD_ A MC O N J U N _ 2 . p ble. This type of attack allows the

Remote security importance increases as more system are automated.

intruder to “fake out” its victims, passing information as though it were a trusted endpoint, operating in a “trust the sender” scheme. A solution is to adopt encrypted communications. Encryption is the process of transforming plain text, using an algorithm, to make “the message” unreadable to anyone, except those possessing the encryption key. It is a common method for protecting information in commerd cial f systems P a g e and 1 with 1 5 wireless / 0 5 / com1 2 , munication. One of the questions is

Control Components

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June 2012

AustralianMining

where to encrypt the data – at rest or in transmission. Encryption, by itself, can protect the confidentiality of messages, but other techniques are needed to protect the integrity and authenticity of a message. For process control, we recognise the need to protect against modification from sender and receiver end-points. Today, with Internet Protocol security (IPsec), we can authenti1 2 :perform 0 6 P end-to-end M cation, allowing the protection of the message without encrypting the data. As an IPsec configuration option, data can be encrypted as well. One point to be considered, however, is how some network intrusion detection features are implemented. For example, encrypting data can cripple network intrusion detection capabilities. The security strategy for the control system environment must balance the benefits and select the appropriate set of options.

FLOW MONITORS

Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) are applications that can include both hardware appliances and software solutions. The IDS resides on the network and is useful in detecting attempts to access the network. Once again, traditional IT organisations have used these systems for many years, and we have found them equally useful in the control systems environment. An IDS will act to alert the network administrator of intrusion attempts and record all alert information, according to parameters set by the administrator. There are network-based as well as host-based IDS’. Some control systems today are integrated with network-based IDS. However, over time we expect to see a migration to-

wards greater pervasiveness of this technology as well as the application of host-based IDS. IDS’ have the capability to inspect the network packets as they flow through the system. Today very few control system protocols are understood by IDS’ and we see that changing in the future as more of the protocols are defined and implemented making the IDS for control systems more effective. In addition to intrusion detection, the idea of intrusion prevention is very attractive. Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS) are relatively new to the world of incident detection, and offer the benefit of preventing the intrusion, not just detecting an intrusion and reporting on it after it has occurred.

Remote security operations

Remote centres for network and security management help to ensure optimal performance and administration of a process control network and security infrastructure via a set of remote services. Many process control organisations today are challenged to address areas requiring specialised skills – skills that are more closely aligned with the IT organisation. While these capabilities are both valuable and necessary, focusing on business results ranks higher with in-house resources. For these reasons, many organisations will turn to a solution that provides the skills and services necessary to keep the process control network running in a secure environment. Over the coming years, we expect to see an increased utilisation of this type of remote service.

Plant of the future

The Plant of the Future will be compliant with IEC 62443 – which means that our industrial information technology will be compliant. IT best practices for security will increasingly be applied on process control. We will see a move toward more individual accountability. This increased individual accountability will be achieved through more rolebased control and access-enforced end points instead of “in the middle” approaches. Today, change points are detected and made on the server. In the future, these change points will move closer to where the impact of the change resides – in other words, closer to the controller. This article originally appeared in full in PACE Magazine. www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMBLAMAY_12.pdf

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AM.JUN12.PG078.pdf

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Q&A

Q and A Australian Mining’s Andrew Duffy talks business with global and local executives from Honeywell.

oneywell is a global company that invents and manufactures technology for the safety, security, and energy industries. On a recent trip through Asia and Australia the company’s US-based life safety CEO Mark Levy and general manager safety products Australia Stephen Streatfeild took some time out to discuss the global business and Australia’s resources sector.

also highly sensitive about stimulating growth and my expectations are that they’ll manage through and by the second half of the year the economy will be accelerating again. Q: Are there any challenges in manufacturing safety gear across different markets and countries? STREATFEILD: The increasing demand for safety products is a megatrend. On the larger scale there are different body sizes and shapes that we have to comply with for local markets. There are also different regulations and unique body features. An Asian style goggle is going to be different to a European or American one. That all goes back to our strategy of being a local manufacturer to suit local markets.

Q: How does the Australian mining industry fit into your safety portfolio and international business? LEVY: The mining sector is a very demanding work environment. In dealing with such a harsh environment mining companies are demanding more and more from suppliers in innovation. Miners are some of the leaders in trying to provide a safe work environment, and that goes hand in hand with our business story. Q: What’s driving this demand from the industry? LEVY: Having high accident rates is very destructive for a company. The cost of accidents and the damage they do to reputation and the overall disruption to the business means safety is fundamental and standards are very high. Q: What are some of the new things companies are looking for in the safety sector? LEVY: Nobody is really managing their safety from an executive level at the moment. So one thing we’re working on is developing a system to help companies manage their safety program. Businesses these days generally don’t even know what they spend on safety, so one of the challenges, especially with these very large global companies, is in helping them pinpoint their costs.

June 2012

AustralianMining

Honeywell is one of the leading safety manufacturers for Australia’s mining industry Q: What will Honeywell be focused on over the coming months? LEVY: We have multiple factories in Asia and we’ll soon have four large factories in China. We also have a couple of personal protective equipment manufacturing facilities in Australia and a big one for footwear in Indonesia. Our focus is localising the region and having more products that originate within the Asia Pacific region. We want to be viewed as very much a local enterprise supported by a global company with enormous resources. Q: What’s behind this move into localising your business?

LEVY: It’s to become more and more competitive. We love the market in Australia and we’ve been here for many years. It’s a market we think is very attractive, so we want to make sure it grows and we’re willing to invest in it. Q: Do you see expanding in Asia and Australia as a way to hedge against downturns in other parts of the world, particularly Europe? LEVY: Because we’re a global company, we’re very diversified and we’re in every market in the world where we think there are opportunities. We’ve got a high stress point now in the European market, it’s making headlines every day. That’s

why we’re very comfortable operating in this part of the world. Australia is one of the very good markets right now, and it’s very dependent on China. Q: Are you worried about a potential slowdown in China? LEVY: China is supposed to be ‘falling down’ but I don’t think the second biggest economy in the world growing at seven to eight per cent is really that bad. I’ve been going to China for almost 20 years now. I just spent a week travelling around the country and I can tell you there’s an awful lot of growth going on in a lot of different places. The Chinese Government is

Q: Are there any parts of the Honeywell business you think are particularly exciting or are doing particularly well? LEVY: The whole Honeywell portfolio in Australia is doing well. Of all the sectors, the most promising for us, and the one with the best growth opportunities, is the safety business. That’s just because of the nature of the market. Especially in mining, these products are highly used and highly consumed. STREATFEILD: In terms of hearing technology, we’ve got some very exciting new electronic hearing products that help not only reduce noise but also help workers monitor their noise exposure. We see that as an exciting technology for the mining industry. In terms of respiratory products, with the support of Honeywell research and development we’re looking forward to launching many new products in the next 12 months for this market. www.miningaustralia.com.au

MAR1969_FP_ADv2.pdf

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AM.JUN12.PG080.pdf

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PRODUCT SHOWCASE

Flexible rising main MalcolM Thompson Pumps has released aquaplus pumps Corrosion resistant. latest flexible rising main hose. Manufactured in Europe, the main is available in lengths of more than 200 metres and is constructed from polyurethane, with a polyester textile internal reinforcement to provide resistance to high temperatures and acid water. according to aquaplus the main is corrosion resistant, suitable for irregular wells, reduces noise and vibration, has a self supporting layflat riser, and permits higher water flows in narrow wells. The flexible rising main series 25 is suitable for high pressure pumps and meets the requirements of certification NSF 61 and WRaS. Its ease of handling reduces submersible pump installation times. Malcolm Thompson Pumps added that it can also provide complete borehole packages, which include borehole pumps and headworks. The flexible rising main is also available in a series 10, suitable for low pressure pumps. â&#x20AC;˘ Malcolm Thompson Pumps 1300 355 606 mtp@mtp.com.au www.mtp.com.au A D _ A ML A N J U N _ 1 2 . p d f Pa ge

June 2012

AustralianMining

Valve and block assembly

BuRkERT has unveiled a modular valve and block package. The stainless steel, pneumatically actuated INoX valve and standard block modules have eight standard port channels. These ports are drilled open in accordance with block channel design, bolted together, and valves screwed in to complete the block system. Strainers, check valves, and sensors are easily Has eight port channels. included in block construction. INoX block systems support media to 180Â°c, 16 bar and 600 mm2/s viscosity, and has high chemical resistance for process media including water, alcohols, oils, fuels, hydraulic fluids, salt solutions, alkali solutions, organic solvents, steam, air and more. System configuration eliminates the use of elbows and t-adapters, and reduces connections to a minimum, to avoid leaks and deliver high overall system performance relative to traditional block solutions. Small footprint, flexible configuration, and fast assembly make INoX systems ideal for manufactured blocks including temperature systems for injection moulding or die-casting tools, chemical dispensing in water or mineral processing, steam sterilisation systems, and any solution where high system capability and environmental integrity is necessary. Distributing, collecting and mixing systems with individual valve flow of up to 2.4m3/h are suited to INoX. Individual INoX valves are built for maximum integrity. The cast 316l stainless steel body has integrated, self-adjusting packing glands to ensure high media tightness over the complete service life. The externally piloted valves have a compact design, and are available with threaded, external threaded and welding connection ports. Valves may be normally open or closed, with flow direction below the seat. INoX valves, block modules, bushing and other elements are cast 316l stainless steel, with PTFE valve seals and graphite gaskets. â&#x20AC;˘ Burkert 1300 888 868 sales.au@burkert.com www.burkert.com.au 1 8 / 0 5 / 1 2 , 9 : 3 0 AM

www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMHAZJUN_12.pdf

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AM.JUN12.PG082.pdf

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PRODUCT SHOWCASE

Cable clamps Igus has released Chainfix saddle clamps that have enormous tensile strength. These new clamps are designed to fix cables properly within energy chains, and tests have shown their tensile strength is around three times high than that of standard clamps, around 3500 N compared to Has tensile strengths of 3500N. 1000 N. With a narrow width and a low height, the clamps are ideal for use in limited spaces when directly mounted in the energy chain mounting bracket. Ribbed plastic saddles ensure a psotiive connection with the cables and secure strain relief. New and optimised accessories are now available for quicker and even more versatile installation of the strain relief clamps. The part number and correct direction of installation can now be found on the top and the side of the “Chainfix” saddle clamps. This makes identification of parts for ordering very easy, whether the clamp is installed or uninstalled. In addition, the double saddles have been optimised with new locating lugs which make installation easier and more secure, thus saving on installation time. The saddles are made of optimised “igumid g” plastic. Abrasion-free and easy on cables, they work very well with a wide range of sheathing materials (PVC, PuR, TPE etc). The clamps are available in black varnished steel or in stainless steel, and as a single, double or triple-layer version. A wide range of strain-relief possibilities can be achieved with the new “Chainfix” multi-clamps. Four different double-saddle geometries are now available allowing the user to install different cable diameters quickly and compactly, inside one single space-saving modular clamp. • Treotham Automation 02 9907 1778 info@treotham.com.au www.treotham.com.au

Pipe joining systems VICTuALIC has launched the latest quick pipe joining system – the QuickVic. Featuring grooved “installation-ready” technology, QuickVic Flexible style 177 and Rigid style 107H Couplings install in half the time of standard installation couplings in Quick joining systems. four easy steps: lubricate, stab, join and drive. “The style 177 and style 107H couplings are installationready products carefully designed to ensure a simpler, faster and more time efficient solution for flexible and rigid pipe joining environments,” gennaro sposato, general Manager for Victaulic in Australia said. “QuickVic style 177 and style 107H are the next generation of couplings, and can be safely and easily installed through the use of a simple hand tool or an electric impact gun,” he said. Designed for use in the mining, HVAC and industrial sectors, Victaulic QuickVic couplings feature “installation-ready” technology which eliminates the need to disassemble the coupling, and in turn eliminates the need to remove the gasket and nuts and bolts from the housing. A simpler installation process and no loose parts to drop on-site provide substantial gains in productivity and more consistent installed joints. The style 177 Flexible coupling delivers expansion, contraction and deflection capabilities to suit flexible pipe joining needs. In contrast, the style 107H Rigid coupling provides joint rigidity, meeting industry standards for support and hanging requirements. Both couplings feature the proprietary EHP gasket material which delivers unmatched performance from -34°C to 121°C. QuickVic couplings installs twice as fast as standard grooved products, and up to ten times faster than other pipe joining methods • Victualic 03 9392 4000 www.victualic.com

June 2012

AustralianMining

Frequency inverters sEW-Eurodrive has released the new Movitrac LTP B frequency inverter which provides variable control modes for various types of motors. suited for a Delivers 200% torque from 0 speed. large variety of drive solutions in a wide range of applications, the unit series has been designed for universal use offering excellent motor control of both induction and permanent-magnet synchronous motors (with or without encoder feedback). A wide range of control options including an “energy saving function” provides an optimum drive solution in terms of efficiency and energy consumption. An extensive range of I/O and communication interfaces ensure quick and efficient integration into a wide variety of control systems. An intuitive parameter structure with standard factory settings and an integrated key pad shortens the commissioning process. Easy to install, highly reliable, and particularly efficient the MOVITRAC® LTP B frequency inverter is available in six frame sizes from 0.75 kW to 160 kW for a supply voltage of 230 V or 400 V. It is available in two housing variants IP20 for cabinet mounting and IP55 field mounting, suitable for operation in challenging ambient conditions. The unit is fitted with a dedicated “safe Torque Off” binary input which immediately disables the drive in Emergency conditions. Delivering up to 200% torque from zero speed the MOVITRAC LTPB is a logical choice for applications with inherent high starting torque characteristics including conveyors, crushers, winders and mixers. • SEW-Eurodrive 03 9933 1000 www.sew-eurodrive.com.au

EC Servo screwdrivers DEPRAg schulz has released the latest generation of its Minimat-EC servo screwdrivesr. This 311E series of transducer-controlled screwdrivers, with its AsT40 sequence controller, replaces the current EC-servo system. Transducer-controlled screwdriver systems are used anywhere where there is a requirement for maximum process reliability. With highly sensitive screw assembly tasks such as those classified as category A in VDI Directive 2862, which specifies that where there could be a danger to life and limb, maximum precision is required from the screwdriving systems. They should be equipped with a direct measurement system. Traceability of the assembly results must also be assured. Deprag EC-servo technology meets all these requirements, the company says. The screwdriver series consists of three components: the 311E screwdriver, the sequence controller and a motor cable. The 311E screwdriver was developed and tested for heavy-duty industrial use. Robust, brushless, high-performance motors with resolver commutation provide reliable power to the screwdriver function. signal transmission is fully digital via a single cable to the screwdriver. The connection plug to the screwdriver is appropriate for harsh industrial environments. The passively cooled motor control system channels away operating heat directly through an integrated heat sink. Its fanless operation reduces maintenance requirements. The AsT40 accommodates several programming, control and datalogging interfaces. Mulitple screwdriving programs (120 via 24V I/O, and virtually unlimited via fieldbus) are available with all standard industrial screwdriving sequence command sets. The brushless EC motors ensure outstanding dynamics and high peak torques – the ideal combination for industrial screwdriving assembly stations. The power density of the new screwdriver is double that of its predecessor. It means that a screwdriver can achieve maximum torque of 50 Nm with a housing diameter of just 36 millimeters. Its machine capability index of CmK 1.67 – specified for many applications – is achieved with a tolerance of ±7 percent. The DEPRAg screwdriver is distinctive for its compact size and the modular structure of its components. The only maintenance needed is on the gear module and the drive module. With its modular design any repairs can be made on site by replacing individual sub assemblies. • Deprag Schluz www.deprag.com www.miningaustralia.com.au

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The life cycles of my critical service valves are already pushed to the max. And now they want to extend the time between turnarounds?

You CAN Do THAT Maximize uptime and reduce risk with superior valve technology and engineering. Keeping competitive doesn’t just mean having the right valves. It’s also about the right partnership. And Emerson delivers on both. Every Fisher ® critical valve for general and severe service applications is expertly selected to meet your exact specifications. And our unmatched engineering and rigorous testing help ensure it will excel in even your most demanding applications. Fisher valves — it’s how you turn a risky situation into stable, reliable operation. Go to Fisher.com/CriticalService

AM.JUN12.PG084.pdf

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PRODUCT SHOWCASE

Spark free diesel transfer Silvan australia has released an air power pump to ensure spark free diesel fuel transfers. Dubbed the air-Power Diesel Pump, it is a double diaphragm compressed Can pump at 60 litres per minute. air powered multi-purpose pump that is compatible with a wide range of liquids or chemicals. When used for pumping or transferring diesel it has a rated capacity of 60 litres per minute although it can be used to pump oils, water and the ad Blue aqueous urea diesel fuel additive. The double diaphragm pump uses viton as the principal material within a polypropylene housing. it uses only 0.2CM per minute of compressed air at a pressure of 8 bar, or 116 psi, and could be driven from the on-board compressed air capacity of most mobile equipment items. With no electrical components spark free operation is provided. it comes with a quarter inch BSP air inlet connection and a three quarter inch BSP female connection to enable a delivery hose and nozzle gun to be fitted. Selecta has also coupled the air-Power pump with a 400 litre capacity Polytuff tank that is baffled and Uv Stabilised and fitted with a full delivery system of an auto shut off gun with swivel and a four metre length of delivery hose. This unit not only provides the benefits of spark free diesel fuel transfer but with the aid of a snap on hose fitting can usually be powered from a vehicle or equipment item that already has an on board compressed air supply. • Silvan Australia 1300 745 826 info@silvanaust.com www.silvan.com.au

Wireless pushbuttons SChnieDer electric have designed the latest in wireless and battery-less pushbutton technology - the harmony Xb5r range. installing a new hard-wired control on a Works up to 25 metres away. machine requires the consideration of a number of elements such as the length of cabling required, how to best run cables through ducts and most importantly, the cabling of the pushbutton itself. however, by utilising the new harmony XB5r wireless and batteryless pushbuttons, it is only the receiver that requires cabling within the control cabinet. The harmony XB5r allows for wireless operation of a relay (receiver) through a pushbutton (transmitter) allowing the control of machines for distances of up to 25 metres. equipment operators have the added option to send a one-time radio message to one or multiple receivers, or sync up to 32 pushbuttons with just one receiver. This technology allows operators to be mobile or to have controls mounted onboard a vehicle such as a trolley or truck, allowing for efficient work practices. The buttons feature permanent availability, which means that there is no battery to replace, recharge or recycle, and that it is a non-current consuming transmitter pushbutton. additionally, as it wireless it means the simplification of cabling due to the following components, resulting in a reduction in costs and installation time; no configuration needed with ready to use packs; the freedom of movement around the machine; and is an ideal solution when you need to add or move a control function. • Schneider Electric www.schneider-electric.com.au/automation

June 2012

AustralianMining

Level sensors PaCifiC Sensor Technologies have unveiled its new T5540 CO2 – carbon dioxide level sensors with ethernet interface. These carbon dioxide level sensors contain microprocessor based control circuitry in a durable plastic case with connection terminals, with the CO2 concentration sensor built Detect CO2 levels in the air. inside the case. it features a large dual line lCD display, which can be switched off. a computerised design ensures maximum long term stability and failure indication. The synchronizing of time and record to www table and measured values history is enabled by SnTP via internet. The CO2 – carbon dioxide level is as an important parameter in determining the quality of an interior climate. Pacific Sensor Technologies’ T5540 CO2 - carbon dioxide level sensor with ethernet interface has a unique patented auto-calibration procedure that compensates for aging of the infrared source and guarantees high reliability, long term stability and eliminates the need of periodical recalibration in the field.it is designed for use in hvaC applications. • Pacific Sensor Technologies 1300 662720 sales@pacificsensortech.com.au www.pacificsensortech.com.au

Leaky feeder cables rOJOne is launching Times Microwave Systems MhSa approved T-rad-600-fr-MSha1/2” leaky feeder cables. These T-rad communication cables have been approved for use in mining applications and are low loss, flexible, non-kinking rf leaky feeder transmission line cables that are suitable for interior communication coverage including 2-way communications and rfiD for mine safety systems. available exclusively through rojone, Times Microwave Systems has over 50 years experience in designing innovative, high-reliability coaxial cables, connectors and assemblies for demanding interconnection problems. • Rojone 02 9829 1555 sales@rojone.com.au www.rojone.com.au

Management software aPPliCaTe has released the australian developed redeye cloud-based drafting management software. Designed for companies in the mining, Cloud computing software. energy, and industrial sectors it enables miners to migrate their data to the Cloud. redeye, applicate’s first solution, provides a platform for clients to securely store, access and work with technical drawings by leveraging Cloud technology. Current legislation requires mining and industrial sites to maintain accurate engineering drawings that directly reflect the physical environment on site, and this accurate engineering information is the foundation for a safe and productive operation. Keeping drawings up to date is a labour-intensive and therefore expensive task, leaving many sites with a large number of marked up drawings to be updated and made compliant. The managing director of applicate, Mike Boyd, says, “redeye was designed to address this challenge by removing drafting workload from sites and guaranteeing a fast turnaround of drawings.” redeye was released for beta testing in early June with a number of tier-one mining companies already lining up to trial it. • Waterline Projects enquiries@waterlineprojects.com www.waterlineprojects.com www.miningaustralia.com.au

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9th Annual Australian Mining Prospect Awards In this issue we have a brief word from some of the sponsors about their companies and why they choose to sponsor the Prospect Awards. SEW-Eurodrive

MMD

SEW-Eurodrive is proud to be sponsoring the Coal Mine of the year award at the 2012 Australian Mining Prospect Awards. As a key supplier to the coal mining industry, we believe in quality and efficiency when it comes to drive technology. Supplying a range of industrial gear units, motors and drives in sizes in excess of 1MW, we deliver more than just products to heavy industry. A team of talented engineers develop effective and timely solutions based on customers’ motion requirements, which are backed by aftersales commissioning and product support that is second to none. We also understand that time is money, so units are delivered within a matter of weeks from our local assembly plants, rather than waiting months for items to be shipped from overseas. The coal mining industry is one of Australia’s strongest assets – as the world’s greatest exporter of coal, we can be thankful for an industry that has given us global recognition. SEW-Eurodrive takes great pride in sponsoring the coal mine of the year award, which we hope in turn, encourages the organization in and industry which has greatly supported our company over time. We hope that this award goes to a fitting recipient to provide them with the acknowledgment they deserve for making such a strong contribution to Australian industry. SEW-Eurodrive looks forward to further ongoing partnerships with all forms of mining, now and into the future.

Mining Machinery Developments (MMD) designs and manufactures mineral sizing (crushing) equipment and services to the mining, metallurgical, industrial minerals, alumina and other industries. The core products; Mineral Sizers (crushers) and Feeders offer a solution to problems such as variable ore properties, product requirements, site conditions and environmental issues. Founded in 1978, to design and manufacture equipment for the UK underground coal mining industry, today MMD size over 60 different minerals world wide, in many varied process industries. MMD Sizing equipment is available for surface or underground installations, stationary or mobile, and for climatic conditions ranging from arctic to tropical. The MMD Sizer range now includes, primary, secondary and tertiary Sizers for wet and dry processing of metallic and non-metallic minerals for mining, industrial minerals and quarrying industries. To complement the robust Twin Shaft Mineral Sizer, MMD has designed and developed a range of heavy duty Apron Plate Feeders, which convey unbroken material to the crushing plant. Standard widths available are 1500, 2000, 3000 and 4000mm on D4, D7, D9 and D11 Caterpillar sealed and lubricated tractor chain. The mobile and semi-mobile sizer systems developed by MMD are both high in capacity and compact in size when compared to the traditional technology in this field. The latest range of MMD Mobile Sizers have the ability to offer mine operators unprecedented levels of productivity, and therefore very low operating costs per tonne. These energy efficient electrically driven “Green Mining Solutions” are all designed to assist mining companies to achieve the double bottom line of being both economic and environmentally friendly. MMD is proud to be the long running sponsor of the Australian Mine of the Year award.

Schenck Process Schenck Process is a global market leader in measuring and process technologies. Through our world-wide network of operating companies we provide our customers with unrivalled industrial weighing, feeding, screening and automation solutions. Sponsoring the ‘Minerals Processing Plant of the Year’ category in Australian Mining’s Prospect Awards for the third year running is one of the ways that we contribute to and celebrate the success of an industry that is critically important to the economy of our country and of course to our business. The mining and mineral processing industry is responsible for around 48% of Australia’s exports and represents 8% of the country’s total GDP. This industry is one of the reasons that, as a nation, we have been able to weather the recent global financial crisis and emerge in much better shape than many other developed nations. Together with our clients in the mining and mineral processing industry, we are always challenging current practices and breaking new ground by combining cutting edge technology with world class engineering know-how. Yet the men and women that work so hard to make Australia’s mineral processing plants and mining operations amongst the most technically advanced and efficient in the world often remain unrecognised. At Schenck Process, we consider that the Prospect Awards are a great way of identifying and recognising the talented professionals that make this possible.

June 2012

AustralianMining

Be a leader in Australia’s mining industry and nominate today

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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NOVEMBER 1, SYDNEY For close to ten years the Australian Mining Prospect Awards has recognised and celebrated innovation and performance in the industry. Last year close to 400 of the industry’s best gathered to highlight an industry that is excelling amidst a global down turn. And now it plans to gather again to showcase all that mining in Australia can do, and those that are making a difference. Are you?

NOMINATIONS ARE NOW OPEN IN THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES • Mine of the Year • Hardrock Mine of the Year • Coal Mine of the Year • Explorer of the Year • Mine Manager of the Year • Contract Miner of the Year • Minerals Processing Plant of the Year • Contribution to Mining

• Employer of Choice • Mining’s Woman of the Year • Young Achiever • Community Interaction • Innovative Mining Solutions • Excellence in Mine OH&S • Excellence in Environmental Management

AND NEW FOR 2012 The People’s Choice award, which is chosen from the awards recognising individual achievement and is voted on by an online poll at www.miningaustralia.com.au

DON’T MISS MINING’S NIGHT OF NIGHTS

BE A PART OF IT! Download the nomination kit at www.miningaustralia.com.au/awards

For further information, please contact (02) 9422 2759 or email awards@miningaustralia.com.au SPONSORED BY:

The logo on the right is shown at the minimum reproduction size allowable.

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MINING JOBS

To see the latest jobs available visit www.miningaustralia.com.au, which is updated daily. Open Cut examiners – east COast Campaign COmpany: DOwner eDi mining LOCatiOn: BOwen Basin, Hunter VaLLey anD gunneDaH regiOns Description: Downer Mining is Australia’s most diversified mining contractor. Our broad service offering together with our commitment to ZERO HARM to our people and the environment, position Downer Mining as the mining contractor and employer of choice. As an influential, senior team member on site, your key drivers will be safety, efficiency and reliable regulation of mining activities. Under the leadership of the Project Manager, you will ensure the site meets production targets through effective utilisation of equipment and personnel. In return we offer: Our Zero Harm initiative: A genuine commitment to the health and safety of all on the Downer EDI Mining team, an attractive, market competitive remuneration package and various roster offerings according to site. to apply for this role, please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au/jobs enVirOnmentaL apprOVaLs speCiaList – in tHe spOtLigHt nsw Hunter VaLLey COmpany: persOnneL COnCept grOup pty LtD LOCatiOn: Hunter VaLLey, nsw Description: Currently NSW’s most high-profile Coal Development – receiving a significant amount of media attention; Major and minor approvals for this MEGA coal mine. Fast paced – this role will test your organisational and strategic skills, but reward you with amazing experience and satisfaction; Training and development a given, training courses requested will be approved. $168K – $140K + Performance Bonus; A Minimum of 6 years experience in Environmental Approvals and appropriate Tertiary qualifications. to apply, please send your resume to: Beth@environmentJobs.com.au enVirOnment & COmmunity COOrDinatOr COmpany: persOnneL COnCept grOup pty LtD LOCatiOn: Hunter VaLLey, nsw Description: Environmentally guiding a Hunter Valley Coal site through a very interesting stage of it mining life this role is crucial to operational outcomes... Emerging from Care & Maintenance and returning to fully operational in both its previous UG op and a brand new OC op, this site will present significant challenges to the technically skilled Enviro that decides to take it on 5 + years Environmental Management experience within the mining industry + appropriate tertiary qualifications. Prior exposure to approvals will be well received. sound like you? to see where this role could take you, email your resume to Beth@environmentJobs.com.au

June 2012

AustralianMining

mining engineer – new ZeaLanD COmpany: KingfisHer reCruitment LOCatiOn: new ZeaLanD Description: With operations throughout Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia we now have a number of opportunities to join their operation in New Zealand. This open cut gold mine is one of the largest producing mines in New Zealand and are looking to bring on board x2 Mining Engineers for their production operations. In this role your will be involved with: The successful production of the mine site which will involve Load & Haul operations and dispatch, Mine planning, Production, and Health & Safety. The successful candidate will hold a tertiary qualification in Mining Engineering and proven experience in an open pit mining environment preferably in Gold operations. You will have good leadership skills and be able to communicate effectively with the team.These positions offer excellent remuneration package, relocation, affordable living and the opportunity to work in a small team and develop quickly. if you hold the right skills and experience please apply for this role by sending your CV and covering letter to joe@kingfisherrecruitment.com.au or call on 0413 662980 eLeCtriCaL engineer-8:6-pertH-$160-190K COmpany: KingfisHer reCruitment LOCatiOn: wa Description: Working on one of the largest gold mines in Australia this is a great opportunity to join a team where you can have stability and longevity in your career. We are now looking for an experienced electrical engineer to join this team to oversee the process plant on site and to ensure optimisation of production. Your key responsibilities in this role will be: Ensuring all electrical installations at the mine site adhere to statutory and safety regulation, providing technical support to the process and mining areas and to electrical supervisors and, technical support to the electrical maintenance team to ensure equipment performance is optimised. The successful candidate will be rewarded with an excellent remuneration, promotional opportunities, the chance to have longevity of work. This is an immediate position for the successful applicant. to apply for this position please send your CV and covering letter to joe@ kingfisherrecruitment.com.au or call on 0413 662980. meCHaniCaL engineer COmpany: DawsOns LOCatiOn: Lawn HiLL Description: Dawsons are seeking an experienced Mechanical Engineer for an immediate start at our blue chip mining clients popular site at Lawn Hill.

This role includes regular travel to their Karumba facilities and is designed to provide expert engineering advice across a range of materials handling, pump and process plant projects ranging anywhere from $50,000 to $2million in capital value. Demonstrated ability to work effectively as part of a remote team is highly desirable, as is exposure to the mining industry and SAP software experience. Applicants who have at least 3 years experience and have completed, or are eligible to complete, their CPEng will be highly regarded. if you possess these qualities and are looking for a position that offers great conditions, please send resumes with cover letter to caitlin.barrett@ dawsonseng.com.au or contact Caitlin on 07 4055 1900 for a confidential discussion. DeVeLOpment eLeCtriCaL COOrDinatOr COmpany: xstrata LOCatiOn: OaKy CreeK Description: We’re the highest producing underground coal mine in the country. Operating three longwalls, including a world first automated low seam longwall. We’re expanding our operations and enjoy being the best. Join our winning team. We promote from within and can accelerate your career. Reporting to the Development Superintendent you will be responsible for the planning and coordinating of all electrical maintenance activities in the Development Panel. You will ensure the availability, reliability and performance of equipment necessary to meet the development driveage plan. You are a supervisor that has underground development mining experience with an electrical trade or degree qualification. You are a person that loves working in a team environment and supporting your mates to achieve team goals. You lead by example and are always looking out for a better and safer way to do things. to apply for this role, please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au/jobs LOngwaLL meCHaniCaL COOrDinatOr COmpany: xstrata LOCatiOn: OaKy CreeK Description: We’re the highest producing underground coal mine in the country. Operating three longwalls, including a world first automated low seam longwall. We’re expanding our operations and enjoy being the best. You show initiative and take action, rather than waiting for others to do so. You take pride in your work. We trust you to be accountable and encourage you to be inventive. As the Longwall Mechanical Coordinator you will oversee the mechanical maintenance activities in the Longwall Section of this award winning mine. Reporting into the Longwall Superintendent you will take ownership for meeting safety and production targets through your detailed scheduling of all mechanical maintenance activities. You have supervisory experience in underground longwall

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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To advertise a new job contact Hussein Azzan at 02 9422 2851 senior elecTrical engineer – Major coal projecT coMpany: BaysiDe personnel locaTion: BrisBane Description: As a worldwide leader in EPCM field, our client has built a reputation on excellence through their well executed, large scale projects. With their national and international presence well ingrained in the Energy, Minerals and Metals, Environment and Process industry they now require a Senior Electrical Engineer to join successful team in Brisbane. This is a unique opportunity to join a market leader working with some of the best construction personnel in the industry. Your remuneration will be generous with relocation more importantly the company is renowned for its loyalty to its staff and its priority to provide a working life that is fulfilling and successful. To apply for this position, please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au/jobs

healTh & safeTy coorDinaTor – resiDenTial role coMpany: Barclay recruiTMenT locaTion: norThern QlD Description: A globally recognised mining giant with a powerful Australasian brand and strong reputation for safe on target delivery and reliability is looking for an experienced Health, Safety and Environment Coordinator with Manufacturing, Heavy Industry, Bulk Handling or Refinery experience. Reporting directly to the Manager of Strategic Safety & Development you will be required to collaborate, design and enforce a bulletproof safety management system, take ownership of Injury Management & Risk Assessments, monitor compliance with Queensland Workplace Health & Safety Act and Regulations. To apply for this role, please send a current resume to apply@ barclayrecruitment.com.au.

longWall Mining coorDinaTor coMpany: XsTraTa locaTion: oaky creek Description: We’re the highest producing underground coal mine in the country. Operating three longwalls, including a world first automated low seam longwall. We’re expanding our operations and enjoy being the best. Join our winning team. You take pride in your work. We trust you to be accountable and encourage you to be inventive. We value you. We’ll reward you well, relocate you and subsidise your housing in a safe and friendly town to raise your young family. You have supervisory experience in underground longwall mining coupled. You are passionate about your job and being the best you can be. Being a natural leader that people respond well to, you are always keen to help your team mates out. To apply for this role please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au

ouTBye Mining coorDinaTor coMpany: XsTraTa locaTion: oaky creek Description: Operating three longwalls, including a world first automated low seam longwall, we’re expanding our operations and enjoy being the best. Join our winning team. You show initiative and take action, rather than waiting for others to do so. You take pride in your work. We trust you to be accountable and encourage you to be inventive. We value you. We’ll reward you well, relocate you and subsidise your housing in a safe and friendly town to raise your young family. Reporting into the Outbye Superintendent, you will be responsible for the coordination of the Outbye Mining activities and are passionate about identifying, prioritising and planning all Outbye operational activities that support the mines underground operation. You are a supervisor that has working knowledge of outbye mining equipment. You lead by example and take pride in your work. To apply for this role please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au/jobs

mining coupled with a mechanical trade or degree qualification. You are passionate about your job and being the best you can be. Being a natural leader that people respond well to, you are always keen to help your team mates out. To apply for this role, please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au/jobs Mechanical DrafTsperson coMpany: BaysiDe personnel locaTion: MelBourne Description: Leading engineering company involved with the design, development and construction management of mineral processing and materials handling projects in Australia and overseas. Due to the Company’s growing involvement with a number of recently awarded Iron Ore & Coal expansion projects related to mining & bulk materials handling throughout Australia. They currently have an immediate requirement for a Mechanical Draftsperson to strengthen their Melbourne office. The successful candidate will be involved with the design and documentation of various bulk material handling and conveyor systems. This role offers an opportunity for a capable Mechanical Draftsperson to gain further experience in the mining and minerals resource sector. You will also be involved with a number of high profile mining projects together with a rewarding experience to work with a large and diverse organization. To apply for this role, please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au/jobs crane/rigging/scaffolDing supervisor coMpany: MMg locaTion: cenTury, QlD Description: MMG operates a portfolio of world-class base metal operations, development projects and exploration fields across Australia, Asia, Africa and North America. We are currently seeking an experienced Supervisor to manage and support our Crane, Rigging and Scaffolding team based at Lawn Hill, Century mine. Reporting to the Planning Supervisor you will ensure that the daily, weekly and scheduled compliance matter of cranes, rigging and scaffolding activities are conducted safely and in compliance with all aspects of Mining and Quarrying Acts and site procedures. You will manage, support and ensure the team carry out all tasks efficiently and safely, keeping in mind that all Crane, Rigging and Scaffolding activities are carried out according to the work plans. To be successful for this role you will have strong similar experience within a mining or fixed plant maintenance environment. As a successful incumbent, you will have current Crane, Rigging and Scaffolding qualification (High Risk Ticket), computer literacy, and good written and verbal communication with flexibility and willingness to assist others. To start your career journey with MMg, submit your application online in either Word (.doc) or adobe (.pdf) format before the closing date of A D _16AMay, M R2012 A DbyJvisiting:U N _http://careers.mmg.com/jobsearch. 1 2 . pdf Pa ge Wednesday asp?stp=aW&slanguage=en

principal occupaTional hygienisT coMpany: Barclay recruiTMenT locaTion: BrisBane Description: A well established company with strong growth and a national presence, specialising in providing Occupational Hygiene and Health and Safety services to heavy industry clients in the mining, oil and gas, construction and manufacturing sectors. Reporting directly to the Managing Director, you will take an active lead in the business with a mix of people management, project management and business development responsibilities. This is a key position and you will be given autonomy and authority to contribute to crucial decisions in the company. Responsibilities include: Project management from project planning through to delivery, people management including recruiting, coordinating hygienists and delegating tasks, mentoring, communicating with hygienists in remote locations, performance reviews, peer reviewing work and providing appropriate feedback and business Development including maintaining existing client relationships and 1 developing 1 7 new / 0relationships, 5 / 1 2 , work 1 and : 4preparing 7 tender P M submissions. scoping interested? please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au/jobs to apply.

leaD civil sTrucTural Designer coMpany: BaysiDe personnel locaTion: MelBourne Description: Our client is one of the largest engineering, procurement, construction & maintenance services companies in Australia and internationally. They currently have an immediate opportunity for an experienced Lead Civil Structural Designer to play a key role on an exciting Greenfield iron-ore project. The suitable applicant will contribute to the full scope of works for this large-scale project including the mine, mining infrastructure, port & rail facilities. Based in our client’s Melbourne office, you will be required to ensure the success of the project by coordinating with one of our clients neighbouring offices to oversee the civil/ structural design of all aspects of the development Impeccable communication skills and the availability to travel as required are essential. To apply for this role please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au/jobs

An Open letter to: Mr. Clive Palmer n Wilso im.com : Rob From son@indic il rob.w 82 864 1 6 1 4 0

www.miningaustralia.com.au

AustralianMining

June 2012

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EVENTS

Conferences, seminars & workshops Event submissions can be emailed to ozmining@reedbusiness.com.au Mine Safety Africa 2012 26-27 June 2012 Holiday Inn Sandton, Johannesburg South Africa The Mine Safety Africa 2012 Conference will draw together like minded and passionate individuals who are dedicated to improving the safety of mine workers on site. This is your best opportunity to have safety experts with specific practical A D _ Ashare M Dtheir E Lstories, F EB_ 1 2 knowledge

will take back and implement. • Phone: + 971 4 364 2975 enquiry@iqpc.ae

Mine Ventilation 2012 3-4 July 2012 Brisbane QLD

to showcase their expanding projects and current successes at ‘ground zero’ of Australia’s resource boom. • John Wilson, Marketing Director IIR Conferences Level 6, 120 Sussex Street Sydney Phone: +61 2 9080 4300 Fax: +61 2 9290 2577 E-Mail: info@iir.com.au

3rd Modular Construction & Prefabrication 2012 25-26 July 2012 Brisbane Convention Centre, Brisbane QLD The 3rd Annual Modular Construction & Pre-fabrication 2012 Event will bring together all key stakeholder to network and share strategies on: – Improving on-shore supply-chain logistics to ensure on time delivery of modules to project site – Maximising design and constructability by understanding the latest modularisation techniques and technologies

Given the changes that are taking place in the field, Mining IQ’s Mine Ventilation 2012 conference will give you an update on gas drainage, diesel particulate matter and dust Queensland 9Mining . management pdf Pstrategies, a g e as2 well2as3 / 0 1 / 1 2 , : 0 6 AM Exhibition (QME) discuss how to interpret the latest learning and initiatives which you 24-26 July 2012 legislation and what it means for your role as a ventilation engineer. Mackay Showgrounds • IQPC QLD GreaseMax Level 6 This show allows specifiers and automatic lubrication Mining and Engineering 25 Bligh Street, Sydney industry professionals to come NSW (M&E NSW) Phone: +61 (2) 9229 1000 together to catch up on products 28-30 August 2012 and technology, industry trends and 6th Annual Mining the to network with mining industry Newcastle NSW Pilbara Conference 2012 colleagues. QME features free entry to M&E NSW has become a “must 17-18 July 2012 all people in the mining, engineering attend” event for all buyers and Matt Dann Cultural and construction industries. industry professionals, with over • QME 230* exhibitors in 2009. Centre, Port Hedland WA 02 9422 2955 Keep abreast of the latest products IIR’s 6th Annual Mining the Pilbara qme@reedexhibitions.com.au and technology as well as network Conference 2012 has established A D _ A M T R E 2 F E B _ 1 a2 great . p foundation df P and a gallowed e 1 a 1 0 /www.queenslandminingexpo. 0 1 / 1 2 , 1 1 : 5 1 AM with industry colleagues in a vibrant EmulsionPlant122x210Ad.pdf 1/5/12 8:26:42 PM com.au business environment. variety of resource industry players

• M&E NSW Peter Thompson 02 9422 2472 Peter.thompson@reedexhibitions. com.au www.miningandengineeringnsw. com.au

Goldfields Mining Exhibition (GME) 30 October-1 November 2012 Kalgoorlie-Boulder WA GME provides local and international suppliers with a unique opportunity to conduct business face to face with key buyers and decision makers in Western Australia. Staged by Reed Exhibitions, GME provides a valuable opportunity to network and exchange ideas and information with industry colleagues in an interactive business environment. • GME Chris Ghosh 02 9422 2955 chris.ghosh@reedexhibitions. com.au www.goldfieldsminingexpo.com. au

TREAD EMULSION PLANTS

Engineered, Industry Innovative Technology

Operational Configurations Siemens operational panel interface • Touch panel with fully closed loop frequency drive control • Manually controlled through pot and switch set points Capabilities to accommodate MICROSPHERES or ALUMINUM to blend with final storage Nominal Plant rate MINIMUM: 100/kg – 220/lbs per minute MAXIMUM: 301/kg – 662/lbs per minute Power: Electric or Hydraulic

CMY

In Plant or Containerized (20’ or 40’) Construction

The worldwide leader for providing solutions to the Explosives Handling Equipment Industry since 1957.

www.TREADcorp.com 90

June 2012

AustralianMining

BRISBANE OFFICE: TREAD Australia Andre Fouche Business Manager – Australia & Asia afouche@TREADcorp.com

WORLD HEADQUARTERS: TREAD Corporation 176 EastPark Drive Roanoke, VA 24019 USA 540-982-6881 www.miningaustralia.com.au

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BETTER equipment – source from over 600 suppliers BETTER connections – network with over 10,000 peers BETTER ideas – learn at the QME conference BETTER use of your time – see it all within 3 days

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THIS IS WHERE THE NAME ON THE MACHINE MATTERS MOST.

ALTERNATIVE TO DRILLING AND BLASTING PRIMARY CRUSH NOT REQUIRED CUT SQUARE CORNERS AND VERTICAL WALLS SELECTIVE MINING AND BETTER GRADE CONTROL INCREASE PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE NEED FOR PERMANENT INFRASTRUCTURE QUICK START UP IN GREENFIELD PROJECTS SUITABLE FOR SITE PREPARATION AND ACCESS ROADS PATENTED TECHNOLOGY THE IDEAL IDEAAL SO SOLUTION OLUTTION FFOR OR SSURFACE URFACE M MINING INING AAND ND M MORE. ORE. We know the cconditions ondiitions yyou ou fface ace ar are re ddemanding emanding - tthat’s hat’ss wh why hy w wee m make akke su sure ure oour ur Whether equipment q p is upp to the ttask. ask. W hethher yyou’re ou’rre ffacing acing tthe he hhassles asslles ooff bblasting lastingg oorr hhammering, ammering, g solution which helps you get Vermeer has the nneighbourhood-friendly eighbourrhood-fri i end d l y s o l u t i o n w h i ch h help p s y o u g e t more value from yyour ouur mine. A Vermeer Terrain Terraain Leveler® su surface urface eexcavation xcavation machine cuts bback ack tthe he ooperating pperatingg hours, investment support equipment. whilst reducingg your y investm ment iinn ccostly ostlyy sup pppport eq quipment. SSoo when it’s tough g ggoingg out there, look to Vermeer - the trusted name for pproven equipment q p and reliable support. For more information, please contact your nearest Vermeer Dealership.

QLD/NSW/VIC/SA QLD/ D/NSW/VIC/SA 1800 620 720 www.vermeer.com.au w ww.vermeer.com.au WA/NT 1800 195 558 www.vermeerwa.com.au