Australian Mining November 2011 by Prime Creative Media

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VOLUME 103/11 – NOVEMBER 2011

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COMMENT

Mining Bob Brown is right Australian

Copyright Reed Business Information Published 12 issues a year by Reed Business Information (ABN 80 132 719 861) Tower 2, 475 Victoria Avenue, Chatswood, NSW 2067 Australia Tel: (02) 9422 2999 Fax: (02) 9422 2966 Publisher – Michelle Graves Email: michelle.graves@reedbusiness.com.au Editor – Cole Latimer Tel: (02) 9422 2352 Email: ozmining@reedbusiness.com.au Journalist – Andrew Duffy Tel: (02) 9422 2884 Email: ozmining@reedbusiness.com.au Key Account Manager – Sarah Bateman Tel: (02) 9422 8994 Mob: 0408 991 585 Email: sarah.bateman@reedbusiness.com.au Key Account Manager – Tim Richards Tel: (02) 9422 2818 Mob: 0407 948 774 Email: tim.richards@reedbusiness.com.au QLD and SA Sales Manager – Sharon Amos Tel: (07) 3261 8857 Fax: (07) 3261 8347 Mob: 0417 072 625 Email: sharon.amos@reedbusiness.com.au New Business – Alex Evans Tel: (02) 9422 2890 Email: alex.evans@reedbusiness.com.au WA Representative – Jamie Wade Mob: 0435 945 868 Email: jamie@wadebusiness.com.au RBI Manufacturing & Electronics Group: Production Co-ordinator – Mary Copland Tel: (02) 9422 2738 Fax: (02) 9422 2966 Graphic Designer – Dave Ashley South Africa – Bob Stephen Stephen Marketing PO Box 75, Tarlton, Gauteng 1749, South Africa Tel: 27(011) 952 1721 Fax: 27(011) 952 1607 USA – Jonathan Sismey RBI 24th Floor, 125 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017 Tel: (1) 212 370 7445 Fax: (1) 212 370 7441 Email: jsismey@ix.netcom.com Larry Arthur RBI Suite 203, 3700 Campus Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92660 Tel: (1) 949 756 1057 Fax: (1) 949 756 2514 Email: lharthur@ix.netcom.com Printed by GEON 20 Baker Street, Banksmeadow, NSW 2019 Tel: (02) 8333 6555

Bob Brown has made a salient point about an issue affecting the mining industry.

ere is a comment you would never have expected from Australian Mining – Bob Brown is right. On what, you may ask? The mining tax. Strange as this may sound, Bob Brown is right to question why gold has not been included in the mining tax. As it really does not make any sense why this metal has been excluded. Brown nails it when he stated “there is no theoretical justification for no including gold in the mining tax”. Iron ore and coal, well that makes sense. But to completely miss a metal that has been growing exponentially in price per ounce in the last five years, consistently hitting new record

Comment Cole Latimer ozmining@reedbusiness.com.au highs; and is slated to continue this price climb as fears of another recession loom, driving the investment in gold, well it is just another example of how poorly formed the tax has been from the very start. Designed to take advantage of the boom, rather than as a genuine tax formed to fairly levy an industry that is moving strongly ahead, and dragging the nation with it, the mining tax could have created a real opportunity to upgrade the nation, fix our ailing infrastructure and solve

our country’s ‘tyranny of distance’. But will it? Australia may have been built on the sheep’s back, but the mining industry changed it from a colonial outpost to a world power. And this messy tax looks to reward the risks these people have taken by making a grab for their money, while imposing tighter regulations. If it was a better thought out tax, one that has not had Ken Henry shaking his head at the twisting of his recom-

mendations, then it would have already resolved the state royalties issue – instead of dismissing this real concern. If royalties rise, as they are likely to do, and the Government is unwilling to comp the industry for this gap while still taxing them on both the state and federal level, it is not so much killing the golden goose as slowly strangling it. So I say Bob Brown is right – bring gold under the mining tax. While we are at it let’s have a rethink on it altogether, and give some of the smaller miners a voice as well. Because we need a thought out, fair mining tax, that rewards risk, recognises the role the industry plays in the country, and doesn’t rob.

FRONT COVER ON the front cover of the November edition, we’ve highlighted one of our features – Mining in Space. In the article we look at the potential for mining near earth asteroids, what they may contain, how it could be done, and most importantly – why. Australian Mining also investigates the latest on the potential rule changes by the ASX, such as the disclosure of exploration results, targets, key assumptions underpinning their reserves, production targets, their annual reporting methods and how it will affect mining companies and their stock price. We also examine the growth of mining opportunities in South America and how Australians may be missing out.

All rights reserved. No part of the publication may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means without the written permission of the publisher. SSN 0004-976X Reader Services – 1300 360 126 Subscription Rates – Australia (surface mail) $140.00 (incl GST) New Zealand A$148.00 Overseas A$156.00

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Contents Features

November 2011 issue

Haul truck overhaul

Thinking outside the boxhole

Cat launches its latest mining truck….p28-29

Innovations in raise drilling….p14-15

PERSONNEL Teaming up to tackle jobs Solving the skills shortage ............................. p10-12 DRILL, BLAST & GEOMECHANICS Rock solid safety Demonstrating drilling safety standards ................................ p16 Raising the standard Making raisebore drilling mobile..................................... p18 Mastering drilling Simulated driller training ........ p20 MINESITE VEHICLES Alert about fatigue Trialling fatigue management systems .................................. p22 Ferry good transport The transport industry is growing off the boom ............. p24 Fighting fatigue Alternate minesite transport.... p25 Making the mine mobile Heavy lifting on site ............... p26 MOTORS & DRIVES Fuelling change Hard wearing fuel additives .... p30 Dual fuel future Alternate fuel engines ........ p32-33 Power in a small package Heavy duty motor couplings ........................... p34-35

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WATER & WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT Changing the process Biological process water treatment ................................ p38 Keeping your heads above water High level water management............................ p40 Water runs free for Pilbara Rio makes major investments ............................. p42 HIRE & RENTAL Hire expectations The mining boom has been held back by the tight hire and rental market .................................... p44 Mine hire takes centre stage The takeover of National Hire has shown increased interest in the sector ....................... p46-47

To rent or refurbish Wearing the cost of your machinery ............................... p48 PPVC Pressing the issue Safer pipe presses .................... p50 Smooth pumping Greater flow consistencies ...... p52 Breath of fresh air for miners Compressed air quality ........... p54 Pumping life into mining Extending pump life................ p56 WEAR & LUBRICANTS Wearing the cost Custom fabricated wear kits ... p58 SOUTH AMERICA Due South Australia’s missed opportunities in Latin America................ p61-62

ASX Changes in sight A proposed shake up mining’s disclosures on the ASX ............................. p64-65 SPACE Mining’s final frontier The reality of mining in space.................................. p66-67

Regulars INDUSTRY COMMENT ............... p6 NEWS .......................................... p8 PRODUCT SHOWCASE ...... p68-70 JOBS........................................... p72 EVENTS...................................... p74

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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INDUSTRY COMMENT

Australian mining’s

BRIGHT future

Federal Minister for Resources and Energy Martin Ferguson explains why the mining industry will remain strong.

ustralia’s mining sector, having experienced strong growth in recent years, is an incredibly important part of our economy and has a bright future. In developing our resource taxation and carbon price reforms the Government has consulted in detail and sought a balanced policy outcome to ensure that growth in our mining sector continues. Since the Government announced its resource taxation reforms, investment in mining has continued to increase, cementing Australia’s position as a leading resource and energy power and boosting jobs and training for Australians. The figures are immense – we have over $200 billion in committed capital expenditure on resources and energy projects – over half of this sanctioned in the last twelve months – and at least the same amount again in projects in the planning pipeline. These new investments span a range of major key commodities, including those covered by our resource taxation reforms – coal, iron ore and petroleum. And we are also seeing continued investment in exploration – something that is critical to the strength of the industry in years to come. The June quarter revealed a new high for industry expenditure on coal exploration – a little over $200 million. That’s a 116 per cent increase over the same quarter last year. The Government recognises that under existing taxation arrangements, the mining sector makes a big contribution to Commonwealth and State revenues, local communities and jobs and training for Australians. At the same time, the success of the resources industry is putting pressure on other sectors of the economy. A profits-based tax enables the Government to help mitigate these pressures by using revenue to deliver measures to stimu6 November 2011

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The Government has committed more than $200 billion in capital expenditure on resources and energy projects, more than half of this in the last 12 months alone.

late growth in the broader economy by encouraging savings for future generations, funding tax cuts for all companies, and tax write offs for small businesses to help keep Australia competitive as well as investing in infrastructure in mining regions . Infrastructure like the critical Perth airport gateway project, which will deliver real productivity gains to many sectors of the state and national economy. Revenues from these reforms will enable the government to increase national savings through a phased increase in minimum superannuation contributions up to 12 per cent and to cut the company tax rate to 29 per cent. But industry must also remain internationally competitive and this has been a key consideration in the design of the Minerals Resource Rent Tax and expansion of the Petroleum Resource Rent Tax. The Government has consulted closely with industry in finalising the details of

the legislation to implement these reforms. We established the Policy Transition Group, which comprised people such as Don Argus, who were well versed in the resources industry and consulted directly with the sector to advise the government on design and implementation of the new arrangements. The Government then established the Resource Tax Implementation Group, comprising industry taxation specialists to work closely with

the Treasury in drafting the legislation to ensure the Policy Transition Group’s recommendations are enacted in an appropriate and practical manner. We have put both a first and second draft of the MRRT legislation out for public comment, as well as the draft amendments to the PRRT and will shortly introduce the final bills to the Parliament. This is an important reform for today, but also for Australia’s future.

Ferguson says there has been strong investment in infrastructure in mining regions.

We have used the same consultative approach for our carbon price package. Recognising that some mines need time to adjust to the introduction of a carbon price, the Government has developed the $1.26 billion Coal Sector Jobs Package to support the most emissionsintensive coal mines in Australia. There is also $70 million to support carbonabatement technologies to reduce fugitive emissions from coal mines. Neither the Government’s carbon price or resource taxation reforms have deterred investment. Australia remains attractive and internationally competitive. Exports of energy and mineral commodities are set to continue to increase in response to growing international demand. Globally demand for energy is forecast to grow by a third by 2035. Coal will continue to be the world’s fastest growing energy source for some time. India alone plans to boost coal imports by 28 per cent this year. Australia is incredibly wellplaced to take advantage of this. Coal is a significant part of the growth in Australia’s export earnings from energy commodities. In this financial year, we expect energy export earnings to be $89 billion. Within that figure, coal’s share will rise at a faster rate than average. On top of that, exploration expenditure is forecast to be 12 per cent higher. The Australian Government will continue to pursue sensible policies – ensuring a balance is struck between bringing on projects while supporting appropriate investment in infrastructure and skills. This also means attracting investment while at the same time investing the proceeds of mining wisely. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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HEADLINES

The latest mining news and safety Australian Mining presents the latest news and safety affecting you from the boardroom to the mine and everywhere in between. Visit www.miningaustralia.com.au to keep up to date with what is happening. LYNAS SLAMS “FACTUALLY WRONG” RARE EARTH CLAIMS Lynas Corporation has denied that ore from its Mount Weld project in Western Australia will be shipped to Malaysia by the end of October. According to Free Malaysia Today, Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh discovered the Lynas plans after a monthly meeting between the Kuantan Port Authority and occupants of the Gebeng area. Gebeng is the location of the planned Lynas rare earth plant. Free Malaysia Today reports that Lynas denied the ore shipping allegations. “The claim that Lynas will begin shipments of rare earth concentrates from Mount Weld to Kuantan by month’s end is factually wrong,” it said. Lynas chairman Nicholas Curtis said the claims were part of a misleading public campaign against the company.

ILLEGAL GOLD MINING MORE OF A THREAT THAN COCAINE llegal gold mining is growing as the next major threat to Colombia’s security after its crackdown on the drug trade has forced criminals to look for new opportunities. According to Colombian mines and energy minister Mauricio Cardenas, it is more of a problem as gold can be more easily sold, the Vancouver Sun reports. “It’s something that has been growing fast, and in some ways it’s Colombia’s next major threat from the point of view of illegal groups,” Cardenas said. “We have to combat this very effectively, very fast. We cannot let this problem grow.” The problem is already a major issue in throughout southern Africa, China, Mexico and India, where many illegal mines exist. In Mexico, illegal mines are run to finance the mafia; while in India corrupt government officials often take a hand in running the illegal mines.

FERGUSON DENIES SECRET URANIUM TALKS Federal Resources Minister Martin Ferguson has denied he is in secret

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talks to sell Australian uranium to India. According to The Age a confidential briefing note to Ferguson in February says Australia and India have already begun a “dialogue” over a potential sale. According to the note the opened dialogue will prove useful if Labor decides to scrap its opposition to selling India uranium at its national conference in December. “The dialogue could be elevated in the future as conditions allow agreement on exporting uranium to India,” it said. According to The Age Ferguson will be pushing to “modernise” Labor’s uranium policy at the national conference.

PALMER BLAMED FOR “HIJACKED” BHP DEAL Mining magnate Clive Palmer may be forced to share the profits from his Yabulu nickel refinery after he “hijacked” a deal between Gladstone Pacific Nickel and its former owner BHP Billiton. Palmer was a director at GPN in June 2009 when it was negotiating with BHP for the Yabulu refinery. A month after negotiations between the two companies fell apart Palmer bought the refinery himself. The Financial Review reports Palmer bought the project for less than $10 million. The refinery then went on to deliver a $1.1 billion profit in its first year after the price of nickel spiked. According to Fairfax Media, aggrieved GPN shareholder Robert Pearce wants to sue Palmer because he used his board position “to start negotiating on his own behalf”. Pearce is alleging Palmer breached his duties as a GPN director and should be liable for the benefits he obtained.

NATIONAL PARK SLATED FOR BHP MINING Part of the proposed national park near Campbelltown has been handed over to BHP for coal mining. In a statement NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell and environment minister Robyn Parker said land reaching to the Georges River would be handed over.

It is part of a wider move which saw a tax on oil production in China’s northwestern Xinjiang region. These taxes come after China attacked Australia’s mining tax, claiming that it is designed to hurt China and its interest.

FORTESCUE UPGRADES IRON ORE AT NYIDINGHU

Australian Mining gets the latest news every day, providing up to the minute information on safety, news and technology for the Australian mining and resources industry. Another portion of land in the centre of the park will also be sectioned for mining, but undermining of the national park will not be allowed. According to The Sydney Morning Herald, Parker has confirmed no compensation was paid to BHPB as part of the land deal. “This hasn’t cost the NSW Government anything,” she said. “All parties have come to the negotiating table in good faith, we’ve been working very hard on this since the election.” In a statement yesterday O’Farrell said 99 per cent of the current Dharawal State Conservation Area would be adsorbed into the national park.

CHINA BRINGS IN MINING TAX China will be bringing in its own mining tax. According to the country’s leaders, the tax is meant to raise funds for poor areas that produce the majority of China’s minerals and oil and gas, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. The tax will come into effect from 1 November this year, and applies to crude oil, natural gas, metals, salt, and importantly, rare earths, of which Chinacontrols more than 90% of the world’s supply. Oil and gas will have a tax of between five and ten per cent of its sale value.

Fortescue Metals Group has increased its total iron ore resource to11.42 billion tonnes after delineating two billion tonnes at its new Nyidinghu project. The project, which is only 35 kilometres from Fortescue's existing Cloudbreak operations, increased its inferred resources from 1.03 billion tonnes to 2.01 billion tonnes at a cut off grade of 52% Fe. The iron ore is contained within an area of about 14 square kilometres, and has an expected strip ratio of less than 2:1. The miner says that “this reinforces the importance and urgency of our studies on the options for the development of our next 100 million tonnes per annum capacity beyond 155 million tonnes per annum”.

CENTRAL COAST COAL MINE BACK ON THE AGENDA The massive Wallarah 2 coal project has been revived, with backer Korean Resources (KoRes) seeking approval from the NSW state government. The underground coal mine was originally rejected in March, just prior to the state election, the Newcastle Herald reports. Kerry Heywood, Wallarah 2 general manager, said the mine's owners met with NSW premier Barry O'Farrell who had “reiterated the government's commitment to merit based planning processes”. The proposal for the underground coal mine was previously rejected by planning minister Tony Kelly.

MINERS CLAIM HIGHER LOCAL CONTENT LEVELS THAN GOVERNMENT The mining industry says it’s already sourcing almost 90 per cent of its goods and services from Australian companies, which is far better than the Federal Government’s record.

The industry claims hit back at Prime Minister Gillard’s threat that miners would lose tariff concessions unless they could prove local companies were given a fair chance to compete with foreign exports. Minerals Council public affairs director Ben Mitchell told ABC radio recent studies pointed to high levels of local content employed by mining companies. “The data in the marketplace shows that mining is doing quite well,” he said. “A report produced for the steel industry shows that mining is buying about 88 per cent of goods and services locally.” He said the current local content level used by the mining industry was significantly higher than what the Government used for its projects, and the current controversy over the levels was suffering from a lack of information.

PROPOSED ASX CHANGES GIVE INDUSTRY THE JITTERS Several industry bodies have expressed concerns over the release of an ASX issues paper proposing tighter rules on how mining companies report assets to the market. The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy said it was concerned the ASX could introduce standards that weaken rather than strengthen ASX reports. In a statement AusIMM president Alice Clark said the proposed changes could widen rather than clamp-down on potential misinformation. “The ASX clearly believes that breaches of the JORC Code will be easier to identify if there is a mandatory list of minimum reportable items that sit outside the JORC Code,” she said. “The AusIMM believes that any list of minimum reportable items will not be able to cover all of the material information required for each and every circumstance. “The unintended consequence of this approach is the potential to provide companies with an easy option to omit potentially important material information ‘because it is not in the minimum list’.” www.miningaustralia.com.au

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PERSONNEL

Teaming up to

TACKLE JOBS

Businesses, experts, and governments are joining forces to solve the skills shortage, Andrew Duffy reports.

he skills shortage is regularly and universally blamed for hindering serious growth in the mining industry. But exactly what action is needed to fix the problem is an issue of much contention between businesses, industry representatives, and governments. Each group has its own ideas and recommendations for solving the problem, but almost all stem from a single acknowledgement. This is that while a market driven approach to employment will to some degree shape the workforce, it cannot be relied upon. Industry therefore needs the Government to intervene in the labour market to ensure a sufficiently skilled and mobile workforce is available. Three key areas of inter-

vention have been highlighted by most mining players. The first is the need to increase the engagement of under represented groups of women, indigenous, and older workers. This move is about improving the diversity of the workforce and tapping sectors of the population that haven’t traditionally played a role in the industry. The second is the need to improve and increase our use of skilled immigration. This move is most strongly endorsed by larger companies and bodies but eyed suspiciously by unions. The third is the need to improve education by encouraging students to study maths, science and engineering, and developing more pathways to the industry. But while each of these

Indigenous workers are an untapped resource.

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areas requires specific attention there is also significant overlap. The Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association indicated this in its submission to the Federal Government’s employment taskforce. According to the APPEA increasing the participation of women in oil and gas needs its own initiatives, but it also requires improvements in education. “At least part of this issue requires putting effort and funds into the promotion of maths, science, and engineering options for young women in schools and beyond,” it said. But the APPEA said offering flexible hours, work arrangements, and education was one of the best ways to improve female participation. “A key word in APPEA’s view is ‘flexibility’,” it said. Creating a more flexible and diverse workforce is something that can be driven primarily by businesses themselves. But such flexibility also needs Governmental support, not only in education but in the provision of social services. According to the APPEA investment on infrastructure such as transport and for recreation will be important in underpinning a more flexible workforce. Flexibility can also be fostered in how employers engage their staff. Entity Solutions CEO Matthew Franceschini, a recruitment specialist, told Australian Mining employing on a contract rather than fulltime basis made for a more versatile workforce. “You’ve got to engage someone the way they want to be engaged,” he said. Franceschini said workers were increasingly turning to contract arrangements, and

University qualifications make it much easier to enter the industry.

employers would need to adapt to this if they were to attract and retain staff. A recent study by Monash University sponsored by Entity found the mining industry was the second most popular workplace for Australian independent contractors. The study also found the rate of people looking to be employed on a contract basis was on the rise. Franceschini said employers needed to look beyond traditional full-time roles if they were intent on filling gaps. “We’ve got to stop looking at recruitment in terms of job titles and start looking at it in terms of the work that needs doing,” he said. Itas Consulting owner Arthur Alexander told Australian Mining tailoring employment to retain older workers as contractors was not only about the numbers game. “There’s no point having older workers on-site if they’re only there to fill the numbers,” he said. “You’re not extracting their full value that way, and

these workers have an enormous amount of knowledge and experience.” “And if they’re in the trades sector, research shows they also have a high degree of safety consciousness.” Alexander said being able to retain the skills and experience of these workers was an important part of a business’s employment strategy. He said their mentoring of other staff members also helped fast-track the introduction of other workers into the company. “Older people tend to be less driven by career ambition and much more willing to share knowledge,” he said. But according to Alexander more important than retaining older workers will be the need for companies to turn internationally. “The marketplace for workers will need to start being overseas,” he said. “We’re already starting to see that with the influx of Irish workers to Gladstone.” Continued on page 12 www.miningaustralia.com.au

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PERSONNEL

Continued from page 10 But despite the benefits of looking internationally, Alexander said overseas labour would present problems miners needed to manage. “There will be tensions from unions, they tend to be very cautious of overseas labour,” he said. “For mining companies that will start to happen a lot more over the next five years.” While most often opposed by unions, resource companies are increasingly finding overseas labour a necessity. In its submission to the Government the APPEA said even with an “open cheque book” there were not enough people in Australia to fill mining positions. But despite the desperate calls from employers, Drake International national audit manager Lyndall Patterson told Australian Mining it was still difficult to find a job in mining. “If somebody doesn’t have the right background and skills it’s going to be very hard for them to find a job in the industry,” she said.

12 November 2011

Employing larger numbers of women will be key to solving the shortage.

Patterson said because of the amount of specialised skill and training required companies were reluctant to hire from outside the industry. “Highly specialised and technical industries are much harder to tap into,” she said. “It takes a long time and a lot of money to train people for these roles, so if employers have the option they are going to take an experienced person.”

AustralianMining

For younger people the prospect of entering the industry through TAFE or university is much stronger, but still has its difficulties. These problems were highlighted in October when the WA Government urged apprentices to stick with their training after new figures indicated four out of ten were dropping out. Patterson said the biggest barrier for young or mature

apprentices entering the mining industry was the low wage received during training. She said apprentices had little financial support during their training, a problem made worse by the high pay unskilled mine workers were receiving. “People can earn much more in an unskilled labouring job then they can during their apprenticeship,” she said. “The cost of living for apprentices is very high and

the direct result is that there is not a strong incentive for people to enter that training.” Looking to the future Alexander said the labour market was expected to stay competitive for several years. “The North American sector will come out of their financial difficulties over the next five years and they’ll be back in the market again,” he said. “The global market is therefore going to be very competitive, and it’s going to be very difficult to find workers.” But Franceschini said while more needed to be done mining companies had been some of the best in developing employment solutions. “I think miners are ahead of most in the case of skills shortages,” he said. The next important steps for businesses and the Government will be to move beyond the broad acknowledgements outlined above. Specific targets need to be drawn up and delivered, and if Franceschini’s words are anything to go by, miners will be up for the task.

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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DRILL, BLAST & GEOMECHANICS

To drive your dollar further

Thinking outside of the BOX-HOLE A new vertical miner is getting more out of ore.

R Call us on 13 27 27 today Budget has a wide range of mine-spec vehicles available in all of Australia’s major mining regions. To discuss your mine-spec ﬂeet requirements, please call your nearest Budget location on 13 27 27 today.

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aise drilling seems to be the hot topic at the moment. What was previously fairly staid technology has leaped ahead all of sudden, with innovation driving it push into areas which have never used the technique previously. In particular, there has been a serious shift to underground mining. One of the newest developments on the block is Mancala’s mechanised vertical miner – the MVM1100. In underground mines, a large number of short small diameter slot holes need to be excavated, the MVM1100 uses boxhole technology based on field proven pipe jacking methods to fulfill this fairly underserviced area. Created in conjunction with German tunnelling firm Herron Konnect, the vertical miner was built as “we saw a need for a machine to carry out rises in underground mines which also

eliminated the need for a person on site,” Mancala chief executive Martin Kyne told Australian Mining. Typically, boxhole drilling sees an operator exposed to falling rocks during drilling. One of the major safety features of this technology is its ability to drill ventilation shafts and ladderways instead of employing blasting methods or blind shaft drilling. The need for this technology predominately came from Newcrest, for its Cadia gold mine, to help the miner with its block caving mining, with greater focus on safety following the recent Pike River coal mining accident. Kyne explained that “essentially this technology is just pipejacking for a vertical miner, and from the technology side there is nothing revolutionary about it all, but it is a new application for it. “You can use a raise bore machine www.miningaustralia.com.au

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DRILL, BLAST & GEOMECHANICS

It can drill lengths of 30m at 30°.

It also features a skip, which allows discharged materials to be more easily handled and disposed. A phase two model is in the wings and will come with a conveyor system to remove the ore. The machine has already undergone months of testing at underground tunnels in

in hardrock mining is in its ability to fully tap the ore. The drill works along the tunnel, drills a hole upwards into ore through to the next tunnel up, this shaft is then filled with paste or cement once the ore is removed. The unit then leaves a space and repeats the process across the ore body.

Germany, and was commissioned last month. According to Kyne it already meets New South Wales mining design guidelines. Manacala is also reportedly developing a narrow vein miner. Where this technology is really set to make an impact

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Once this is done, and all the hollow vertical shafts have been filled, it comes back and drills into the spaces it previously left. “It is an extremely precise unit, as the whole aim is to extract the ore with the least amount of dilution possible,” Kyne told Australian Mining.

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November 2011

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

The unit can be trammed remotely.

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

and get similar results, but the mechanised vertical miners are able to do the same job safer and faster (compared to conventional systems), they can set up independently as the machine can tram about while remotely controlled and is able to be detached from the crawlers which typically move boxhole drills around the underground tunnels.” This is what separates it this 37 tonne machine from the pack. It is able to drill slot hole diameters of up to one metre at lengths of up to 30 metres at inclinations of up to 30 degrees. According to Mancala, by next year it will increase these capabilities to be to drill diameters of 1.5 metres and lengths of 69 metres. It has a modular design and the cable and hose reel unit, transport system and power unit can be uncoupled for increased flexibility in compact work sites. Its jacking frame provides a push force of approximately 2000kN, with its gripping unit stabilising the jacking frame and bracing itself against the roof and floor. The hydraulic boxhole boring unit has a nominal cutting torque of 40kNm and its cutterhead rotates independently at the top of the drill pipe column, while its rotational speed and torque are adjustable via the control system.

AM.NOV11.PG016.pdf

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21/10/11,

8:20

DRILL, BLAST & GEOMECHANICS

Rock solid safety Drilling safety standards helped ROCK stand out from the pack.

hen tenders were being reviewed for drilling and rock-breaking operations at the Mt Rawdon open pit gold and silver mine near Bundaberg, safety was one of the key considerations influencing Lihir Gold’s decision to award the contract to ROCK Australia. Newcrest Mining, who acquired Mt Rawdon shortly after the contract was awarded, were comfortable with the decision. “ROCK’s people were clearly very well trained, and their systems are world class,” Steve Snowdon, mining superintendent at Mount Rawdon, said following the tender process. Snowdon said Newcrest has also been impressed by ROCK’s attention to detail in setting up its operational fleet for the job and providing the flexibility to meet planned increases in production. “Their onsite fleet has been progressively expanded to five rigs, comprising two DP1500 top hammer drills, two of their new DP1500i “super drills” and an L7 Cop Rod machine

16 November 2011

AustralianMining

The latest Newcrest safety audit commended the company’s safety performance.

used for 89mm pre-split drilling,” Snowdon added. “They also went to a great deal of trouble to source the right service vehicle, which impressed us a lot because on-site servicing is an important part of the productivity picture,” he said. In addition to the drill rigs and service vehicle, the ROCK equipment

at Mt Rawdon includes a JCB rock breaker and a number of light vehicles, with an operating and maintenance crew of 19. Crew numbers are currently being increased to 21, to provide a third rock breaker operator for 24/7 operation, and an additional maintenance fitter to ensure that the higher production levels can be sustained.

ROCK’s drilling division manager, John Ivanovski, said the increase in staff numbers and equipment were in line with increased production requirements as the mine nears the end of the current stage at the bottom of the pit and continues to focus on the most recent cutback. “Switching two of our new DP1500i drills to this project has had an immediate impact on production, due in part to the drilling preset capability that enables our operators to set optimum drilling conditions for any part of the mine at the press of a button, saving valuable set-up time on every shift,” he said. ROCK’s LTI record at Mt Rawdon now stands at 621 days, with no lost time accidents since commencement of the project. The latest Newcrest safety audit commended the company’s safety performance, and spoke highly of the commitment of ROCK’s new Safety Management Board to maintain all safety, quality and production targets.

www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMBELNOV_11.pdf

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11:35

BEL-RAY BLUE GOES GREEN. Bel-Ray has been a leader in the lubricant industry for over 60 years and remains in the forefront, relentlessly reinventing and reformulating our products by harnessing the best materials and technology. Bel-Ray is dedicated to the development of products that allow our customers to get the most out of their machinery. Bel-Ray’s Industrial Products reduce cost and increase production. Our top quality brands, Molylube ®, Termalene® and ® Raylene , deliver oil lubrication solutions for bearings, gears, chains, and various other specialty applications for a broad spectrum of industries. Bel-Ray is for providing c u s t o m e r s with highest performance l u b r i c a t i o n solutions, while keeping operations environmentally considerate. In 2012, Bel-Ray will launch its new and improved, expanded line of biodegradable products. These products are bio-based and biodegradable

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AM.NOV11.PG018.pdf

Page

19/10/11,

9:35

DRILL, BLAST & GEOMECHANICS

Raising the standard A new development is making raisebore drilling mobile.

aisebore drilling has been in the spotlight lately. As its capabilities and potential on site are being recognised, it is seeing more use and more innovation. UME Australia has expanded operations in this area by releasing its ‘mobile’ raisebore unit – the RBT1. According to the company, this development takes raiseboring to a new level in terms of safety and rapid set up times. “This unit has been on the drawing board for some time so it is exciting to finally have it ready for operation,” UME managing director Stephen Bryant told Australian Mining. It reduces operational health and safety risks, while also significantly increasing production as it is a fully selfpropelled and self-contained operating unit. “The response to this so far has been positive, so we think it should be fairly popular as nothing like this has been done before, and it provides more options for boring. “OH&S was a major driving force behind the concept for the mobile raisebore unit, as we wanted to reduce the risk to operators who would typically be exposed to an open

18 November 2011

The mobile raiseboring unit reduces the safety risks of boring, UME says.

air environment while they are carrying out boring, and now with the RBT we can provide an air-conditioned and more comfortable environment for the bulk of the time they spend drilling, within a safe ROPS and FOPS approved cabin,” Bryant explained. As the RBT is self-propelled

AustralianMining

it has further reduced the manual handling risks normally associated with raiseboring sets ups. The raisebore drilling unit is powered by on board hydraulic pumps, which in turn are driven by two 75kW, 1000V electric motors, and can provide more than enough

power for the operation of the unit. It has nominal drilling sizes of 1 to 1.5 metres, but can change depending on head sizes and site conditions. The rig itself is diesel and four wheel drive, and ‘plugs’ into normal mine jumbo boxes, UME say, and will go most

places others will, as the carrier is based on standard operating equipment dimensions and meets MDG15 compliance for the NSW mine site environment. As it is fully mobile, it allows the self contained raise bore drill to easily be transported to mine sites.

www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMTYCNOV_11.pdf

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13/10/11,

5:00

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AM.NOV11.PG020.pdf

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19/10/11,

9:47

DRILL, BLAST & GEOMECHANICS

Mastering drilling A drilling training program is helping experts to hone their skills, and greenhorns to develop theirs.

rilling technology is constantly advancing. However, there is no point in using the latest technology if no one knows how to operate it. BGC Contracting faced this problem as it expanded its fleet – keeping up its supply of skilled operators. “We’re short on operators at the moment, so we, and many other contractors and operators of large drill fleets, are looking more and more to train up new people to fill the need,” BGC driller trainer Martin Hall said. “But we just don’t have the spare rigs and [experienced] people to dedicate to traditional training, particularly for green operators,” he explained. Seeing this problem throughout the industry, Atlas Copco developed the Master Driller program. The drill operator training program is designed for novice, intermediate and advanced trainees. Hall and Hume Stewart are two experienced drillers who have utilised the program to familiarise themselves with the controls of Atlas’s new generation SmartRig drills at the company's Perth headquarters.

Drilling simulators are allowing drillers to hone their skills.

They carry out eight hour stints on the rig, practicing precision drill manoeuvres. But the site, near the Perth international airport, doesn’t have a pit; nor rock benches or even drilling machines. They are honing their skills on Atlas Copco’s SmartRig simulator – the first in Australia and one of only three in the world engaged in Master Driller training. Hall – who has a number of years working on explora-

tion drills, and Stewart – who has worked on surface production drills for eight years, both said there was a high level of realism achieved by the SmartRig unit, which used both a SmartRig cab and replica operator layout. While it helps experienced operators brush up their skills, “for green operators and their employers the value of simulator training could be many times greater”, Hall said. “You could do this course

The training allows novices to get a feel for the rigs before even stepping onboard.

20 November 2011

AustralianMining

and go out and operate a rig. “Obviously with any sort of drilling it comes down to time in the seat – time in the field to learn the ground etc, but coming in here and getting a heads up on the control system is great.” From a company’s point of view, the simulator “improves our confidence in the ability of new operators to use the controls and operate the machine,” Stewart added. “This is going to make our jobs a lot easier.” Atlas Copco training coordinator, Trevor Mann, said up to ten drill operating scenarios can be used to train operators on the SmartRig and Pit Viper surface drills which have a Rig Control System, which is a computerised control platform that will soon make its way into all of Atlas’s Australian drill rigs. Training sessions can be monitored and recorded, with reports produced to show performance. “The simulated scenarios start with some very basic stuff to familiarise trainees with the start-up features and procedures, then it steps them through things like tramming, basic positioning, and then

on to more advanced tramming, advanced positioning, basic rod handling and then drilling with rod handling,” Mann said. “Eventually you get to the final stage, which is what these guys are doing now, where I’m giving them no instructions and they are using all the stuff they’ve previously learnt to this point on a job. “For a green operator it typically takes about three days to get to this point, they are going to get an enormous amount out of that. The advantage of course with the simulator is if you have green operators and they’re sent to a site at least they know something about the machine prior to jumping in it, rather than learning on site.” Then, at the end of the simulated scenarios “we get a print out of how accurately the holes were drilled, the time it took and whether the rodhandling was done correctly – all this stuff is recorded and captured in the printout, which can be used as a guide to whether they have picked up what they need to,” Mann said. Mann went on to say that while Hall and Stewart have already had experience drilling, the simulator lets them pick up the skills for operating the new machines, rather than drilling skills. BGC say Master Driller may now become an integral part of the contractor’s training regime. Adrian Coffey, drill and blast manager at the company, said “if you’ve got a totally green person who hasn’t drilled before, never been on site before, and you want to get them drilling in an F9, you’d use a simulator”. Hall added that the safety aspects of the simulator training were key. “Some scenarios you won’t ever be able to train for with an actual rig,” he said. It meets a huge need in my view, Hall added. www.miningaustralia.com.au

MMPR0823K_B2B_AUM.pdf

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3:43

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AM.NOV11.PG022.pdf

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21/10/11,

8:41

MINESITE VEHICLES

Alert about FATIGUE

erilya has put the spotlight on driver fatigue at its zinc, lead, and silver mine at Broken Hill with Optalert’s risk monitoring system. Now two months into a three month trial, Perilya safety and emergency services superintendent Tony Edwards said the system was already performing well with staff. The Optalert system is the only real-time driver safety system in the world that detects the early onset of drowsiness by measuring the driver’s level of alertness. It works through invisible light emitters and receivers built into the frame of driving glasses, which measure the velocity of the driver’s eyelid. An alarm is then sounded up to 30 minutes prior to sleepiness characteristics setting in. Optalert chief scientist Murray Johns said the technology was a culmination of more than 15 years of research into the physiology of drowsiness. He said part of the Optalert’s strength was that it quantitatively measured what drivers were feeling in real-time. “The system gives drivers information about their levels of alertness well in advance of drowsiness actually taking effect,” he said.

“The reading fluctuates through the course of the shift and is displayed on the dash board as a zero to ten score. This score is then reported to the office.” Johns said this method of safety monitoring was more effective than traditional systems that provided managers with written reports analysing the historical alertness of drivers. Perilya used a wide cross section of the driving team in the trial, with ages ranging between 20 and 50 and a mix of male and female participants. The group was also comprised of drivers who had previously damaged equipment and some who had not. Edwards said the Optalert program was part of a wider safety push currently underway at the mine. He said the company was currently trying to drop its all injury frequency rate from 95 per million hours worked three years ago to 12. “We are typical of many mines, we operate large equipment in small spaces and whenever you have a 60 tonne machine in a 5mx5m space there are real hazards.” “For us, safety success is all about managing that danger.”

A recent trial of fatigue management systems at Broken Hill allowed a miner to get a handle on this serious problem.

Apart from the obvious safety benefits, Edwards said driving a better injury record would also improve staff morale and keep the worker retention rate high. He said this was important in an industry plagued by skills shortages with an ever tightening labour market. “It’s getting harder to

recruit skilled labour and it is a significant effort to train people who are new to the industry,” he said. “It makes good sense to do the right think to retain our people and that is why we want zero injuries to keep them safe at work.” Edwards said Perilya was looking to expand its opera-

tions with Optalert moving into the future. “The next step for Perilya is to work with Optalert on creating a mobile device that will enable the technology to monitor fatigue in a wider range of occupations such as service personnel, mill operators, remote control operators and security staff,” he said.

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AM.NOV11.PG024.pdf

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19/10/11,

9:56

MINESITE VEHICLES

Ferry good transport The transport industry is growing off the back of the mining boom.

s the mining boom continues its march the scope of related industries and businesses joining the party continues to widen. One such sector benefitting from the boomâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s flow-on is the transport industry. With the days of developing mining towns around major projects in the past, the demand for worker transport has risen sharply. By far the most favoured mode of transport used by miners is fly-in-fly-out, but Queensland Gas Companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s LNG developments on Curtis Island use a much rarer method. When Transit Systems won the contract to transport QGCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s workers they opted to develop and run a custom ferry for the job. Transit CEO Clint Feuerherdt told Australian Mining the main challenge the company faced with the contract was

propellers and has a hull designed to create a pressure wave in front of it to move wildlife if they are caught in front of the vessel. Although Government approved, whether Transitâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s measures are enough to protect the sensitive environment surrounding Curtis Island is still a contentious issue. There is still opposition to mining development on the island, and Australian Mining contacted the Save Curtis Island group but they declined to comment. While Transit did not ultimately have to find a compromise between environmental protection and speed, the custom built ferry was more costly to build. Looking forward Feuerherdt told Australian Mining the future of Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s transport industry would be closely tied to the mining sector.

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that the path to Curtis Island ran through a marine park. The park does not completely ban transport, but regulations limit the use of certain vessels and the speeds they can travel. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The area has certain environmental regulations and a number of go slow zones aimed at protecting wildlife,â&#x20AC;? Feuerherdt said.

He said the company could not afford to travel slow and delay delivery times, but nor could it break environmental regulations. â&#x20AC;&#x153;At first it appeared we had a compromise, either go slow and protect the environment or get to work on time.â&#x20AC;? The solution was to develop a new vessel that could

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AM.NOV11.PG025.pdf

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10:06

MINESITE VEHICLES

Fighting fatigue An Australian designed double decker bus is getting more workers to site, safer.

The double decker buses can transport 100 people.

www.miningaustralia.com.au

ouble decker buses may have been invented by the French, and popularised by the English, but it has taken an Australian company to completely redesign it. Bustech have created the first double decker bus designed and built from the ground up in Australia, in only 18 months, dubbing it the CDi. So how will these buses change anything in the mining industry? Well, possibly due to the fact that a single bus can carry nearly 100 passengers in comfort, from home to the mine site in comfort. This cuts down transport costs in moving miners, Bustech assistant general manager Grahame Holz stating “the reality is that three CDi’s can unload 300 people in the same space as two articulated buses

unloading 76 people each”. By getting miners off the road, and eliminating drive in drive out (DIDO), it aids mines in increasing safety both on and off site, as it directly tackles the issue of fatigue. Addressing DIDO fatigue has been a growing focus of the industry following the Queensland coroner’s recommendations after the deaths of two miners driving home were linked to fatigue. In developing this Australian double decker bus, Bustech made some major changes, predominantly that the bus is built with twin axle front steering – without the need for a rear counter balance. “The twin-steer aspect was the single biggest hurdle we had to overcome,” Bustech director, Joe Calabro, explained. “Axle manufacturers just don’t do it for buses; truck

floors are high while our floors are by necessity ultralow. The twin-steer idea came about for us because the chassis we designed (we are one of only two manufacturers who produce their own chassis) simply couldn’t handle a stock-standard axle,” he stated. “That’s why we built our own.” Because of its four wheel steering, the CDi has a tighter turning circle, and despite a length of more than 22 metres, Bustech say it is more manoeuverable than articulated buses. These Australian double decker buses are also environmentally friendly, meeting stringent Euro 5 engine emission standards. They are built with stainless steel frames, making the vehicles lighter and reducing fuel consumption but not strength.

AustralianMining

November 2011

AM.NOV11.PG026.pdf

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20/10/11,

9:24

MINESITE VEHICLES

Making the mine mobile Heavy lifting on site does not need to take the better part of a day.

he tyranny of distance is an often-uttered phrase on the Australian mine site. With such a massive country, everything is spread out, including the work site. So lifting and moving objects is all the more difficult if you aren’t mobile. Filling this crucial need for heavy lifting with mobility, Tadano have released the new GT-600EX model. A roadable 60 metric tonne truck crane, the Tadano GT-600EX fills a void in the Australian market,” Peter Shelton, operations manager for Tadano Oceania explained. With a lifting capacity of 60 metric tonnes at a three metre radius, the Tadano GT600EX has a strong lifting capability. It features a fully hydraulic, round box construction type

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boom and bi-fold fly jib, with the boom reaching 43 metres when fully extended and a fly jib length of 8.8 metres to 15.2 metres. The crane superstructure is mounted on a Tadano chassis.

engine capacity of 11.96 litres and is powered by a Daimler OM457LA engine. It also features an Automatic Mome nt Lim it er (AML), Tadano software which monitors boom length, boom angle, load radius,

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swing position, actual load, total rated load, outrigger position, jib length and jib offset angle. The AML detects any overload state to help prevent damage to the boom and the risk of overturning the crane.

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www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMKONNOV_11.pdf

Page

1 28/09/11,

4:36

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Konecranes is an industry leading group of lifting businesses that offers an overhead crane and hoist maintenance. Konecranes have developed solutions such as RailQ & RopeQ to help identify root cause of failure. Runway surveys are normally expensive, difficult and can significantly disrupt production. RailQ can survey a complete runway in a quarter of time and without the need to gain access to the entire length of runway. With Konecranes you are set for tomorrowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s demands.

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AM.NOV11.PG028.pdf

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19/10/11,

10:16

MINESITE VEHICLES

Haul truck overhaul Caterpillar has upgraded its 789 mining truck.

The 789D is set to replace the 789C, while providing more power and greater tonnages.

afety and reliability are keywords in mining these days. It’s about getting more out of your vehicles without sacrificing safety. Building on the back of these concepts, Cat has released the new 789D mining truck. Caterpillar says this latest model, which replaces the 789C, ‘incorporates new features to boost performance and productivity while enhancing safety and serviceability’. Designed with a slightly increased payload of 181 tonnes, its mechanical drive train is powered by a Cat 3516C EUI quad turbocharged diesel engine which provides 1566kW of gross power. It can also come with a Cat 3516B engine for mines that need engines that only provide 1417kW, to match their current truck fleets. This allows the vehicle to reach speeds of nearly 60 kilometres per hour while fully loaded. According to Cat, it has also changed the rigid truck’s body. Introducing a ‘Combination’ body

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AM.NOV11.PG029.pdf

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19/10/11,

10:20

MINESITE VEHICLES

for the 789D, it has based the design Extended life disc brakes now come These systems give the driver both on a dual slope, and is “a multi-purpose, as standard for these mine trucks, and audible and visual alerts for nearby high volume body designed to reduce according to Cat may even double the objects or vehicles. haulage costs of well fragmented, low wear life of the former brake materiXQ configurations for the 789D density material”. als for the 789C. aid in reducing operating noise levels Cat also says that operators can These brakes are reportedly more of the trucks, with the help of sound configure the truck to meet their site resistant to glazing and provide consis- attenuating materials. needs, providing three additional updated tent braking power with reduced mainTo keep the vehicle running, daily bodies as well as the dual slope design, tenance time. service points are now easy to access including X bodies; MSD II bodies; Cabs are also now customisable. and mostly at ground level. and Gateless Coal bodies. A standard cab and deluxe cab are A maintenance platform allows for However, it is not just the body now available, with the deluxe cab access to the engine, steering hydraulic that has been changed. featuring a heated and ventilated driver’s tank and battery compartment. The 789D is constructed to use seat. Tie off points are also provided for larger tyres, the 40.00R57 and work above ground level. 42/90R57, as well as the standard The vehicle is able to reach speeds New air intake and filters have 37.00-R57. an improved seal as well. Quick change tyre rims for ease of nearly 60km/h while fully loaded. An optional fast fill service of replacement are also available. centres enable high speed fuelling It retains the previous model’s oilAll cabs come with diagonal stair- and oil change. cooled braking system, which combines ways, as well as the option for a Looking to increase durability, for the service, secondary, parking brake and powered ground level stairway to ease constant use of the unforgiving Ausretarding functions in the same system. ingress and egress. tralian mine site, Cat have installed Four corner retarding with 60/40 Importantly, the driver’s line of new pump drive systems into the 789D per cent split (rear/front) during braking sight to the haul road has been which gives it continuous rear axle provides increased control in slippery improved. filtration. or smooth conditions. An air tank has been moved to This provides cleaner oil, fewer Caterpillar add that a balanced enhance the visual field to the right of downtimes and increases component front to rear brake torque generates the driver. life. better braking and minimises the potenWith safety as the number one The 789D, which weighs in at 324 tial of wheel lock up, particularly during concern, all 789D are fitted with prox- tonnes, is scheduled to hit Australian retarding. imity detection system as standard. shores soon.

What would a diesel business know about mining?

All cabs come with diagonal stairways as well as the option for powered ground level stairways, to ease access. www.miningaustralia.com.au

AustralianMining

November 2011

AM.NOV11.PG030.pdf

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MOTORS & DRIVES

Fuelling M ining motor vehicles and their motors have to be hard enough to survive the tough daily wear of every day use. Their fuel has to be just as tough. But ordinary diesel fuel doesn’t always cut it on site. American Clean Energy System (ACES) recognised this some time ago, 30 years ago in fact, when they were commissioned by the US military to create a top secret diesel fuel additive that would improve the fuel’s ignition and combustion properties, improve the fuel system and combustion chamber detergency, and also improve top cylinder lubricity. Dubbed Catalyst ACES II, this additive is now available to the Australian mining industry. In developing the fuel, ACES focused on a number of issues that the military faced in its diesel consumption, many of which also plague the mining industry. One of the major hurdles faced was the fact that fuel is often stored for long period of time, and the motors and tanks are constantly exposed to sand and grit, extreme weather

CHANGE Hard wearing mine vehicles need hard wearing fuel.

conditions, high humidity, and dust. According to ACES Pacific’s David Smilay, the company has modified the base formulation of the additive to adjust the ratio of fuel preservative – for longer storage capabilities; Biocide – to combat and eliminate fungi, bacteria and yeast growth in the fuel; so that it provides increase top cylinder lubrication – to handle the significant

problem of fuel and oil contamination as well as the adverse effects of sand, dust; as well as ratio of the ignition improver – which provides easier starting, especially when the engine is cold, and reduces the initial damage done during motor start up. Tests showed that Catalyst also had the ability to “dissolve” particulates in the base fuel, which reduces

maintenance costs in the long run. Recently, ACES carried out a test using a 1Y540 Caterpillar single cylinder engine over 252 hours. Smilay said these tests showed high improvements in motor operation, in particular the fact that physical examination of the piston and cylinder liner showed no measurable scarring, despite the 252 hours of high load test operation.

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AustralianMining

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AD_AMCEN1OCT_11.pdf

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1 21/09/11,

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AM.NOV11.PG032.pdf

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MOTORS & DRIVES

Dual fuel future With the carbon tax set to bite transport budgets, methane driven motors look set to rise to the fore.

ith the introduction of the carbon tax, diesel fuel is set to raise in price. This will push up the operating costs of many mine sites and hit the transport and logistics sector particularly hard. And with freight costs in Australia already one of the highest for all of Asia, this will impact the bottom line. But what alternative is there? Well, it is now possible to use gaspowered trucks for longer and heavier transport applications. Swedish haulage firm Götene Kyltransport, a transport company, has been testing the new Volvo Trucks model that runs on liquefied methane gas and diesel.

“Our experiences from running on methane-diesel are excellent. This is definitely a solution for the future. If the price of gas is right, I expect that up to 80 per cent of our truck fleet will consist of Volvo’s methane-diesel trucks within the next five years,” Ulf Johansson, president of Götene Kyltransport, explained. In August, Volvo Trucks began the series production of its methane-diesel trucks. As the name suggests, the Volvo FM MethaneDiesel is dual powered, using both methane gas and diesel. Although the model is new, the technology has already undergone exhaustive testing and evaluation. The vehicle tested hauls a 20 metre

Diesel fuel will rise in price under the carbon tax.

32 November 2011

AustralianMining

www.miningaustralia.com.au

AM.NOV11.PG033.pdf

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MOTORS & DRIVES

long trailer that can carry three tonnes more than a regular trailer.

Just like driving a regular diesel-powered truck

Fuel consumption is cut by a quarter in some vehicles.

While there are no major differences in the truck compared to a conventional diesel engine, its gas injectors are fitted on a plate between

the inlet duct and the engine block. There is also a thermos-like fuel tank that keeps the gas liquefied at a temperature of -140 degrees.

ai_ait_35.2_en aik

The Volvo FM MethaneDiesel has a 13-litre engine producing 460 horsepower and 2300 Newton metres of torque. Its fuel consists of up to 75 per cent liquefied methane gas and the rest diesel, but the proportion may vary depending on how the particular vehicle is used. “It’s just like driving a regular diesel-powered truck. Of course there’s a difference when the time comes for refuelling, but you soon get the hang of it,” Ulf Olsson, one of the drivers testing the methane-diesel truck, said. Compared with conventional gaspowered engines where the fuel is ignited by spark plugs, the methanediesel alternative offers 30 to 40 per cent higher efficiency, which means that fuel consumption is cut by up to 25 per cent. “The optimal solution is to run on biogas. That cuts carbon dioxide emissions by up to 70 per cent compared with a conventional diesel engine. However, this means that access to biogas must increase,” Mats Franzén, manager engine strategy and planning at Volvo Trucks, said.

It is built with a special catalytic converter that was developed specifically for methane gas-powered engines. However, the basic engine itself is a diesel unit and operating reliability is the same with gas power as it is for diesel. Recent research supports the future of methane-diesel technology in vehicles with independent researchers behind methane as the fuel of the future for heavy commercial transport operations. “My research indicates that methane gas for next-generation heavy commercial operations offers considerable environmental savings in the form of lower carbon dioxide emissions, and it also allows us to utilise our natural resources in a better way,” Maria Grahn, a fuel researcher at the Chalmers University of Technology in Göteborg, stated. One factor that is crucial in the development of methane-diesel trucks is the upcoming boom predicted in Australia’s LNG sector. The LNG sector, particularly in Queensland, is set to skyrocket, with BIS Shrapnel senior manager for infrastructure, Adrian Hart, telling Australian Mining this growth will actually “be a threat to strong growth in other states, particularly Western Australia”.

Protect Your Belt Conveyors with Voith Turbo Fluid Couplings They have been in service for decades under toughest conditions – and have proven themselves worldwide. Voith ﬂuid couplings protect belt conveyors against wear and damage and allow smooth but fast start-ups in any situation. The soft force transmission leads to reduced belt tensioning.

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In multi-motor drives they ensure natural load distribution. Result: fewer downtimes – and the service life of the belt and the drive components is increased. vtausydney@voith.com www.australia.voithturbo.com

AustralianMining

November 2011

AM.NOV11.PG034.pdf

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MOTORS & DRIVES

Power in a small package Motor couplings have been designed to survive the harsh surface mine environment, Australian Mining reports.

Long belt conveyors solve the distance issue, but you have to keep them moving.

istance has always been the great tyranny of the Australian mining industry. We have no trouble getting it out of the ground, but getting the ore where we need it to go – that’s the problem. Long conveyors, particularly in surface mining, have addressed this issue, but you still need to provide power and keep them running, all the while their motors facing the harsh mining environment. Recognising this problem, Voith Turbo has developed a new fluid coupling – the TurboBelt 780 TXPL – for the drives of these belt conveyors. The company has specially designed these drives for standard asynchronous six or eight pole motors that operate at speeds of 900rpm through to 1200rpm. According to Voith’s Christian Gold, the fluid couplings “are more compact and transmit twice the power that other couplings of the same size could generate,” he told Australian Mining. A crucial element of the coupling

is a new circuit profile, which reduces slip losses by up to 50 per cent. On top of this, its controlled start up with a precisely dosed introduction of torque is easier on the belt, as well as the entire driveline. It even allows for start up times of up to several minutes to be individually set in the control system. A major aspect of the development is the profile of the blade wheels in coupling. Gold explained that fluid engineers created its profile using numerical techniques of flow simulation, which has allowed the blade wheels to transmit double the power with the same diameter – for example the TurboBelt transfers 1100kW at 900rpm, 1500kW at 1000rpm, and 1900kW at 1200rpm. Power density is increased due to the direct attachment of the TurboBelt 780 TXPL to the motor flange, as well as two flow circuits operating in parallel. It also requires only half as much installation space compared to tradi-

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AustralianMining

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AM.NOV11.PG035.pdf

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MOTORS & DRIVES Gearmotors \ Industrial Gear Units \ Drive Electronics \ Services

A power comparison of the coupling over conventional couplings.

tional couplings, Gold saying “it is easier to install as it is just mounted on to the electric motor, it is also much more compact as well as lighter”. The new wheel profile combined with a double circuit increases power density fourfold – which in turn reduces the coupling dimensions considerably. By being mounted directly onto the electric motor allowing for pre-installation to be carried out in a workshop, while it also aids in alignment, further cutting down installation times According to Voith Turbo, the size and weight of the entire coupling has been slashed by half. Power transmission is also wear free due to its hydrodynamic couplings. These hydrodynamic couplings provide additional advantages to conveyor belt operators – increased precision when controlling torque transmission

protects the belt, in turn extending the conveyor’s operational life. This is because longitudinal and tortional vibrations in the belt can be more effectively avoided. “The drive motors also run under less strain when using the 780 TXPL coupling, so oversizing them is not necessary anymore,” Gold said. “Even overfilled belt conveyors can be safely started using it, while unloaded conveyors can be run at creep speed.” Australian Mining was told it has an L10 bearing service life of 80 000 hours, with maintenance of the coupling extremely low – requiring its first overhaul after around 10 to 15 years. “The coupling is designed for use under extremely harsh environmental conditions,” Gold added. It has a robust steel housing for heavy duty mining operations.

Big gear units Industrial gear units made by SEW-EURODRIVE

Whether it’s coal, iron ore, gold or raw minerals, mining is a big job that requires a powerful partner. Industrial gear units from SEW-EURODRIVE combine power, quality and sturdy design into one standard product range. Available as a stand-alone gear unit or integrated into a complete drive package, the SEW industrial gear range can be operated under the most difﬁcult conditions. Extremely high output torques of up to 475kNm are achieved with our range of bevel helical and planetary units. If that’s not impressive enough, talk to us about our custom gear units, designed to suit your power requirements. Power & reliability – industrial gear units made by SEW-EURODRIVE.

www.sew-eurodrive.com.au 1300 SEW AUS Melbourne (HQ) I Sydney I Adelaide I Perth I Brisbane I Townsville The coupling aids in alignment. www.miningaustralia.com.au

AustralianMining

November 2011

AM.NOV11.PG036.pdf

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Disc couplings AMERIDRIVES Torsiflex-i couplings are now available with Torsi-Lock hubs. Developed for API 610 service, the Torsiflex-i flexible disc couplings feature a hardy disc pack design, allowing for greater torque loads in a smaller size, resulting in lower weight and longer bearing life yield. Max bores matched to a NEMA motor shaft provide up to 60 per cent weight savings, according to Altra Industrial Motion. A plug in spacer design allows for installation and removal without Greater torque loads. disturbing the hubs. All models are ATEX compliant for mine site operations, and come standard with a zinc phosphate coating, a built in anti-flail feature, and inch series hub attachment screws, which are also available in metric. The new offering of Torsi-Lock hubs provides the ease of a slip fit with the power of a shrink fit. Ameridrives says it has responded to the industry demand for a cold-install hub that provides secure torque transmission and balance repeatability of an interference fit. â&#x20AC;˘ Altra Industrial Motion www.altramotion.com

Brushless motors 38% more torque.

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MAXON has released a newly designed 70 Watt version of its brushless EC 45 flat motors. The new EC 45 flat 70W displays a flat speed/torque gradient and has comes with the typical features of the range including flange patter, fixation and socket, which are identical to the existing EC 45 flat 50 Watt version. However according to Maxon the 70W version is capable of delivering 38 per cent more torque. It is also able to provide continuous torque of 130 mNm at efficiencies of 85 per cent, making it ideal for self contained drive systems as well as industrial automation applications. The EC 45 flat 70W is available with Hall sensors and comes in four windings â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 24, 30, 36, and 48 V. It can be combined with more than54 different planetary and spur gearheads of series GP 42 C and GS 45 A. The flat design of the brushless DC flat motors makes them a better drive for applications where space is limited. They are designed to be used as internal or external rotor motors. â&#x20AC;˘ Maxon www.maxon.com

Shaft alignment SKF have introduced a new range of shaft alignment tools that have been designed to be easy to use and harness the power of lasers to achieve pin-point accuracy in the alignment of shafts. The SKF TKSA Shaft Alignment range now has an animated graphical interface. This makes it quick and easier to use, and alignment results can be stored and shared using a USB cable via the PC. The new TKSA Shaft Alignment series is the latest development of SKFâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s alignment tool range, and consists of two models; the TKSA 20, and the TKSA 40 with Increased accuracy. built-in tolerance checking and a memory facility that allows results to be stored and shared. Trevor Huf, SKF business manager â&#x20AC;&#x201C; technology solutions said â&#x20AC;&#x153;with the new SKF Shaft Alignment TKSA range virtually any technician can align shafts accurately, in a fraction of time it took previously.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;˘ SKF Australia Trevor Huf 03 9269 0861 www.skf.com.au

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HAVING a powerful motor is all well and good, but not if you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t control it. Which is why Pittman has released power-off and fail-safe holding brakes for its brush commutated and brushless DC motors. According to the company, all of the brakes are factory installed for easier startup. Pittman says its â&#x20AC;&#x153;power-off brakes suit parking brake applications with their capability to decelerate and hold a load in position when power has been deactivatedâ&#x20AC;?. These holding brakes promote â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;fail-safeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; operation by requiring power to actually operate. The power-off brakes include type B30A in four models and type B49A in two models. Standard features on both brakes include a factory set precision air gap, rigid molded friction disks, compression springs, and drive nuts with set screws. On of this, the B30A model brake integrates MIL-W-22759/34D insulated lead wires as well as a low profile mounting plate. â&#x20AC;˘ Pittman www.pittman.com www.miningaustralia.com.au

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AM.NOV11.PG038.pdf

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WATER & WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT

Changing the PROCESS Biological technology is being used to treat contaminated process water.

ne of the major processing problems in Australia is water usage. It requires a high level of water that often then becomes unusable due to the by-products and contaminants from the processing. However, an Australian company has developed ‘green’ technology that is taking this issue head on. PolyGenomX has created a method that uses plants to extract contaminants from mine wastewaters. “Process water from mines can contain huge amounts of salt and other contaminates that, if not treated properly, represent a major problem for surrounding ecosystems and in turn the industry as a whole,” PolyGenomX managing director Peter Rowe said.

However process water treatment can be expensive, particularly for more remote operations, and often the water can not be recycled intensively enough for reuse. Rowe explained that the technology is different to what is currently on the market as it is primarily biological in nature. The core of the PolyGenomX technology is based around “the activation of dormant parts of a plant’s DNA without genetically modifying it in any way”. According to Rowe the process essentially “turbocharges certain naturally existing characteristics in a plant such as rapid growth properties and any predisposition towards thriving in various environments and soils. “This includes 30 per cent plus faster plant growth and

The technology “turbocharges” plants’ abilities to deal with contaminants.

a 30 per cent reduction in production costs and cycles. “One of our processes is the ability to propagate trees that actively feed off salt and other contaminates, effectively stripping them out from the process water,” he said. This water can then be safely used to irrigate land and crops and even fed back

into natural water courses without heavily impacting the local ecosystem. “It provides water management practices that permit the mining industry to take a huge leap forward in efficient use of water resources.” The company has also developed similar applications for biological remediation of

mine sites, including controlling leaking tailings dams and seepage into the water table, as well as solutions for rehabilitating holding ponds at the end of the mine life cycle. PolyGenomx is currently working towards the development of bacteria based soil remediation method in conjunction with its plant technology.

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AustralianMining

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AM.NOV11.PG040.pdf

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WATER & WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT

Keeping your heads above water High flow and high head pump developed in time for the wet season, Australian Mining reports.

ines fill with water. It is just going to happen, in open cut and especially in underground mines; water will enter into your operations. But how do you get it out? If the pump does not have high enough heads then it is almost impossible to get the water out of the bottom of your pits. Case in point – the massive clean up following the Queensland floods, where many coal mines were pumping out gigalitres of water but still had water inundating the bottom of their pits as there was not enough pumping power. Images of the water just pouring into Cockatoo Coal’s Baralaba open cut mine are still a vivid memory. Realising that there were few pumps that could effectively fulfill this serious need on the minesite, Weir Minerals have developed a new heavy duty dewatering pump – the Multiflo (MF) 210MV, to solve this issue. While miners can utilise two pumps to do the job, why should they when you should only need one, Weir Minerals global business development manager Carlos Vernet stating that “when the pit gets

This single pump can do what usually requires at least two pumps, Weir’s Carlos Vernet said.

deeper, one high head pump head and high flow self primed unit can do in a lot of cases, dewatering pumps”. what others usually do with The pumps are auto vacutwo pumps”. umed primed, using Weir’s Launching the pump for the Aus- The pumps have heads of 220 tralian market during AIMEX, Vernet and can pump 160L/second. told Australian Mining that it was designed Vactronic priming system. to fill both “a gap in our range This operates by quickly and in particular a gap in the evacuating air and allowing market for heavy duty high water to enter the priming tank.

Once the water in the tank contacts the upper probe the drive in the pump disengages. If the water level metres drops below the probe, the drive then re-engages and allows water to reenter until it is above the probe level once more. He went on to say that these pumps have heads “of

AIR OPERATED FLOAT SWITCH WATER MANAGEMENT Water management practices employed in most industries sees pumps running 24/7. In practice most pumps only need to be running a small percentage of the time. The WATER MONITOR float switch was designed to overcome this problem. The float switch will simply turn the pump on when needed, reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions. The WATER MONITOR is all Australian designed and manufactured. It offers reliable operation in mining and industrial applications. To find out more about the WATER MONITOR float switch contact don@ddpumps.com.au.

up to 220 metres and are able to pump around 160 litres per second”. It has a pump inlet of 200mm and an outlet of 150mm. Vernet added that it features an interchangeable wet end. Even though it is made for dewatering, it can still handle small amounts of solids, around three to five per cent. On filling this pumping gap, and taking the Australian market and the upcoming wet season into account, Vernet said one of the MF-210MV pump’s “major features is the material which the pumps are constructed from, which are much more wear and corrosion resistant”. This corrosion resistant material is an alloy – H7A, according to Vernet, with the shafts available in 1045 stainless steel. These latest dewatering pumps are powered by either a Cat C-18 engine or a Cummins QSK-19 engine, which both deliver around 448kW at 1800 rpm. “The performance was also matched to utilise the full potential of the CAT C-18 diesel engine,” Vernet said. Weir Minerals have also released a direct drive version, which eliminates gear boxes.

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AIR consumption

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AustralianMining

Email: don@ddpumps.com.au

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AM.NOV11.PG042.pdf

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WATER & WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT

Water runs free for the Pilbara Rio Tinto’s $292 million Bungaroo Valley investment represented a major change for the Pilbara’s water supply, Andrew Duffy reports.

ast year Western Australia’s Water Corporation said water supply in the state’s west Pilbara was “under extreme pressure” from expanding towns and mines. It said the region’s main supply, the Harding Dam and Millstream bore field, had a reliable supply of about 10 gigalitres a year, but current demand hovered around 16gl. To meet demand the Water Corporation started overdrawing these sources, which allowed it to meet short term demand at a “high level of risk to supply security”. As the water overdraw continued and the shortage worsened, attention turned to local miner Rio Tinto to provide a solution. According to member for north-west Vincent Catania almost 50 per cent of the west Pilbara’s drinking water was previously allocated to Rio Tinto. Of its 5.4 gigalitre entitlement Catania said almost 50 per cent, or 2.5 to 3 gigalitres, was being “wasted” as dust suppression on iron ore stockpiles. Most other miners in the Pilbara sourced their own water, and Catania called on Rio to do the same and alleviate pressure on the Millstream aquifer. In September this year Rio complied, and announced it would surrender its Millstream entitlement and spend $292 million developing its own supply from the Bungaroo Valley. In return the Government agreed to release the company from a number of downstream processing agreements. Rio’s move, coupled with the good rains this year, meant the WA Government could shelve plans to build a $420 million desalination plant in the area. On the surface it initially seemed wasteful for Rio to spray large amounts of good quality potable water on its iron ore stockpiles. 42 November 2011

Rio’s investment has made water much more available in the Pilbara.

Catania said so himself in ment seemed to be providing needs of its major Pilbara the HIsmelt pig iron plant in parliament last year when an incentive for the company expansions, and Karratha and Kwinana, but placed the project solutions to the west Pilbara’s to bring itself to the level most the surrounding communities into care and maintenance in water shortage were being other miners had been at from will have enough water to April last year due to low pig considered. the start. continue growing. iron prices and a poor market “To me, in this day and To understand this, a broad The Bungaroo development outlook. age, water is a precious history of the region and its also represented a change in Greene told Australian resource,” he said. water distribution must be how state governments inter- Mining the WA Government “I cannot see how a major considered. acted with resource companies. had been sensible in releasing company … should be taking Rio’s original water alloIn sharing resources such Rio from its old state agreeour drinking water.” cations were based on a 1960s as minerals or water governments and allowing it to make But Rio Tinto spokesper- state agreement, which worked ments need to derive a benefit other offsets instead. son Gervase Greene told well at the time. from their dealings, but this “The Australian landscape Australian Mining that Rio, Karratha was an early benefit need not damage the is full of downstream projects like all other miners, had no settlement at this stage and miner. that didn’t survive economichoice in this regard. cally, and that’s primarily “There is no alterna- There is no alternative, as seawater’s chemical to do with the populations tive, as seawater’s chemof regions,” he said. ical composition would composition would seriously damage the iron ore ... “That’s particularly a seriously damage the iron simple fact of life in WA.” ore steel mills use in their blast there was no demand on the In the past governments However Greene did not furnaces,” he said. Millstream aquifer. attempted to have miners detail how Rio would be Catania put strong support But while times changed support jobs by forcing them making up its obligation to behind Rio’s plan to develop and local populations expand- into developing downstream WA, and said the company’s Bungaroo, and said he ed, the region’s water arrange- processing projects for their state agreement offsets were “applauded” the move. ments remained centred on minerals. “confidential”. But after the deal was struck old agreements. In his debate last year WA Ultimately Rio’s $300 some commentators questioned The changes in Septem- Premier Colin Barnett conceded million Pilbara investment why Rio had been released ber thus represented a long this approach was now out- highlighted the importance of from its state agreements. overdue rethink of the west dated and unsuitable for the water management on the Rio was released from its Pilbara water supply. current economic climate. expansion of the region’s 1972 agreement to build a 1 Rio’s previous Millstream “The old philosophy of mining operations. million tonne per annum steel allocation met the entire annual trying to turn iron ore compaAnd as long as the mill, and had a second 1996 water needs of Karratha. nies into steel companies does company makes good on its steel mill agreement deferred With the introduction of not make a hell of a lot of offsets, the outlay will reprefor 12 years. Bungaroo the company will sense,” he said. sent a positive reworking of On the surface the Govern- now be able to meet the water Rio previously operated the west Pilbara’s water.

AustralianMining

www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_TQBLAOCT_11.pdf

Page

6/09/11,

9:41

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AM.NOV11.PG044.pdf

Page

24/10/11,

2:40

HIRE & RENTAL

HIRE expectations A

t a corporate lunch in Sydney last month billionaire James Packer shared a few regrets about the direction of his business. At the top of his list was a disappointment at failing to spot the the rise of China and subsequent mining boom. Packer said his Consolidated Press Holdings had missed an opportunity to take part in the China boom by investing in Australia’s resources. “The best way to play China is clearly on the mining side and the commodity side and we missed that as an organisation,” he said. Packer said those lucky enough to have a stake in the booming industry had exercised good business acumen. “They saw things that more people in this room wish they had seen than they did, myself obviously included,” he said. There is no doubt the mining industry is now much tighter than it used to be, and many entrepreneurs missed out on the spike in commodity prices. But there still remains some room

While the hire and rental market rides on the back of the mining boom, the dearth of actual equipment is reining faster growth, Andrew Duffy reports.

to move, and money to be made, on the industry’s perimeter. While not mining themselves, businesses that provide crucial support, services, and equipment to resource companies tie themselves to the sector’s performance.

Transport and mine equipment hire is one such sector, and recent moves in the market suggest those with some money to spare are moving on the industry. Billionaire Kerry Stokes’s 7group takeover for National Hire, and the speculation of it refloating Australia's largest general equipment renter Coates Hire was the most publicised example. But talk to enough players in the industry and the strong potential of providing services to miners is clear. The balance sheets of many renters, Coates included, may not immediately display this potential. Economic uncertainty, both abroad and at home, is in part to blame for this. And while there is no doubt miners are expanding, there is proof com-

panies have delayed some spending. But stability and certainty is expected to return, and when it does the purse strings of resource companies will likely loosen further. In its latest economic round-up Treasury made this clear. “Contractors supporting mining and oil and gas operations are optimistic about the strong pipeline of work which is expected to come their way over coming years with some indicating that the full benefits are yet to be felt.” Those that have the money, foresight, and luck to be there to provide miners with the tools needed over the next few years will be the ones to capitalise on this spending. Don’t expect to see Stokes’s 7group acquisition be the last move for hirers geared at the mining industry.

There is market optimism about a strong pipeline of work.

44 November 2011

AustralianMining

www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMHEMNOV_11.pdf

Page

14/10/11,

11:30

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2011-10-13 11:36:28

AM.NOV11.PG046.pdf

Page

24/10/11,

8:38

HIRE & RENTAL

Mine hire takes centre stage 7group’s takeover offer for National Hire represents a growing interest in the equipment hire industry, Andrew Duffy reports.

Providing equipment to miners looks set to be a growing industry.

46 November 2011

AustralianMining

n late September Kerry Stokes’s Seven Group announced that it intended to make a takeover bid for construction equipment renter National Hire Group. Seven already owned 66 per cent of the company, and its initial bid for the remaining minority levelled at $3 each, moving up to $3.60 if it secured 91 per cent of the stock. The offer was well north of the National Hire’s $1.88 share price prior to the bid’s announcement. To evaluate the offer National Hire assembled an independent board committee. When the IBC reported back in late October it was not perfect news for Seven. The independent expert concluded that Seven’s offer was not fair but reasonable.

In its report it said Seven’s offer failed to “recognise the full underlying value” of National Hire. Corporate advisory firm Deloitte said it estimated the fair value to be in the range of $3.66 to $4.30 for a buyer seeking full control. But it wasn’t all bad news for Seven. Despite the unfair finding the report still recommended investors accept the offer if they planned to sell their shares in the near future. It said the offer was particularly attractive because of the unlikeliness of a counter-bid being made from a separate entity. “Accept the offer if you are likely to want to sell your shares in the foreseeable future,” it said. “The offer provides an attractive premium to recent trading prices and

www.miningaustralia.com.au

AM.NOV11.PG047.pdf

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HIRE & RENTAL

the independent directors cannot be confident that the opportunity to realise a higher price in the foreseeable future will be available.” Ultimately the IBC rated Seven’s takeover as the “lower risk option” for shareholders. However the committee said higher risk investors that saw a possibility of getting greater value in the long term should hold on to their shares. National Hire shares have in the past traded higher than Seven’s offer of $3.00, although this was more than ten years ago. Because Seven already owns the majority of National Hire the takeover is not expected to have an earth shattering effect on the wider equipment hire sector. The biggest changes will instead be felt in the pockets of National Hire’s investors. But to some analysts Seven’s move on the company seemed primarily geared towards the acquisition of fellow equipment hire company Coates. Around 93 per cent of Coates was taken by National Hire and private equity house Carlyle Group almost four years ago. The pair shelled out around $2.1 billion of debt to make the move. Coates is currently Australia’s largest general equipment hire company, and is also one of the 15 largest in the world. While it has a broad portfolio, it is primarily leveraged at mining and construction services. This position sits well with Seven’s increasingly mining oriented trajectory, with the group already owning a significant share of WesTrac. Over the past 18 months Coates has made several acquisitions, which were in part an attempt to increase exposure

to the rapidly expanding WA market. There is speculation the endgame in Seven’s National Hire acquisition will ultimately be a refloating of the private Coates. On the surface there looks to be much value in increasing a share in Australia's equipment hire sector. This is especially true of parts of the sector tacked on to the needs of miners. One of Australia’s largest public transport operators, Transit Systems, told Australian Mining this month there was a great deal of money to be made in catering to the expanding hire needs of miners. But if the National Hire deal goes through it will not be all smooth sailing for Seven. In the years since privatisation Coates’s turnover has been slightly more than $1 billion but has grown little. A close look at the company’s 2011 accounts reveals that it does not seem to be making much profit, and in fact its earnings fell in the 2010 financial year. While there has been a financial crisis, the effects of the mining boom also seem not to have manifested markedly for the company. But the IBC still tipped positive growth for the company in the short to medium term. It said a lot of Coates’s flat performance was due to local economic uncertainty. It said this uncertainty had delayed some major spending in the mining and construction sectors. With the takeover still pending and more expansion set for the mining industry only time will tell if Seven’s National Hire gamble will pay off. But the move underscores a growing business attention turning to sections of the hire industry focused on mining.

As companies expand so too will their equipment needs. www.miningaustralia.com.au

AustralianMining

November 2011

AM.NOV11.PG048.pdf

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HIRE & RENTAL

To rent or refurbish Is it cheaper in the long run to rent new machinery or wear the costs of refurbishment?

long with the boom in the Australian mining industry has come an increased stress on plant and equipment. Delays of up to two years on new equipment orders mean that many companies don’t have the option of retiring machines – this has resulted in an even tighter rental market, with major lead times in getting gear on site. As a result, more and more companies are looking to reconditioning workshops to extend the life of their equipment rather than the rental market. For most, this represents the fastest way to get functioning machinery back in the mines and maintain productivity. However, according to Rick Shaw from Geared Engineering, there’s always been a strong case for reconditioning and repair over hire and rental. “Many companies previously saw regular equipment upgrade or replacement as the only way of maintaining a reliable working fleet,” Shaw said. “What they’re learning now, as a result of the new equipment shortage, is that often reconditioning provides a much better return on investment anyway.” Shaw concedes that it’s often a case-by-case basis of assessing the value of repair versus replacement. However, the extended waiting periods being experi-

48 November 2011

Increased lead times on machine rentals are forcing miners to look at other machinery avenues.

enced for new equipment delivery are certainly tipping the balance in favour or repair and reconditioning more regularly lately. In addition, this provides the advantage of being able to upgrade the performance of key equipment components – such as gearboxes, which can not be hired or rented – during the reconditioning process. Surprisingly, Shaw says they often see improvements in both efficiency and reliability over OEM gearboxes. Coupled with the fact that this is typically achieved at a

AustralianMining

lower cost and shorter lead times than replacement. The key for mining companies taking the repair and reconditioning route, therefore, is to ensure that they are working with a trusted workshop employing appropriately skilled technicians. “The more specialised, the better,” he said. Interestingly, he argues, this rules out many of the original manufacturers’ and distributors workshops because their technicians are required to be ‘jacks-of-all-trades’, working on a hydraulic cylinder one minute and a gearbox the next.

On the other hand, independent workshops specialise in providing expert repairs, rebuilds and upgrades to industrial power transmissions for fixed and mobile plant and equipment only. In addition, they can frequently increase gearbox reliability and performance without having to change existing equipment geometry. Typically, manufacturers are also more expensive than independent workshops and have been criticised in the past for being slower to deliver – a major factor affecting productivity.

“At the end of the day though, it’s all about doing a cost-benefit analysis,” Shaw says. He recommends first taking a look at your options – OEM cost to repair against an independent workshop. Those companies who can’t access new or hire equipment have little choice but to look at repair and reconditioning. “But even if new equipment is a possibility,” he says, “don’t jump into a major capital purchase before finding out whether or not it’s possible to give the old equipment a new lease on life.”

www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMHITOCT_11.pdf

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AM.NOV11.PG050.pdf

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PPVC

PRESSING the issue A flame free pipe press is making piping safer.

ictaulic have created a flame free press system that joins pipes in a matter of seconds. Dubbed Vic-Press, it is the industry's first ever ANSI Schedule 10S pipe sized press to connect system designed for off the shelf ASTM A-312 Schedule 10S stainless steel pipes. Victaulic say it is an industrial grade solution for quickly and reliably joining small diameter piping systems. It provides increased strength and durability as well as improved characteristics compared to light wall tube systems. Due to its flame free properties, the press connect system is safer and also provides more efficient pipe assembly than welding, threading and flanging, and meets industry standards. Vic-Press is used with standard Schedule 10S stainless steel pipe, which offers increased strength and durabil-

50 November 2011

AustralianMining

The press connect system eliminates the risk of flames or arcs.

ity and eliminates the need to stock specialty pipe. The pipewall thickness of ANSI

Schedule 10S pipe is up to double that of light-wall tube. As a result, Vic-Press offers a higher life cycle, up to three times the endload performance, up to twice the bend-load performance, up to a 52 per cent increase in available flow, and up to a 23 per cent reduction in pressure drop per 100 linear feet (30 metres) of pipe over tube-sized systems. The Vic-Press system is quick, simple and safe to install, according to Victaulic. Pipe is cut to size and deburred, marked for visual verification, and inserted into a lubricated coupling, fitting or valve. The Victaulic PFT510 handheld pressing tool is used to press the component onto the pipe-end, providing a positive mechanical interlock and creating a rigid, permanent, leak-tight joint. Patent-pending press detection technology enables the installer to confirm any unpressed joints as the system is filled. The Vic-Press system requires 70 per cent fewer man-hours than welding to install, and significantly reduces rework, the company stated. No flame or arc is required as is needed when welding, further reducing any safety risks to workers and the surroundings. With pressure tolerances up to 500 psi (3450 kPa), Vic-Press exceeds ANSI class 150 standards.

The flame free press to connect pipe system meets ASME B31.1, 31.3 and 31.9 support requirements. The system is also ANSI/NSF 61 certified for potable water up to 82 degrees Celsius. Gennaro Sposato, regional manager for Victaulic in Australia explained the creationof the system is part of the company's continual product development. “Vic-Press offers a small-diameter solution for off-the-shelf stainless steel Schedule 10S pipe, and joins our line of grooved stainless steel couplings, fittings, valves and accessories, allowing customers to rely on Victaulic as a single-source provider for all stainless steel pipe joining needs from 1/2 to 24 inches (15-600 millimetres),” Sposato said. The Vic-Press system is available for 1/2 to 2-inch (15-50 millimetre) Type 304/304L and Type 316/316L pipe. Vic-Press products feature Grade “H” HNBR gaskets, suitable for services up to 98 degrees Celsius. Alternative materials, including EPDM, fluoroelastomer and silicone, are available for services up to 121 degrees Celsius. Vic-Press can operate in both wet and dry industrial and commercial applications, including potable water, oil, compressed air, lubricated air, noncombustible gases and general chemical services. www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMSCHAUG_11.pdf

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1:29

REDA

ELECTRIC SUBMERSIBLE PUMPING SYSTEMS

High-Pressure Pumps for Mining Reliable Operational Performance

Maximize Uptime with REDA High-Pressure Pumps REDA* electric submersible pumps offer efficient mine dewatering and can be customized as required. REDA ESPs have been running continuously for more than 4 years in two mines in Queensland, Australia—reducing downtime and operator costs. Engineered for best-in-class reliability, Schlumberger REDA high-pressure submersible bore pumps and underground booster pumps provide a single lift to the surface. www.slb.com/espmining

Global Expertise | Innovative Technology | Measurable Impact

AM.NOV11.PG052.pdf

Page

19/10/11,

1:54

PPVC

Smooth pumping A new pump is providing greater flow consistencies and range.

ynapumps have developed a new line of pulse-less metering diaphragm pumps. Created by Tacmina, and named Smoothflow pumps, this range is designed to provide high precision and performance. But with so many points of focus when creating a mining pump, many find it difficult to cover the full gamut of applications for which these pumps are utilised. One of the key aspects in creating these pumps was ensuring no liquid leakage, so that none was lost during transferral. This makes it possible to prevent high-value chemicals from being wasted and poisonous chemicals from harming people or the environment. The Smoothflow pumps also ensure minimal damage to the pumped materials, as the pump itself does not stir or place excessive local pres-

52 November 2011

The Smoothflow range does not stir or place excessive pressure on the pumped liquids.

sures on the liquid. This virtually eliminates the fear of deterioration in the quality of

AustralianMining

the liquid or slurry due to shearing, friction, pressurisation, or a rise in temperatures.

Part of this is due to the pumpâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ability to provide a constant and stable flow rate.

This flow is not affected by any pressure change at the injection point or in piping on the discharge side. Furthermore, the Smoothflow Pump ensures the transfer of low-viscosity liquids without any drop in the flow rate. According to Tacmina, the pumps are suited for long distance transfers due to this constant flow as there is no pulsation, which in turn means little to no vibration, noise, or excessive burden on the facilities, regardless of the length of the transfer piping. Most pumps in mining run unsupervised so the chances of them eventually running dry are fairly high. With this in mind, Tacmina designed its latest pump range to still be ok after running dry. Unlike conventional rotary positive displacement pumps, the Smoothflow Pump does not have the sliding parts.

www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMVICMAY_11.pdf

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▲ ▲ ▲

AM.NOV11.PG054.pdf

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PPVC

Breath of fresh air for miners The quality of compressed air has a major impact on safety.

he cleanliness and quality of compressed air in any industrial process is vital in ensuring the safe operation of specialised equipment in hazardous environments. Knowing the air quality level required for the effective operation of equipment is also an important factor in containing compressed air energy and other operating costs. Higher quality air is more expensive to produce and requires treatment equipment, which increases costs as well as energy consumption and maintenance needs. CAPS Australia compressor engineer Dino Alessio explains that the degree of dryness and filtration, and minimum contaminant level required should determine the quality of air needed.

Safe operation in hazardous areas All mining operations have an inherent danger, and miners daily face jobs which involve dangerous processes in which health and safety are paramount concerns. Compressed air is non-flammable so it can be safely used in these environments for a multitude of different applications. Compressed air is used in a vortex tube for cooling processes and to drive air operated pumps, typically working as a good alternative to electrically driven pumps which can spark and cause an explosion.

54 November 2011

AustralianMining

failure of instruments and control systems, and contamination of end products. These events increase the cost of running compressors by increasing the maintenance required to clean and repair components. Water, both liquid and vapour, will oxidise pipe work and pneumatic equipment. It will also ruin paint finishes and can potentially make the products being manufactured unable to be sold. Oil-based vapour and liquid can have similar effects on machinery and end-products.

Setting the standard Quality compressed air ensures safety in rugged environments.

Compressed air is also used in a variety of cleaning processes such as reverse air jet purging of filter, as well as being used as the propellant for the cleaning “pig” when clearing the inside of pipelines. Portable compressed air systems can be used for the internal de-scaling of mobile oil and gas tanks or as a stand-by backup for a site’s stationary compressors.

Sources of contamination The three primary contaminants of a compressed air system are airborne particulates, water, and oil. It is possible for a single drop of

unwanted oil to cause an entire automated process to malfunction by causing seals to swell. This problem can often result in a complete seizure of moving parts. Other contaminants that may impact production processes include solid particles such as dust and rust, condensed water droplets from ambient humidity, and liquid oil and oil vapours. Solid contaminants can wear out compressor machinery, cause motors to jam, and block valves and vent orifices. Airborne particulates will cause pneumatic equipment to malfunction,

The International Organization for Standardisation developed the compressed air quality standard – ISO 8573 – in 1992. Class 0 is the most stringent air quality classification, strictly limiting oil contamination in liquid, aerosol and vapour forms. It minimises the risk of oil contamination interfering with the operation of equipment. Alessio says all Ingersoll Rand compressors that are designated oilfree and supplied by CAPS Australia have been certified as meeting the Class 0 air quality standards. By selecting certified oil-free compressors, companies can enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing their air supply is safe and free of contaminants.

www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMGRUSEP_11.pdf

Page

12/08/11,

10:15

Your perfect partner in mining

With years of experience in water process, Grundfos can provide you with a wide range of quality, value for money pumping solutions for mining applications. One of the most important goals of todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s modern mining industry is to minimise the impact of their operation on the local environment. To achieve this, mines aim to maximise the use of recycled process water and reduce fresh water consumption and treated water discharge. Grundfos can offer an extensive range of CR vertical multistage pump solutions, which can efficiently and reliably recirculate large amounts of water from the processing plant. Backed by a National Service Support Network, Grundfos is your perfect partner in mining. NBG/NKG

www.grundfos.com.au

Hydro

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AM.NOV11.PG056.pdf

Page

20/10/11,

9:00

PPVC

Pumping life into mining A company well regarded for its oilfield technology is highlighting to the mining industry a new generation of variable speed drives that further extend pump life while reducing costs, Jamie Wade writes.

s the mining boom places heavier demands on operations, and with increasing competition for equipment and resources driving up costs, maximizing the life and efficiency of equipment is becoming critical. Pumps are an integral part of any mining operation and mine operators serious about optimizing pump performance will appreciate the benefits of Variable Speed Drives (VSD) that extend pump life and reduce operating costs. Schlumberger – a company known for its oilfield technology, equipment and services – is delivering a new generation of VSD technologies using integral-output sine wave filter technology for operating both electrical submersible and surface pumps. The company’s new VSD: the SpeedStar 519 Sine Wave Drive (SWD) was designed for the most common pump problems encountered in the field, according to Noel Pereira from Schlumberger’s Perth office, who said solutions were integrated into the system in anticipation of those common problems. “For example, the drive can provide a safe restart of a spinning motor, or deliver a rocking start to free pumps stuck from sand, scale, or debris. It also offers loadside, phase-to-phase, short-circuit protection,” Pereira told Australian Mining. “Recognising that electrical loading during pump startup is one of the principle causes of reduced run life, the system has been engineered to deliver higher torque per ampere. “This reduces motor heating and torque pulsation, both of which adversely impact equipment run life. “By limiting the in-rush current during startup to a maximum of 1.5 times the operating current, all downstream components benefit, including connectors, splices, 56 November 2011

The drive can provide a safe restart of a spinning motor or deliver a rocking start to free pumps stuck from sand, scale or debris.

cables, and electrical insula- has an 18-pulse, low voltage shifting autotransformer. This tion. (~400V) capacity and a built- innovative feature typically “Under normal operation, in sine wave output filter that reduces reflected current superior motor control circuitry complies with strict Institute harmonic distortion to 5 per keeps the equipment operat- of Electrical and Electronics cent, compared to 25 per cent ing at peak efficiency. This Engineers (IEEE) 519 1992 current harmonic distortion includes the ability to main- guidelines. experienced by conventional tain unity power factor re“This particular SWD VSD VSD systems. gardless of loading, mitiga- increases system efficiency “As a result, power system tion of output efficiency is harmonics, and The SpeedStar 519 Sine Wave Drive (SWD) significantly speed controls improved, and was designed for the most common pump to maintain the package constant load problems encountered in the field. footprint of or pressure.” surface equipThe end result, says Per- and reduces harmonic reflec- ment is reduced by eliminateira, is reduced power con- tion back to the power supply ing the external phase shiftsumption – as much as 40 per while prolonging run life of ing transformer required with cent through maximum effec- the electrical submersible and conventional VSD systems.” tive use of available power, surface pumps it drives,” The benefits of VSD techwhich is a substantial amount Pereira said. nology in regenerating a especially for bore fields. “The key enabler of the smoother and cleaner supply A tailored package with new technology’s perform- power to the motor are widely the Schlumberger SWD for ance improvements is a drive acknowledged by pump system electric submersible pumps input integral 18-pulse phase- operators.

AustralianMining

“An output filter pushes the resonance band of the downhole system below the drive’s carrier frequency, thereby eliminating excessive resonance and minimising voltage overshoots. This benefit is realised in spite of variations in cable length, motor type, or the number of transformer taps,” Pereira said. “The near-sinusoidal output wave form reduces voltage stress levels, motor temperature, and vibration, all of which are known contributors to shortened motor run life. “The VSD enables the system to start at a much lower speed and then ramp to the desired operating frequency. “This ensures that the system’s elements – such as pump-shafts and motor windings’ insulation – are not stressed at start. “With a Direct on Lines (DOL) setup, for example, starting amperes could be as much as six times the running amp. This means significant stress on motor-windings’ insulation that do take a toll on the motor’s run life. “Therefore, VSDs also enable multiple starts as a non-issue.” The Schlumberger SWD VSD and the electrical submersible pump system are also said to protect against lightning strikes or voltage surges by a single, heavy-duty, distribution-grade Metal Oxide Varistors (MOV) disk, which according to Schlumberger, is said to be more effective than parallel MOVs commonly found in the market. “The SWD, while having a built-in sine wave filter, is easy to operate because it doesn’t require site tuning of that filter; the operator simply varies the frequency and the unit adjusts itself for the load. “This minimizes or eliminates the ‘hammer effect’ that has been a concern to piping and the pump in the past,” Pereira said. www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMALLNOV_11.pdf

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4:44

Tough new medium head pump for mining

Sykes raises the bar again Engineers at water management specialist AllightSykes have again raised the bar with a new pump designed to last longer and boost productivity when working in the world’s toughest mines.

The Sykes MH300i is the first product in a new medium-head pump range developed to operate in harsh mining, construction and sewerage by-pass environments which feature both high water flow and long pipe runs.

Designed and built at the AllightSykes principle facility in New South Wales, Australia, the Sykes MH300i is the latest in a line-up of pump offerings which have helped shape the world’s auto-priming pump market for more than 40 years.

For more information on the MH300i and the complete range of Sykes De-Watering Solutions visit us at www.allightsykes.com or contact one of our sales and project efﬁciency experts on 1300 Allight.

www.allightsykes.com

LIGHT

WATER POWER

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AM.NOV11.PG058.pdf

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WEAR & LUBRICANTS

WEARING the cost Custom fabricated wear kits are cutting down repair times.

ear is an everyday part of the mine life cycle. So having a wear plate kit available for when you need it makes work just that little bit easier. Which is why the TW Woods Group have created custom fabricated wear plate kits for the maintenance of heavy machinery used in the mining and infrastructure industry. The kits – typically employed on heavy bulldozers, trucks, graders and loaders – are precision cut, processed and packaged at the company’s new plate processing facility which also handles challenging maintenance and fabrication tasks involving tanks, silo, chute, loader and other materials handling equipment.

58 November 2011

New plant used in the cutting and processing of wear plate kits includes a 300 amp cad-cam profile plasma cutting bed capable of cutting 13m X 3.5m plates up to 60mm thick with plasma, and more than 150mm with oxy. The facility also houses a 1600amp stud welding machine and a plate handling and processing facility serviced by a 10-tonne overhead gantry crane. The company’s press brake facilities include a 1000-ton X 3.2m brake press that can press form steel plate up to 60mm thick, making it suitable for major fabrication tasks including include draglines, buckets, mills, earthmoving equipment, ripper blades, pressure tanks and pipelines and diverse heavy plate fabrications.

AustralianMining

Wear is a constant factor on minesites.

www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMBRANOV_11.pdf

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1 14/10/11,

11:53

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AD_AMMANNOV_11.pdf

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AM.NOV11.PG061.pdf

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SOUTH AMERICA

Due S

outh America has always been attractive for miners. Before the Spanish even stepped foot on the continent it had a long mining history. It also has a long mining future, but this might be something that Australians will miss out on, according to Austrade. Speaking to Dan Sullivan, the trade commissioner at the Australian embassy in Lima, Peru and the head of the team for mining in Latin America, he said that while there are a small number of Australian miners operating in the region, opportunities are being passed up or unrecognised. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are around 35 Australian companies, but there are around 300 to 400 Canadian companies here, the Canadians are all over South America, which means that

SOUTH While Australia has focused on the West African gold rush, it may be missing opportunities a bit closer to home, Cole Latimer reports.

Continued on page 62

www.miningaustralia.com.au

AustralianMining

November 2011

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Continued from page 61 Australian mining companies are missing out on the opportunities here, and this worries me,” Sullivan told Australian Mining. To date there are scattered Australian operations in Peru for copper and gold, in Brazil for iron ore, and two – Tigers Realm and New Age Exploration – looking at coal in Colombia even though the country is more recognised for its oil and gas , and while there has been some activity in Bolivia and Ecuador it is seen as “not quite right for investors,” Sullivan said. Mexico has also attracted one Australian operator – Azure Minerals, however “the focus is more on the Caribbean than it is on Central America,” he added. One of the major Australian operations in the region was Andean Resources and its 2.5 million ounce Cerro Negro gold deposit in Argentina. “This project really changed the perception of Aussie exploration operations in the region, after it was acquired for around US$3.5 billion by Canadian firm Goldcorp last year,” Sullivan said. Another Australian mining company is New Age Exploration (NAE), which operates in Colombia. Speaking to Australian Mining, New Age’s vice president of business development Donald Garner said that while its image has not changed much in Australia, Colombia has been moving forward. “We’ve had no problems at all, and while Colombia still labours under the image of five to ten years ago when it had severe internal issues, the country has changed a lot,” Garner said. “However, the perception of it has not. “This is despite the country’s sovereign debt actually being upgraded to investment grade for the first time in eleven years,” he said. Although there is a lack of Australians in the region “all the majors are in Colombia, BHP Billiton, Vale, Rio, they’re all there”. Garner went on to say that Colombia, and the region in 62 November 2011

Coal mines, such as the Cerrejon mine in Colombia, highlight the region’s potential.

general is much safer, adding greater compared to these ent dearth of Australian explor“when you go through Colom- regions, especially in terms of ers in the region. bia's airport there is a sign investors and the fact that These countries do not that says ‘Colombia – The Australians are usually more even present any kind of soveronly risk is that you’ll want attuned to community rela- eign risk compared to the to stay’”. tions,” Sullivan explained. African region, with both Chile However, while “there has One of the main stumbling and Peru rated as two of the been this growing presence in blocks however has been these best countries in the world in Latin America, Australians very investors. which to mine in the recent just aren’t really informed Sullivan stated that part ResourcesStocks magazine about the region,” Austrade’s of this is due to the ongoing World Risk Survey, and Peru Dan Sullivan said. focus on West Africa, and its providing open arms for mining Part of this is due to the recent gold rush, although juniors with its encouraging unfamiliarity of the region as while miners do see some exploration regulations. compared to Australia, Asia opportunities in Latin America, It’s easy enough to see why and Africa. investors are still focusing on the Canadians are filling the The editor of South Amer- Africa’s west coast. South American space. ican mining magazine Equip Martinez Bruna added that But with the space satuMinero, Oscar Martinez Bruna, Western Africa is attractive rated with Canadians, why stated that it has not would Australians move stopped some incursions Australians just aren’t really into the region? into the region. Firstly they bring some “My perception is that informed about the region. unique skills. there is indeed a growing “Australians are recoginterest from junior Australian for mining investors due to a nised as being great at bulk mining companies, and a lot combination of lower royal- mining and transportation, as of Australian exploration com- ties, taxes, and labor cost – well as supplying remote mines, panies are looking for new in spite of local country risk due to their experience in the orebodies in South America considerations. harsh Australian mining induscompared to previously,” “Australian miners are try,” Sullivan said. Martinez Bruna told Australian now comfortable with the “Our engineers are so used Mining. risks in Africa, and the finan- to doing bulk mining projects “This is particularly the cial brokers are comfortable for demanding clients in rough case in Argentina, Peru and supporting these risks as the conditions that they often Chile, but it is evident that rewards were high, but we are bring their own technology the Canadians are the main now seeing that the risk to and innovations with them.” mining investors in these coun- reward ratio has moved in Mining equipment built tries,” he added. favour of Latin America,” in Australia, while not the “While Asia and Africa is Sullivan told Australian Mining. cheapest in the market, has a more familiar for our miners, So it is strange when con- reputation as hard wearing what they can actually offer sidering the situation in Peru and reliable, he added. to South America is much and Chile alone, the appar“There’s a lot of potential

AustralianMining

for suppliers to take advantage of this reputation and the growing market, in fact mining equipment companies are actually ahead of the miners in moving into the region, with around 70 to 80 suppliers already set up in Chile, so there is already a small Australian support base.” Garner added that in Colombia, New Age Exploration has been looking for coking coal mines and finding many are not mechanised, so has focused on mechanising these operations. Sullivan went on to say that the perception of Australians and their expertise is fairly positive throughout the region. “These South American countries are looking for miners that interact with the local communities,” he said. “People in Latin America are used to dealing with North Americans, so they typically find dealing with Australians a ‘refreshing change’ in terms of attitude, as they tend to not come with the same preconceptions of working in South America as other might.” However this ‘refreshing change’ is unlikely to happen if the old perception of Latin America itself is changed in Australia, from a series of unstable countries and governments to an opportunity. www.miningaustralia.com.au

VIR0541_AM.pdf

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AM.NOV11.PG064.pdf

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ASX

Changes

IN SIGHT

The ASX is looking to change how miners report to the market. But the changes arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t as controversial as first thought, Andrew Duffy reports.

arly last month a minor media storm erupted following the Australian Stock Exchangeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s publication of an issues paper. The document discussed proposed changes to the way in which mining companies reported their assets to the wider market. It was designed to be part of a consultation process with miners to seek feedback on whether current reporting rules were working well. Throughout the paper the ASX identified several areas it thought needed special attention, and offered its own thoughts on how these issues could be best addressed.

In part the ASX took fire at miners, and accused some companies of taking advantage of jargon filled market statements to mislead investors.

It also accused companies of attempting to lure potential investors with speculative and low confidence figures. The reportâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s release was followed

quickly by statements from the Joint Ore Reserves Committee, whose reporting guidelines are the accepted standard for Australian miners.

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www.qmw.com.au 64 November 2011

AustralianMining

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AM.NOV11.PG065.pdf

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ASX

JORC criticised the ASX for declaring its preferred solutions whilst it was still in the consultation phase. Its parent body the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy also followed suit. AusIMM said the ASX had “preempted its own consultation process” by stating its preferred solutions to the problems it had identified. It also criticised the ASX’s move to outline a list of minimum reportable items that could sit outside of the JORC code. In the paper the ASX said such a list could help improve the information miners gave investors by explicitly outlining the details that needed to be included. But AusIMM said no list could cover all of the information required for each and every circumstance. It said as a result the list could have the unintended consequence of leaving investors less informed. AusIMM said it feared that if pertinent information happened to fall outside the ASX’s list, companies would not include it in their reports. JORC raised the same concerns, but its chairman Peter Halter also told Australian Mining the fracas over the ASX paper was unnecessary. He said while there had been little solid analysis of how miners were

reporting to the ASX, what research All bodies agreed that despite their there was did not identify much of a differences a review of the JORC code problem. was needed. “There are these broad statements Reviews of the code are semibeing made in the media,” he said. regular occurrences that ensure the “But no-where do I see anyone guidelines are working appropriately. talking about a real problem.” The release of the ASX’s latest Halter pointed to a previous review discussion paper is in itself not an conducted by the ASX which studied extraordinary event, and according approximately 5,000 reports made to Halter the latest review is well by resource companies. overdue. He said the study found that from In its paper the ASX said consul5,000 announcements around six per tation was also timely given the booming cent had not met the appropriate investment in the mining industry. reporting guideIt said as lines. more companies The ASX had “pre-empted its Halter said sought out even own consultation process” by higher levels of these figures did not point to a stating its preferred solutions. funding, ensurneed for signifing tighter rules icant changes to the code. would help protect investors and “With only six per cent not meeting improve access to capital for miners. requirements I don’t see why we need JORC and the ASX initially worked these mandatory lists,” he said. together on the paper, but fell apart In its reports the ASX said it had over the decision to print preferred received significant feedback from solutions. stakeholders that the rules were not After the split JORC decided to working well. write its own paper and operate a Halter said JORC had in part consultation process alongside that received similar feedback, but blamed of the ASX. confusions not on the guidelines but But despite the split a close reading on a lack of training and understand- of both documents will reveal many ing in those that were reporting. similarities. But JORC, AusIMM and the ASX Several sections read exactly the did agree on one thing. same, and reflect the initial coopera-

tion between JORC and the ASX on the issue. They also highlight the significant level of agreement between the two bodies. Contrary to much of the initial reporting surrounding the issue, JORC and the ASX were not at loggerheads over the majority of the consultation process. Most of the areas earmarked for attention by the ASX were also highlighted for attention by JORC. And Halter told Australian Mining while he did not agree with the ASX printing its preferred solutions, if after the consultation process key stakeholders backed those moves, JORC would look to implement them. “We’re not adverse to that idea,” he said. “We don’t have a view that there’s a better way to go about it, and if people backed it we’d be happy to change our mind.” For now the proposed changes remain in the consultation process, and it is difficult to predict what feedback the JORC and ASX papers will receive. But judging by the documents by both bodies, any changes will represent only slight adjustments to the rules already in place.

Large kibble winch needs refurbishing: short deadline, tough specs, no problem!

A large double drum shaft sink kibble winch with two drums each powered by 600 kW motors (2600 kW peak power) needed refurbishing. The motors were back to back , with a rear non-drive end shaft extension. The winch drums were running parallel to the motors and the method used to reduce the speed and increase the torque was to employ a single stage spiral bevel reducer. The centre distance between shafts was in excess of 2.7 m between the motor output shaft and the driven winch shaft. And, of course, the deadline was tight. Brevini designed a helical reducer that would not only meet the technical requirements but that also was able to provide the exact ratio and the required centre distance to within 1 mm. Note that each reducer is over 13 tonnes. Delivered on time and on budget. Got a special requirement to discuss? Call us NOW. Brevini Planetary Samhydraulik VPS Brevini Brevini Winches

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AM.NOV11.PG066.pdf

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SPACE

Mining’s

FINAL FRONTIER

e’ve seen deeper into the reaches of space then we have explored beneath our own planet. Planets that are made entirely of diamonds millions of kilometers away have been identified, yet scientists are still theorising what the earth’s core may look like. But why? Why do we know so much more about distant stars than the bottom of our own ocean? Well, space may be the world’s salvation as the demand for materials continues to rise and grow exponentially as the earth pumps out its seventh billion human, fewer new minerals discoveries are made and the existing resources diminish. So what is mining to do, as it’s less and less likely that there will be another Wittwatersand on the horizon. So where do we look for the newest materials? Some have already begun mining on the seabed, uncovering mineral riches just laying on the ocean’s floor, with copper grades of around 14 per cent and more ready for the taking. But not all are looking to continue tapping earth's riches; some are looking to the sky and beyond to feed the ever increasing demand for minerals and metals. It is no surprise either that we should consider asteroids or comets as source of minerals; according to Pravda, British and Swiss scientists say meteors (which are asteroids that have entered earth’s atmosphere) are behind some of the large precious metal deposits laying under the planet’s crust. During the earth’s formation heavy precious metals such as silver, platinum group metals, iron ore and gold

66 November 2011

AustralianMining

Mining in space isn’t light years away, Cole Latimer reports.

should have moved towards the planet’s core due to the force of gravity, geochemists believe. However, there are still enormous amounts of metals resting just below the surface – so how did these get here if common sense says they don't belong? Potentially, meteorites. These meteorites containing precious metals have rained down on earth, and increased the abundance of the planet’s minerals. We already know that asteroids have a wide range of different make ups, some are like flying lumps of stainless steel, other contains significant hydrocarbons, while within some

rock asteroids you are likely to find mind bogglingly high levels of platinum group metals, tens of thousand of parts per million. “We do know now that there are materials of enormous economic interest available in space, any near earth object has a platinum group metals concentration greater than the best terrestrial ores,” according to Princeton’s Space Studies Institute director Lee Valentine in his article A Space Roadmap: Mine the Sky, Defend the Earth, Settle the Universe. Recent meteors have even brought previously unknown minerals – Wassonite – to earth. There is an increasingly diverse mix of minerals being found in these asteroids. So now we have unknown tonnes of potentially valuable minerals floating in the vast reaches of space just waiting to be utilised. And in here the problems lies. There is no doubt that there is a huge supply of useful materials – if we can get to them, and know how to extract it correctly. “Although there is a large body metallurgical knowledge on hand that has been developed for terrestrial purposes, that knowledge may not be directly translatable to the space environment,” Valentine states.

So how do we do this, and what might the outcomes be. Speaking to Mark Sonter, who has written extensively on the technical and commercial feasibility of asteroid mining, he told Australian Mining that the potential for mining small near earth asteroids (NEA) and bringing them into earth’s high orbit is increasing as robotic and automated technology develops. “There is no obvious showstopper that would impede mining in space,” Sonter said. With the consistently growing number of near earth asteroids being identified, following funding boosts in the 90s, distance and accessibility is much better than many people would think. He explained that there has been a growing interest in the feasibility of bringing small asteroids into near earth orbit for research and their potential resources for the construction of structures in space. And here is where the value can be added, rather than by sending the minerals and metals back to earth. “It is not really about bringing it back to earth but about using the ore in space for the growth of outer space facilities,” Sonter told Australian Mining. “If we see the development of large scale orbital structures – factowww.miningaustralia.com.au

AM.NOV11.PG067.pdf

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SPACE TY FE S T S A FI R

ries, hotels, power stations and the like, then as soon as they begin to be constructed then we would probably use materials from easily accessible asteroids as a resource base.” Valentine adds that “space has enormous advantages over planetary surfaces for construction of large structures. The full-time solar energy for electricity and thermal process heat is readily at hand and a hard vacuum makes possible processes that are extremely expensive to use on the earth”. While this is a possibility in the future, it is all a pipedream until methods are set down for accurately identifying asteroids which have the potential to hold valuable minerals. “It isn’t an issue of technology, it’s more about finding the right targets,” Sonter explained. With increased investment by NASA and EURONEAR into identifying NEA “the number of potential targets has expanded and the number of small asteroids that have the potential to be brought into near orbit has grown”. He added that bringing the NEA into earth’s vicinity would be easier and less time consuming than sending astronauts to the asteroids. But what about mining a little closer to home – the moon perhaps? Companies such as Naveen Jain’s Moon Express (MoonEx) have already looked into the possibility of lunar mining. Speaking to FoxNews, Jain said “the moon has never been explored from an entrepreneurial perspective”.

Need a reliable, full service, crane supplier in South Australia? Asteroids would be brought into near orbit to be mined.

The moon is understood to hold more than twenty times the amount of titanium and platinum than anywhere on earth, as well as the extremely rare helium 3. According to Jain, MoonEx’s recent contract with NASA will allow the company to begin lunar mining operations in the coming years, possibly as soon as 2013. However, according to Sonter “one-tenth of NEAs are easier to get to than the moon”. So is it first come first serve, or can countries ‘claim’ vast regions containing unknown quantities of asteroids? “Perpetual ownership of private of government assets in space or on other bodies is a well defined, documented and practiced aspect of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty,” explained Bob Richards, the CEO

Private companies, rather than governments, would drive the rush. www.miningaustralia.com.au

of Odyssey Moon, a company focused on commercial lunar exploration and space travel. Sonter says that while UN laws prohibit any body from claiming these space rocks for a nation, there is “no prohibition on actually digging it up”. Similar to most mining, the majority would be done by private companies with no intention to make nationalistic claims on the mined land. Sonter added that the technology used to mine the asteroids would almost certainly be used to deflect any asteroids that were threatening to hit earth. “What has become plain from the scientific results of Apollo and Mariner and Spacewatch is that the one thing that the human race must learn how to do in space is to defend our planet from catastrophic impacts with near earth objects,” Valetine states in his SSI report. As juxtaposed as it sounds, mining could be saving the earth. All these things are available for the taking, the minerals and metals – it’s just getting there. Which seems light years away from reality. But to put perspective on it all, humans first flew in 1903 and only 66 years later we stepped on the moon. How long until we make a more permanent move into space? For further reading into the feasibility of asteroid mining, have a look at Sonter’s thesis Mining Economics and Risk-Control in the Development of Near-EarthAsteroid Resources.

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November 2011

AM.NOV11.PG068.pdf

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PRODUCT SHOWCASE

The rockface is a living thing

Idler pulleys

IT is constantly moving and changing, and this presents a danger to people mining. But the behaviour of the rock, and the potential for rock fall, is predictable. Being able to map the structure of a rock mass is crucial to understanding how it behaves, and impacts upon not only safety but also efficiency. This is definitely the case in designing blasts, since the properties and behaviour of the rock changes how it fractures, the levels of fly rock and overall dilution of ore. It is also important in reducing excavation failure risks. Therefore, mapping of the structure of the rock mass is essential in providing engineers with the information to carry out their jobs. Which is why the CSIRO has developed Sirovision. Takes 3D images with regular According to the CSIRO, it is “an innovative system that changes the way rock mass structure is cameras. mapped and analysed”. It uses off the shelf digital cameras to take images of exposed rock faces, and then makes 3D images which are used to map the rock mass’s physical properties and structures. Sirovision enables the evaluation of the risk of rock fall as well as the optimisation of blast patterns, all without placing people in danger, as the system uses cameras to capture the data from a distance. “The 3D images generated using Sirovision extract spatial information that cannot be obtained as cost effectively, easily or quickly by any other method,” George Poropat from CSIRO earth science and resource engineering said. The system can also be used in automation of mining equipment, and the photographed data can be exported directly to Surpac, Vulcan, Datamine and MineSight. So far the technology is being used across five continents and can be operated in both open cut and underground mines. Nick Spanswick, a senior mine geologist at Barrick said “to date I have been finding the accuracy well within our needs and as we are using Sirovision in cycle (for every exposed bench) we are getting within centimeters of check points regularly and the survey I-site scans and Sirovision mirror each other very well”. A commercialisation agreement was recently signed with CAE Datamine. The development of the technologies used in Sirovision is now also being directed to applications as diverse as machine vision and the modelling of aboriginal rock art. • CSIRO www.csiro.com.au

PIES Australia have release new idler pulleys designed specifically for timing belts. The new Type P Pulleys come in eleven standard sizes to suit almost any timing belt. Built from aluminium, they are fitted with two high quality deep groove ball bearings, with guide flanges to help keep the timing belt on track. According to PIES they are a cost effective solution for any belt drive design, whether they have a fixed shaft centre distance or an existing drive that requires and idler. It can be run on the teeth or outside of a timing belt. These idlers can work with a number of belts, including polyurethane, rubber, metric, and imperial timing belts. Sizes range from 20mm up to 120mm OD and suit everything from 6mm wide 2mm pitch timing belts up to 50mm wide 20mm pitch timing belts, PIES says. • PIES Australia 03 9303 2063 sales@piesau.com.au www.piesau.com.au

Safe picket remover SEVINN has created a quick and easy star post remover – the XPR. The mechanical product has no automation but delivers a high level of mechanical advantage, requiring just minor exertion from an operator using one leg. It allows for the safe and easy removal of star posts, Y-star posts and T-sections. Easy picket removal. As it works from ground-level, it requires no human lift factor. When positioned on ground-level, its friction blade digs into the periphery of the post at an acute angle and gives the post no option except to move upwards and out of the ground, once the operator begins the downward foot action. The XPR requires no more energy or force than that required by a common foot pump used to inflate a bicycle tyre. It breaks the seal formed by the soil and moisture that holds the pole in place. Often, such posts have been in place for a very long time and thus become almost difficult to pull from the ground by hand because the friction is too strong. In circumstances where a strong seal has in fact been formed, manual removal poses an OH&S risk for back and shoulders if there is over-exertion or the post suddenly comes free. XPR has a very rugged but lightweight steel construction, weighing only 4.4 kilograms. • Sevaan Group Tony Panrucker 02 9824 5555 tony@sevaangroup.com.au www.sevaangroup.com.au

68 November 2011

AustralianMining

Mining fuel YOU always make sure that your vehicle has enough fuel, so why would you forget about ensuring your miners have enough fuel to keep doing their job. While caterers try their best to keep miners feed, the often remote and inhospitable climate around mines makes growing fresh foods difficult, forcing them to rely on regularly transporting in food. And in the case of emergencies there is very little keep miners going, especially underground. One company, Smart Earth Services, plans to change this. Based on the Gold Coast, the company provides freeze dried foods in one and two serve satchels for consumption or emergency rations. For emergencies, the S.O.S. Emergency Grab Bag is a back pack loaded with freeze dried foods, long term water satchels and other items, which can be located underground at strategic points. The food apparently lasts for a decade or more. Smart Earth Services also has an S.O.S. Emergency Pantry, which is a ten foot shipping container filled with freeze dried food satchels and long term water satchels. • Smart Earth Services Barry Hollingsworth 1300 8800 663 barry@smartearthservices.com.au www.be-home.com.au

Purging fans FANQUIP’S range of purging fans is seeing increase use in the day to day activities of mines. Able to run successfully with a long length of ducting if required, the portable purging fans are versatile enough for mine managers fit them on top of a truck and move it to which ever part of a mine or quarry they are required. They can be powered either by electricity, diesel or petrol. These lightweight units are supplied standard with five metres of heavy duty flexible ducting allowing them to be placed well away from an opening to allow a greater level of fresh air environment for operators. The purging fans have a lightweight aluminium casing and can be set up for either blowing or extracting; therefore in situations where there is only one escape route all unwanted air is quickly and easily extracted. The units have fan diameters of 300mm and 400mm, motor speeds of 2880rpm and free air volumes of 1200, 2200, or 2500l/s. Petrol powered purging fans are available in a 300mm diameter, 3-horsepower, 3000rpm version moving 1500 l/sec air volume, or a 400mm diameter 5horsepower 3000rpm version capable of purging 2800 l/sec of air. Fanquip purging fans include a standard transportation frame for convenient fit and transportability. • Fanquip www.fanquip.com www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMBRUNOV_11.pdf

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Bruindam ofﬁce

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Typical 450 person camp layout

Bruindam is a wholly Australian owned business which has been providing quality construction and maintenance services to mining companies since 2000. With 30 years experience in the mining industry Bruindam’s directors thoroughly understand the workings of resource companies and suppliers to mining companies, and have bought their industry expertise to provide the mining industry with the most advanced and reliable full turn-key camp solutions. Ofﬁce Complex 16 modules

3 room permanent camp design

2 room construction camp layout

37 Mordaunt Circuit, Canning Vale WA 6155 (08) 6253 8266/6253 8233 www.bruindam.com.au admin@bruindam.com.au ABN 84 095 370 353 BRB 13524

Our designs mean that delivery of our buildings do not require specialised machinery or over sized transport as they are all compatible to worldwide logistic standards. Bruindam’s buildings can be delivered by air, sea, road and rail anywhere in the world. The design of our units makes it possible for very easy assembly and disassembly for relocation at any time.

Features and benefits • All buildings have highly insulated walls, roofs and floors. • As a standard feature they also come fitted with cyclone rated double glazed windows, shutters and thermal doors with insulated frames. • The thermal design and quality of the buildings mean that the building is undertaking the major heating and cooling function. • By maintaining an internal temperature the design of the units have eliminated internal sweating which causes condensation, rot, mould and mustiness. The buildup of • Mvoisture in buildings reduces the useable lifespan of buildings and furnishings.

• Keeping a dry internal environment makes the units very hygienic and most importantly comfortable for the occupants / users of these systems. • Modules are stackable with no need for additional reinforcement which can reduce site footprints and costs. • All buildings are extremely energy efﬁcient and maintain a 6 Star + Energy rating through-out Australia. • Buildings can be easily linked together giving greater ﬂexibility for demobilization and re-location time and time again. • Standard designs are available or we can customise to suit our clients’ needs. • We also offer a solar energy component which will further offset energy costs.

Turnkey projects Bruindam personnel thrive on the challenge of starting at the conception stage of a project and working closely with our clients to design a workable village. We employ the latest designs for energy efﬁcient buildings and equipment. At Bruindam we have many methods that will reduce the cost of running a camp and reduce the environmental footprint. Bruindam is proud that our designs are also based on quick removal of the camp leaving very limited remedial work. We invite you to come and talk to our people about your next project and visit our factory to see the latest accommodation buildings.

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PRODUCT SHOWCASE

Portable welder

Provides 30% more power.

ESAB Australia has released a portable welder – the Caddy MIGC200i. The new welder provides powerful welding capabilities in a portable 12 kilogram package, including torch and cables. The compact welder does fabrication, repair and maintenance work with steel, stainless steel, aluminium, and can also do MIG/MAG brazing using silicon bronze wire. Electrode polarity can be changed for use with gasless wires. “The MIG C200i is the lightest welding unit in its output class, with performance that belies its small size. The welder’s power factor correction (PFC) feature provides 30% more welding power from the same sized fuse. This also allows the welder to be used on a 6.5 kVa generator with voltage regulator,” according to ESAB’s Damian Cann. Easy to use, the welder is equipped with QSet, which automatically sets all of the welding parameters. ESAB say it continually adjusts and maintains the optimum wire/gas combination through the welding process, to provide the best welding arc and consistent weld. To operate it, all the welder does is install a suitable welding wire and gas combination, select QSet, select material thickness and weld for four second. After this the welder sets itself. According to ESAB, the QSet is insensitive to contact tip to work distance; or stickout, allowing a less skilled operator to achieve high quality results. The whole enclosure is rated to class IP23, and has an operating temperature of up to 40 degrees Celsius. It works off mains voltage and has a maximum welding output of 200A. • ESAB Australasia 03 9383 7652 www.esab.com

Material measurement LOADRITE has developed the X-Weigh system, which allows for quick measurement of material inside excavator buckets. The system allows for the accurate weighing of the material in the bucket and then displays the payload information on a monitor in the machine’s cab. This information can be stored as daily, weekly or monthly reports in the monitor for later retrieval, a hard copy can be printed using the optional printer, or the information can be sent straight to a desktop In-bucket weighing system. computer using the Loadrite software’s optional MMS technology. With its unique sensor configuration, it can be applied to quick hitch systems, making it less intrusive and a natural part of the excavator's operation. According to Loadrite product manager Gordon Hain, “when you’re working on a project you need to be able to swap between buckets fast and easily and that’s why the quick hitch system has become so widespread. Being able to continue to accurately weigh the payload regardless of which bucket you’re using or how frequently you swap buckets – means the entire project can proceed at maximum efficiency with weighing and measurement in the hands of the excavator operator.” Loadrite is part of Actronic Technologies. • Actronic Technologies 02 9531 6732 gordon.hain@loadritescales.com www.loadritescales.com

Idler pulleys PIES Australia have release new idler pulleys designed specifically for timing belts. The new Type P Pulleys come in eleven standard sizes to suit almost any timing belt. Built from aluminium, they are fitted with two high quality deep groove ball bearings, with guide flanges to help keep the timing belt on track. According to PIES they are a cost effective solution for any belt drive design, whether they have a fixed shaft centre distance or an existing drive that requires Comes in eleven sizes. and idler. It can be run on the teeth or outside of a timing belt. These idlers can work with a number of belts, including polyurethane, rubber, metric, and imperial timing belts. Sizes range from 20mm up to 120mm OD and suit everything from 6mm wide 2mm pitch timing belts up to 50mm wide 20mm pitch timing belts. PIES says. • PIES Australia 03 9303 2063 sales@piesau.com.au www.piesau.com.au

70 November 2011

AustralianMining

Tests noise, vibration and harshness ratings.

Sound and vibration measurement NATIONAL Instruments have released a new sound and vibration measurement software suite. The tool provides a collection of analysis and signal processing tools for noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) testing, machine condition monitoring, and audio test applications. According to NI, engineers can use the suite as stand alone software of combine it with NI hardware and additional software to simplify the test system development and control. This latest release comes with new vibration data-logging functionality and other enhancements. The Sound and Vibration Measurement Suite 2011 also includes ready-to-run data-logging virtual instruments which makes it possible for engineers to save data continuously or based on specific criteria such as triggers or time. Engineers can easily configure the data logger and run it as long as necessary for a variety of sensor types including accelerometer, tachometer and proximity probes. The measurement suite also includes the Sound and Vibration Assistant, a stand-alone software module for quickly acquiring, analysing and logging acoustic, noise and vibration data. • National Instruments 1800 300 800 info.australia@ni.com www.ni.com

Linear rail platforms HAYDON Kerk has released a linear rail platform with a 180° folded-over motorized design. This design allows for a small footprint linear actuator system perfect for precision motion applications where space is at a premium. The folded-over linear rail contains all the components needed for motion subassembly, including the stepper motor, belt and pulley, precision lead screw, bearing supports, and rail with load carriage. The rail also has the capability of mounting sensors within the integrated dovetail grooves. The standard drive ratios available from the motor to the screw are 2:1, 1:1, and 1:2, using lightweight aluminium pulleys and a fiberglass reinforced neoprene timing belt. Screw leads available range from 0.050 in/rev to 1.2 in/rev. When using a 2:1 ratio, a 0.050 in/rev lead screw, and a 200 step/rev stepper motor, a positioning resolution of 0.125 thousandths is possible. For high-speed applications, a 1:2 pulley ratio and a 1.2 in/rev lead screw provides a max speed of over 7 in/s. All RGS and RGW linear rails feature standard wear-compensating anti-backlash driven carriages to insure repeatable and accurate positioning. The splined aluminium guide rail and 303 stainless steel lead screw is coated using Kerkote TFE coating, providing a permanently lubricated surface. • Haydon Kerk www.haydonkerk.com www.miningaustralia.com.au

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

To see the latest jobs available visit www.miningaustralia.com.au, which is updated daily. MINING ENGINEER LOCATION – SYDNEY COMPANY – KRC MINING CONSULTANTS Description: With 11 years of experience KRC is a fast growing consultancy company specialising in servicing the mining industry. We focus on providing practical cost effective solutions in areas of geology, geotech, planning, scheduling, equipment selection and mine optimisation. The role is with our Sydney based Engineering team. The role will expose the successful candidate to a range of commodities and projects which will be carried out across Australia and potentially the world. We require engineers that can think on their feet and are solution oriented with a can-do attitude. As a consulting company we have a unique bonus structure which rewards target attainment and team success. On top of that we have on going internal and external professional development that will ensure that you are successful at the projects you are assigned to and have the skills to rise to the top. Preferably but not limited to 3+ years of practical on site experience working in a mine/production engineering role. Experience with the following software is preferred: Vulcan, Surpac, Xpac, Xact, To apply for this role, please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au/jobs or contact Dobsen Wuerfel on 02 8586 8000

RESOURCE GEOLOGIST – 8+ YEARS AND HAS SOFTWARE EXPERIENCE LOCATION – SYDNEY COMPANY – KRC MINING CONSULTANTS Description: KRC is a fast growing consultancy company specialising in serving the mining industry.We focus on providing practical cost effective solutions in areas of geology, planning, scheduling and equipment selection and mine optimisation. The role is with our Sydney based geological team. The role will expose the successful candidate to a range a of commodities and geological regions. Projects will be carried out across Australia and potentially the world.The role will report to the Consulting Manager and will manage the geological team on current projectsWe are seeking an 8+ year Senior Geologist and/or a 15+ year Principal Geologist. This role is required to review and give general advice to our client base on geological best practice in data management, drilling program optimisation, geo-statistics and block modelling. They will act as a liaison point for any geological enquires or concerns both internally and with clients. They must be able to travel and spend periods working on remote mine sites. Strong geological knowledge and practical skills are important in this role as this is a key part of the job. These skills are required to ensure the accuracy and validity of further engineering projects. To apply for this role, please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au/jobs or contact Dobsen Wuerfel on 02 8586 8000.

SENIOR MINE GEOLOGIST (UNDERGROUND) LOCATION – PERTH COMPANY – INDEPENDENCE GROUP NL Description: Independence Group NL is a Perth based Mining and Exploration Company whose operations and projects include: We are seeking expressions of interest from experienced SENIOR MINE GEOLOGISTS seeking new challenges to join the professional mine geology team in our growing organisation. Reporting to the Geology Manager and acting as his alternate, the successful candidate will be based at our Jaguar Project and will be actively involved in an interesting and broad range of responsibilities. Jaguar Camp has a well equipped Gym, Pool, multi-purpose court, wet mess, with lawns around most of the camp. This role is FIFO ex Perth and offers an excellent remuneration package. Candidates who are based in Australian cities (other than Perth) are also encouraged to lodge an expression of interest for this key senior role in our dynamic organisation. To apply for this role, please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au/jobs or email recruitment@igo.com.au

SENIOR MINING ENGINEER LOCATION – SYDNEY COMPANY – KRC MINING CONSULTANTS Description: With 11 years of experience KRC is a fast growing consultancy company specialising in servicing the mining industry.We focus on providing practical cost effective solutions in areas of geology, geotech, planning, scheduling, equipment selection and mine optimisation. The role is with our Sydney based Engineering team. The role will expose the successful candidate to a range of commodities and projects which will be carried out across Australia and potentially the world. We require engineers that can think on their feet and are solution oriented with a can-do attitude.As a consulting company we have a unique bonus structure which rewards target attainment and team success. The Senior/Principal Mining Engineer is a senior position in the company and will be responsible for producing reliable, environmentally sound and practically achievable short, medium and long term schedules. To apply for this role, please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au/jobs or contact Dobsen Wuerfel on 02 8586 8000.

ENGINEER: DRILL AND BLAST OP LOCATION – WA COMPANY – GOLD FIELDS Description: Gold Fields are currently seeking a results oriented individual to join our St Ives Gold Mine Team within the Surface Mining Department. Reporting to the Senior Mining Engineer, the main focus of this role is to coordinate all technical aspects of Open Pit drill and blast activities in close liaison with the drill and blast contractor. There are excellent opportunities for advancement within the St Ives Gold Mine Team. To apply for this role, please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au/jobs

GLOBAL SAFETY MANAGER, MINING LOCATION – CANADA COMPANY – CONFIDENTIAL Description: Our client is a leading global multi-metals business producing significant quantities of zinc and lead as well as other products such as silver copper and gold. Their primary focus is zinc production and since 2009, they have undergone a significant strategic transformation by expanding upstream into mining; both to secure raw material supply for its smelters and to gain exposure to the more profitable part of the zinc supply chain. Our client has an outstanding opportunity for high-performing mining safety professional

to assume the role of Global Safety Manager, Mining. Once in place, this individual will have complete responsibility for managing all elements of Mine Safety for all current and future assets that are or will be in production through North, Latin and South America. The ideal candidate will have a minimum of ten (10) to fifteen (15) years of progressively responsible managerial and leadership experience working in mining-related environmental health and safety management roles. We would expect the successful candidate to have worked at a level where they will be comfortable working across multiple sites, regions and cultures and have demonstrated familiarity of regulatory requirements across all elements of the Health & Safety function. To apply for this role, please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au/jobs ENGINEER: PRODUCTION LOCATION – WA COMPANY – GOLD FIELDS Description: Gold Fields are currently seeking an Underground Production Engineer to join their Underground Mining Team at Agnew Gold Mine. This role is offered on an 8 days on 6 days off roster and is Fly in Fly out from Perth. Reporting to the Senior Engineer: Production you will be responsible for facilitating the optimal extraction of gold ore from mining operations through the provision of a comprehensive production planning, scheduling service that achieves short to medium production and development targets ensuring maximum return to the business in alignment with EHS standards. To apply for this role, please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au/jobs SENIOR GEOLOGIST: RESOURCE LOCATION – WA COMPANY – GOLD FIELDS Gold Fields’ St Ives Gold Mine is located 80km south of Kalgoorlie, near Lake Lefroy in the Eastern Goldfields region of Western Australia. St Ives is a dynamic site with its mix of three open pits and four underground mines contributing to the production of 428,000 ounces of gold in F2009. An opportunity has arisen for a motivated, results oriented individual to join our St Ives Mineral Resource Management team in the role of Senior Resource Geologist. To apply for this role, please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au/jobs FULL TIME ASSISTANT GEOLOGIST LOCATION – INDONESIA COMPANY – BORNEO MINERALS Borneo Minerals is an exploration and mining company based in Australia. Our recent expansions into the South East Asian region, namely South Kalimantan, Indonesia have resulted in the urgent need of human capital as we begin initial explorations in our coal mine. Currently, Borneo Minerals is recruiting a graduate to assist our Geologist mainly with geological surveying, mapping and the interpretation of drilling data. Relevant qualification for the abovementioned skills are necessary. We offer an attractive pay package of AUD$40,000 per annum with living, food and accomodation expenses provided. This position will be based in Indonesia for a year initially, with the possibility of further extension. Computer literacy and proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint are essential. To apply for this role, please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au/jobs

VOLGREN Mine Transportation Solutions Volgren Mine Transportation Solutions can provide: A vehicle that is: i Australian Built i Built to Australia’s highest Safety standards i Constructed from Aluminium providing the operator with a vehicle that is Stronger, Lighter & Safer i Corrosion resistant i Low cost of option due to aluminium structure Finance Packages that can: i Provide finance for 1 to 500 buses i Full vehicle leasing i Off balance sheet benefits

The Volgren body can be built on either Australian or the major European chassis models. Volgren the Company Volgren is Australia’s largest manufacturer of commercial bus bodies. Our bodies are constructed from aluminium which has a natural resistance to corrosion. This is prevalent to the highly corrosive environment of the mining industry. Our buses also meet the highest safety standards in the ADR’s and roll over. Volgren have manufacturing facilities across Australia with plants in Victoria, Western Australia, Queensland and New South Wales. Volgren have been manufacturing buses for the Australian market for over 30 years and today has a market share of over 40% of the domestic new bus sales market. Volgren is proud of their history in the Australian mining sector, providing buses to the industry since 1980 with a delivery of vehicles to Rio Tinto Alcan Gove (formerly Nabalco). These vehicles served the mine for 28 years and only recently were replaced with a fleet of new Volgren buses.

Australian Owned & Manufactured

For more information please contact Sales & Marketing +61 3 9791 4255 www.volgren.com.au

Global Technology

VICTORIA 221-243 Hammond Rd Dandenong VIC 3175

72 November 2011

NEW SOUTH WALES 3-13 Kilcoy Dve Tomago NSW 2322

AustralianMining

Unit 3 8/10 Avalli Rd Prestons NSW 2170

WESTERN AUSTRALIA 47 Beringarra Ave Malaga WA 6090

QUEENSLAND 20 Amy Johnson Place Eagle Farm QLD 4009

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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Innovation

through proven experience

MMD remains the proven performer in the field of modern high capacity fully mobile IPCC solutions, having designed and built the two highest capacity track mounted mobile sizers in the world to date; MS1, 8,000 - 10,000TPH of overburden commissioned in 2001. OS1, 6,000 - 8,000TPH of oil sands commissioned in 2006. Many improvements and design features gained from the 10 years of development and operating experience have been incorporated in the MMD mobile sizer stations which are now ready for full production. All unnecessary complications have been eliminated to reduce the weight and therefore cost, whilst substantially increasing the production capability. The low profile, low weight design is extremely manoeuvrable enabling continuous movement to be synchronised with the face shovel, offering maximum operating efficiency at production capacities far in excess of that achievable by truck and shovel operations, and with much less impact on the environment. All of these mobile sizer stations utilise standard MMD apron plate feeders and MMD twin shaft mineral sizers, which have been developed by MMD over the last 30 years, and have a proven track record in a wide range of minerals, from soft and sticky to abrasive hard rock applications including; bauxite, gold, kimberlite, iron ore, copper ore and granite. Visit the MMD website for more information.

10,000TPH Mobile sizer processing overburden

8,000TPH Mobile sizer processing oil sands

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

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

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EVENTS

Conferences, seminars & workshops Event submissions can be emailed to ozmining@reedbusiness.com.au DRILL & BLAST HARD ROCK 2011 31 October-2 November Duxton Hotel, Perth Drill & Blast Hard Rock 2011 will be held in Perth and has been specifically designed for drill and blast specialists working in hard rock mine sites. This event will provide you with hard rock mine case studies, presentations on new drilling and blasting technologies, as well as interactive sessions that allow you to voice your own challenges and ideas. Furthermore our workshops will provide you with a more challenging learning environment where your active involvement is required. Four reasons why you need to attend Mining IQ’s Drill & Blast Hard Rock 2011: Improve drilling and blasting techniques; achieve optimum fragmentation; reduce costs; and to comply with safety standards and legislation The Drill and Blast Hard Rock event will feature a line up of 14+ expert speakers, don't miss the opportunity to hear and learn from them. • IQPC 02 9229 1000 enquire@iqpc.com.au www.drillandblastevent.com.au

ALB MINING & RESOURCES LAW 10-11 November Brisbane and Perth Masterclass participants will hear from leading experts on the latest legislative and regulatory changes important to mining and resources lawyers. From carbon pricing, to minerals resources tax and cross border transaction, this is a must attend event for all practitioners interested to engage in a meaningful

continuous automatic lubrication • less downtime • better productivity

www.greasemax.com.au

74 November 2011

and interactive discussion on the issues impacting the industry. • Thomson Reuters www.thomsonreuters.com.au/ catalogue/ProductDetails.asp?ID= 12207

MINE RECONCILIATION 2011 22-23 November Surfers Paradise Mine reconciliation 2011 is invariably charged to the Geology department and accuracy is often, unfairly attributed to modeling which seems correct. The reality is that each department responsible for estimation and reporting is equally responsible for the slight variations that produce underwhelming results. Attending Mine Reconciliation 2011 will equip you or your team with the knowledge you need to increase revenue through more accurate reconciliation. The conference is going to tackle these issues through case study based analysis from mine sites across Australia and the world, the agenda features: Two international case studies from North and South America; Two interactive workshops which will cover both geological software imaging and JORC code reporting standards; Keynote presentations by metallurgical and resource professionals that will shine a light onto the entire reconciliation process. • IQPC 02 9229 1000 enquire@iqpc.com.au www.minereconciliation.com.au

MINE RESCUE & EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WA 28 November1 December Duxton Hotel, Perth Building on the success of the Brisbane event in May, Mine Rescue & Emergency Management will be rolling out to the West Coast. The program takes into consideration the added pressures of dealing with an isolated mine site and how this has to be dealt with in both your emergency management planning and emergency response. Support the development of your emergency management staff through attendance at Mine Rescue & Emergency Management The program and experienced speaker

AustralianMining

panel will help you with the planning, response, and recovery effort of an emergency on your mine site. Furthermore, this event will provide you with the opportunity to network with “neighbouring” mine sites and the possibility to develop future mutual aide agreements. Reasons to attend Mine Rescue and Emergency Management WA: Comprehensive research has been conducted with the leading mining companies, as well as the top mining contractors and solution providers to develop the most relevant mine rescue & emergency management event for WA mining professionals. Based on the issues expressed by people like yourself, we have developed a conference to help you overcome the challenges you face in emergency management. This year you have asked us to focus on: Implementing and Maintaining Mutual Aide Agreements; Proactive Emergency Management for Hazards On-Site; Communication Technologies to Help Manage a Mining Emergency; Preparing for an Emergency with Local Communities. • IQPC 02 9229 1000 enquire@iqpc.com.au www.minesrescue.com.au

ENERGY EFFICIENCY MANAGEMENT IN MINING 2011 29-30 November Holiday Inn, Brisbane Energy Efficiency Management in Mining 2011 will be the ideal platform to learn about successful energy efficient projects, effective ways to build support for your energy efficiency business case,

building momentum for a mine site proposal, and realising and communicating commercial value and strategic advantage. With the carbon tax effective as of July next year, timing is fundamental to business success. Energy Efficiency Management in Mining 2011 will feature presentations on: identifying and funding resources for energy efficiency projects; creating and writing a successful project plan to present to management – specific to your site; embedding sustainable strategies and emission reductions on site; implementing site-specific energy and performance improvement programs; applying technical efficiencies in plant and equipment; promoting behavioural changes on site to promote energy efficient practices; and stakeholder engagement and communication of the economical benefits of energy efficiency. • IQPC 02 9229 1000 www.energy-efficiency-mining. com.au

PLANT MAINTENANCE IN MINING 2011 6-8 December Holiday Inn, Surfers Paradise How do you improve the availability and reliability of your plant while working on a small budget? Minimising downtime and spending for both ongoing and shutdown maintenance will be explored in detail at Mining IQ’s Plant Maintenance in Mining 2011 on December 6th & 7th in Gold Coast, QLD. Roundtable discussions, panel sessions and four bookable

workshops will allow for increased interactivity and networking opportunities, allowing you to get the most value from our expert speakers and facilitators. This year’s event has grown from our previous Mining Maintenance & Asset Management conference to have a new focus on Plant Maintenance in Mining. This is so you can address challenges specific to fixed plant maintenance. This new spotlight will enable you to dissect some of the best practices applicable in the maintenance of crushers, grinders and other fixed plant machinery and will arm you with measurable strategies that you can apply on your own mine site. Key sessions of this year’s program include: Evaluating Equipment Predictability and Risk Assessment for Fixed and Plant Assets by Mark Ringsgwandl, Major Works Superintendent, Queensland Nickel; Improve Availability and Reliability with a Thoughtful Examination of Your Maintenance Strategy by José Pedro Bolaños Arias, Maintenance Manager, Vale, Brazil; Survive the Generational Change – How Computer Based Training Can Be Used to Capture the Knowledge of the Experienced Worker by Michael Pope, Planner Coordinator, Queensland Alumina Limited; and Introduction to a Remote TeleAssistance System for Maintenance Operators in Mines by Eleonora Widzyk Capehart, Stream Leader, Geologically Intelligent Surface Mining Earth Science and Resource Engineering, CSIRO. • IQPC 02 9229 1000 enquire@iqpc.com.au www.miningmaintenance.com.au

QUEENSLAND MINING & ENGINEERING EXHIBITION (QME) 2012 24-26 July 2012 Mackay Showgrounds, QLD Specifiers and industry professionals to come together to catch up on products and technologies, industry trends and network with industry colleagues. QME features free entry to all in mining, engineering and construction industries. • QME Hotline 02 9422 2955 qme@reedexhibitions.com.au www.queenslandminingexpo.com. au www.miningaustralia.com.au

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Last Year 640,700 Australians were injured in the workplace SOURCE: Australian Bureau of Statistics

Blackwoods “Don’t Gamble With Safety” 72 page colour publication is crammed full of: • Widest range of safety products and PPE • Special offers • All the best Safety Brands

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If what you do depends on Lime, talk to us.

Mining operations depend on Lime. Which is why industry leaders get their Lime from Sibelco. Because while we might’ve changed our name from Unimin, we haven’t changed the quality of lime you’ve come to expect from us. Whether it’s Quicklime, Hydrated Lime or one of many other limestone products you may require, Limil is a brand synonymous with quality. Choose Limil from one of the seven Sibelco plants around Australia and you can look forward to 135 years of Lime manufacturing expertise, the security of long-term supplies and a level of quality and consistency that our ISO9001:2008 Quality Program delivers. To find out more about Limil, Sibelco and our industry-leading products, visit www.sibelco.com.au

UNM12187