Category: Features

“This was a world where no human could live, hotter than the planet Mercury, its atmosphere as poisonous as Saturn’s. At the heart of the fire, temperatures easily exceeded 1000 degrees Fahrenheit. Lethal clouds of carbon monoxide and other gases swirled through the rock chambers.” David DeKok, Unseen Danger: A Tragedy of People, Government, and the Centralia Mine Fire (1986) Once a small industrial centre in the US state of Pennsylvania, Centralia owed its prosperity to the anthracite-rich coal mines running beneath it. At its peak the town was home to 2761 people and boasted five hotels, seven churches, 19 general stores, two jewellery shops and about 26 saloons. Then, 50 years ago, a seemingly innocuous landfill fire ignited an...

BEGINNING as a small-scale concept in 2003, the annual Africa Down Under Conference has become the biggest African resources event held outside of the continent, and mirrors the remarkable rise in Australian mining interests on African soil. Between August 29 and 31 this year, an estimated 2500 delegates visited the Pan Pacific and Novotel Langley hotels in Perth for the conference’s 10th instalment, which featured more than 70 delegate presentations, 170 exhibitors and a number of side events. The Australian Government was represented by four senior Cabinet members including Foreign Affairs minister Bob Carr and former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, while the African ministerial delegation included South African Mineral Resources minister Susan Shabangu plus ministers and delegations from 16 other...

EVEN though implementing safety solutions throughout the workplace can be costly, it is important that all business owners take responsibility for the health and safety of their employees and customers to avoid detrimental consequences. The 10th annual Safety Show Sydney, in conjunction with the Sydney Materials Handling Show, will be held from October 23 to 25 at Sydney Showground. Showcasing the latest in occupational health and safety products along with thousands of new and innovative ways to improve workplace performance, the event is expected to attract thousands of visitors. Exhibition director Tony Francis said he anticipated the three-day event would once again be a success. “The Materials Handling Show has grown to such a stage that we were able to...

FOR 25 years, NQ Cranes has been at the forefront of the Australian crane industry. The company is Queensland’s largest overhead crane manufacturer and service provider. It offers services such as crane and hoist supply, and crane design, manufacture, servicing, maintenance and compliance inspections. Whether a client requires a single or double-girder overhead travelling crane, custom-built jib or portal cranes, or crane rail systems, NQ Cranes has the expertise and knowledge to deliver first-class solutions. Products manufactured by NQ Cranes conform to all Australian standards, ensuring customers receive a safe, reliable and cost-effective lifting system, delivered on time and on budget. With safety as its top priority, the company offers after-sales support including emergency servicing performed by its qualified staff...

EFFECTIVE dust control using water at mines requires uniform wetting, and monitoring of weather conditions such as wind direction and speed. Dust can cause major problems for mining operations, such as low-visibility issues and equipment failure, and can be linked to health problems such as asthma, lung cancer and heart disease. A fixed sprinkler system with weather monitoring, centralised control and proper water distribution components can be an effective and operationally efficient solution for dust issues at material handling points and on stockpiles and roads. The Rain Bird central control system utilises a single computer linked to field controllers to monitor watering schedules and system performance, allowing a small number of people to easily operate and monitor site-wide system activities...

MINING software company Chasm Consulting recently announced the release of its mine ventilation software Ventsim Visual 3.0, a major upgrade to the existing Ventsim Visual 2. Version 3 of the software was in development for more than 12 months, and incorporates hundreds of improvements on the previous version, largely based on feedback by users and developing trends in mine ventilation design. Ventsim Visual 3.0 includes new features such as multiple 3D windows and full dynamic time-based simulation for heat, gas and diesel fumes. The software also includes a new staging feature that enables a mine to incorporate a series of incremental ventilation changes in a model to represent different stages of mine development. Multiple versions or options of the same...

LEADING noise control and sound proofing technology manufacturer Flexshield has been servicing the Australian mining industry since 2003. With solid experience and a full range of products the company is able to provide a complete noise control solution – from noise assessments to the supply and installation  of engineered acoustic treatments. Flexshield’s products include acoustic enclosures, attenuators, baffle silencers, modular acoustic panel and flexible noise control barriers. All of the company’s products are NATA accredited, providing assurance for customers that products will perform to their requirements. Offering a complete turnkey range of flexible curtains, welding screens, flexible screens used for factory zoning and flexible swing doors, the company provides cost-effective solutions for controlling both workshop and environmental hazards. All of...

AUSTRLIA’s remote mining regions will benefit from the country’s newest ‘green’ innovation: the world’s first mobile on-site recycling facility. Closed Loop Turnstile developed the mobile facility: constructed from 40 foot Royal Wolf shipping containers, the units are the perfect solution for on-site recycling, as their portable design provides a complete solution that can be mobilised virtually anywhere. Each unit consists of two levels, and waste or recyclables are loaded via a conveyor belt that transports materials to its upper level. At the upper level, recyclables such as paper, plastic and aluminium are sorted by hand and then gravity fed into allocated compactors to form 1 cubic meter bales. Each bale is then removed from site and reprocessed into new materials...

EMERGING diversified exploration company Natural Resources Exploration (NRE) was incorporated in late 2009 and has projects in the Northern Territory and Queensland, including a number of advanced greenfield projects. The company recently underwent a restructure and, under its new title NRE Group, now incorporates subsidiaries such as NRE Base Metals and NRE Phosphate. NRE prides itself on its refreshing approach to exploration. One extremely experienced geophysicist said that he saw similarities between NRE’s exploration approach and those of Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, which served both mining majors well in the long term. NRE has embraced opportunities to explore in the Northern Territory, and is focused on the development of its large tenement portfolio....

DESPITE a somewhat rocky Australian share price in recent weeks, the future looks bright for gold producer Alacer Gold. Strong financial results for the company’s first quarter this year included a jump in net profit to $54.2 million, compared to a $92 million loss in the same quarter last year, and an adjusted net profit of $27 million compared to $13.6 million last year. In the company’s recent quarterly report, Alacer president and chief executive officer Edward Dowling said the miner’s attributable mining gross profit was $56.4 million, representing a margin of $576 per ounce. The company recently increased its 2012 production guidance to between 396,000 and 410,000oz, but also revised its cash cost guidance up to between $745/ oz...

PROUDLY celebrating 50 years of service, Acromet continues to supply Australian-made metering pumps and dry material feeders to clients around the world. The company was originally based on its founder’s concepts of innovative equipment design, fuelled by a passion for providing robust and reliable products with the highest possible accuracy. Acromet’s initial product range specialised in gaseous chlorination. The company was responsible for introducing the unique all-vacuum chlorination system into the Australian market – a system now adopted by all major manufacturers. In 1969, Acromet expanded its reach into the industrial market with its introduction of an all-Australian designed and manufactured range of diaphragm and plunger metering pumps and accessories, known as the 900 Series. During this period, the company...