The Goldfields Environmental Management Group (GEMG) is a technical and professional body of people working to achieve environmental excellence. Most of its members are located in the city of Kalgoorlie-Boulder situated in the Eastern Goldfields region of Western Australia. The GEMG provides a so...

07-May-2014

Mintec, Inc have developed an interesting program to support operators in decision making. MineSight Performance Manager is designed to fill a need for coordinated, actionable reporting, analytics, and decision support at mine sites. Currently that need is largely filled by spreadsheets at many site...

06-May-2014

As of February 9th, 2014, over 813 abstracts have been approved for this year's IMPC! The Australians and Chinese led with their number of submissions, in a field of 47 countries: a truly international gathering of minds. Comminution efficiency has 40 dedicated papers - an exciting result. In add...

29-Apr-2014

CEEC director Dr Mary Stewart recently presented a profile on energy efficiency in comminution at the Forum on Doubling Energy Productivity held in Sydney in April 2014. The program included focus on consumer and industrial productivity opportunities including a dedicated mining  and agriculture ses...

27-Apr-2014

In this paper, the authors undertake a critical review of the Starkey test and the publicly available information related to the test equipment, procedures, and scale-up methodology. The following recommendations are proposed to improve the test method: 1. The test should be conducted for a fixe...

24-Apr-2014

ABSTRACT  Newmont’s Phoenix mine started production in March of 2006. Due to the extreme hardness of the ore, the mill has struggled to meet throughput projections. Grinding studies showed that optimizing the existing circuit would not achieve budgeted throughput. These studies also showed that t...

21-Apr-2014

CMP 2013 Abstract Newmont’s Phoenix mine began gold production in 2006 and has since experienced difficulties in reaching design throughput due to variability in ore hardness. In 2010, a debottlenecking study was conducted, generating multiple options to increase throughput of the existing Phoen...

18-Apr-2014

Comminution 2014 The keynote presentation at Comminution 2014 was delivered by prof Tim Napier-Munn, a founding CEEC director. Prof Napier-Munn is a mineral engineer with degrees from Imperial College, London and the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. He has spent his +40-year career...

17-Apr-2014

ABSTRACT  Measures taken by mining companies around the world to reduce their carbon footprints are becoming increasingly important in the sector securing its social licence to operate. The options for measures reduce to three categories of activity: i)                 demand reduction by avoiding...

17-Apr-2014

[caption id="attachment_3305" align="alignright" width="150"] Dr Fuerstenau[/caption] This is the title of Dr. Douglas W. Fuerstenau's key note address at the International Minerals Engineering Congress, to be held in Mexico later this year. Dr Fuerstenau is the P. Malozemoff Professor Emeritus a...

15-Apr-2014

        [caption id="attachment_3432" align="aligncenter" width="599"] Mike Battersby and Tim Napier-Munn at Comminution 2014[/caption]   Thanks to all the sponsors for supporting Comminution 2014: a very well attended meeting. Some of the delegates gather...

12-Apr-2014

The Southern African Institute of Mining & Metallurgy Western Cape Branch presents: MINPROC 2014  7-8 August 2014 LORD CHARLES HOTEL, SOMERSET WEST incorporating a Workshop on 6 August 2014:  Opportunities to improve energy efficiency and processes Submission of Conference Abstracts: 9...

11-Apr-2014

Workshop on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for Mining, Mineral Processing and Metal Extraction and Power Generation Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a key tool for all industries and businesses in the developed and developing world for the assessment of sustainability of processes and products, be it...

10-Apr-2014

ABSTRACT Energy benchmarking is widely applied across industries to determine the potential to improve energy performance. Unlike the many technologies for which energy benchmarks and efficiency rating systems are already in maturity, benchmarking of mining processes is still in its infancy. Benchm...

10-Apr-2014

Executive Summary The Industrial Technologies Program (ITP) relies on analytical studies to identify large energy reduction opportunities in energy-intensive industries and uses these results to guide its R&D portfolio. The energy bandwidth illustrates the total energy-saving opportunity that e...

10-Apr-2014

World Mining Congress 2013 Abstract Energy benchmarking is widely applied across industries to determine the potential to improve energy performance. Unlike the many technologies for which energy benchmarks and efficiency rating systems are already in maturity, benchmarking of mining processes...

09-Apr-2014

IMPC 2014 Abstract The main purpose of geometallurgy is to improve the mine planning by mapping hardness and throughput into the mine block model using geostatistics to eliminate the large production fluctuations caused by the ore hardness variability coming from different parts of the pit. Ho...

09-Apr-2014

Journal paper Abstract Life cycle assessments of the mining and mineral processing of iron ore, bauxite and copper concentrate were carried out, focussing on embodied energy and greenhouse gas emissions. The results showed that loading and hauling make the largest contributions to the total gr...

09-Apr-2014

Journal paper Abstract The environmental profile of gold production with regards to embodied energy, greenhouse gas emissions, embodied water and solid waste burden has been assessed using life cycle assessment methodology. Both refractory and non-refractory ores were considered, with cyanidati...

09-Apr-2014

SME 2014 Abstract Secondary crushing often gets good press for its increases in energy efficiency and SAG milling rates but for a project considering this option the proposed benefits soon get overshadowed by implementation concerns. Reverse engineering from the published case studies is risky...

09-Apr-2014

Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium (EMC) in partnership with Natural Resources Canada and the Canadian Industrial Program for Energy Conservation (CIPEC) is bringing together the country's leading energy subject-matter-experts, industry leaders and energy efficiency suppliers, to share best prac...

09-Apr-2014

As previously reported, the Global Mining Standards Group now includes a working group developing standards for industrial comminution efficiency. The group gathered in Salt Lake City in February 2014 to define their goals and strategies. Key assumptions: 1. The objective of their work is to f...

07-Apr-2014

This topic was addressed by Milla Craig from Deloitte Canada's team at the Quebec Mines meeting in November 2013. "While sustainability initiatives seek to provide solutions to the environmental and social impacts of the mining sector, one too often forgets (or ignores) the economic and financial...

03-Apr-2014

JON ALLEN (METSO MINING AND CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY) gave the Quebec Mines 2013 delegates Metso's view on mill design and applications, as well as an update on work with JKMRC. "Rising energy costs, requirements to minimize energy consumption, and a commitment to sustainable solutions in the mine...

02-Apr-2014

SGS's FRANÇOIS-OLIVIER VERRET presented the following summary on HPGR at the Quebec Mining meeting in November. Several grindability tests were developed over the years to design grinding circuits or optimize existing operations. Each test has its own strengths and weak- nesses and purposes. It i...

01-Apr-2014

MICHEL BRISSETTE AND JOHN STARKEY (STARKEY & ASSOCIATES) reported on the step change possible in comminution efficiency when comminution is coupled with an innovative technology at Quebec Mines 2013. "In recent years, the mining industry has shifted toward mining orebodies with decreasing gra...

31-Mar-2014

Another report from Quebec Mines conference, this time by GREG RASMUSSEN (XT) IsaMill technology was developed from the stirred milling  technology of  Netzsch  Feinmahltechnik GmbH in the 1990’s for use in the fine grained lead zinc ore bodies of Northern Australia in a drive to bring about a st...

28-Mar-2014

The following Abstract was presented at Quebec Mines 2013. Innovation using new technology delivers measurable results. Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS): A new tool for the mining industry MOHAMAD SABSABI, PAUL BOUCHARD, FRANÇOIS DOUCET, LÜTFÜ ÖZCAN, ANDRÉ MOREAU, AISSA HARHIRA AND...

27-Mar-2014

CMP 2014 Abstract The Linear Wear Theory provides a reliable framework for the assessment of grinding media performance at full scale. This theory can be applied for analyzing grinding media consumption rates in any given grinding operation as well as the evaluation of alternative grinding med...

26-Mar-2014

The premise: The mining industry must innovate if it is to meet the growing needs of the world. With an eye on international competition, all aspects of Québec’s mining cycle are affected, from exploration to mine site rehabilitation. In today’s open world, innovation is the product of research and...

26-Mar-2014

CEEC is participating in Mines and Money Hong Kong, bringing the CEEC message of improved shareholder value from improved comminution strategies to  hundreds of mining companies in a 270-booth exhibition. [caption id="attachment_3188" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Lt- Rt Tom Hunter Outotec, Ek...

26-Mar-2014

18 March 2014 Although the industry works in a competitive world, some challenges need to be faced together, writes Paul Dowd, Non-Executive Director, Oz Minerals. It’s a well-known maxim in most industries that whatever competitive advantage one company thinks it may have at any poi...

26-Mar-2014

SME 2014 Abstract The  Functional  Performance  Equation  for  ball  milling  circuits provides plant staff with a new means to improve circuit performance. However, successful execution of a plant project, with verifiable circuit processing performance improvements, requires a significant number...

25-Mar-2014

18 March 2014 If Australia is to remain a leading resources and energy exporter, our productivity and competitiveness must rise, writes Minister for Industry, the Honourable Ian Macfarlane. Australia has long been a world leader in the resources and energy sector. From exploration to development,...

25-Mar-2014

The Phoenix secondary crusher installation has been successful with grinding energy consumption decreased significantly (15-20%)  against a modest increase in crushing energy. Phoenix is a fascinating case study as the approach taken is different to what has typically been done and what is recommend...

21-Mar-2014

CRC ORE aims to improve the productivity of mining operations by working with the industry to apply system-based analysis methods to increase unit metal productivity. This work has resulted in an integrated operational solution and system-value approach built around Grade Engineering®. This con...

18-Mar-2014

CMP2013 The energy efficiency debate in comminution is an ongoing one, with several different points of reference. A recent award winning paper by Wang et al 2013, adds to this debate by addressing process, energy and cost efficiency. The paper won the Coalition for Energy Efficient Comminution (...

17-Mar-2014

The CEEC Medal celebrates and recognises the contribution of outstanding research and field work on beneficial strategies for eco-efficient comminution, as stated in CEEC’s Mission and Objective. The Medal is awarded annually to the author/s of the most outstanding published paper, article or case s...

14-Mar-2014

CERAWeek is the energy industry’s preeminent gathering of industry leaders and government officials, offering new ideas, insight, and discussions on major strategic issues facing the global energy industry. 2014 marks the 33rd anniversary for the annual executive conference. 2,300+ senior energy exe...

11-Mar-2014

A large gathering of industry executives from around the world sat down to dinner in the Grand Salon of the Grand America Hotel, Salt Lake City to witness the celebration of the first inductees into the International Mining Technology Hall of Fame (www.im-halloffame.com). Following a drinks receptio...

05-Mar-2014

Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy: 100 Years of Innovation presents more than a century of innovation drivers that have advanced the mineral processing industry. Trends, developments, and improvements are discussed in depth, and likely areas for future innovations are explored. Edited...

28-Feb-2014

Abstract As part of its investigation into run-of-mine ore fragmentation, Highland Valley Copper discovered the role of primary crushing in the optimisation of mill feed size. Image analysis methods were used to quality the effect of feed size on mill throughput and showed the in-pit crushers to...

27-Feb-2014

SAG 2001 Abstract As part of its investigation into run-of-mine ore fragmentation, Highland Valley Copper discovered the role of primary crushing in the optimisation of mill feed size. Image analysis methods were used to quality the effect of feed size on mill throughput and showed the in-pit...

26-Feb-2014

Mine to Mill Conference, Brisbane, Qld, October 1998 Abstract Highland Valley Copper recently implemented a system of measuring run-of-mine (ROM) ore properties and monitoring their effect on both mine and mill performance. These properties are principally ore hardness and size. For some ye...

26-Feb-2014

Michael MacFarlane, Mining Consultant and former Executive Vice President, Business Strategy and Innovation, AngloGold Ashanti contributed an excellent article to Dassault Systemes GEOVIA's Special Report on Mining Innovation. Mike discusses actions companies are taking to address investor confidenc...

26-Feb-2014

CEEC's mission is to accelerate the transfer of knowledge, with the aim of this knowledge being the reduction in comminution, to improve the efficiency of mineral processing. Innovation is defined as  the art of introducing new ideas or methods; therefore adopting improved comminution processes r...

20-Feb-2014

World Mining Congress 2013 Abstract This paper examines the development of several order of magnitude trade-off studies to evaluate the application of High Pressure Grinding Rolls (HPGR) technology in comparison to the SAG mill grinding technology. These studies were prepared by Wardrop Engine...

19-Feb-2014

The Global Mining Standards and Guideline group (GMSG) formed a new working group called the Working Group on “A Standard for Industrial Comminution Efficiency” in 2013. The group is headed by CEEC advocate Robert E. McIvor, who has devoted his career to the design and improvement of the processing...

19-Feb-2014

The team at Metcom Technologies have just released their latest Grinding Bulletin, describing "Work Index" and its correct application. Click here to see the February 2014 Grinding Bulletin. Metcom is the world leader in training and knowledge transfer in mineral grinding circuits. They offer com...

15-Feb-2014

CEEC's team is always on the look out for insight into ways accelerate the adoption of new technology, new  flow sheets and improved results. the following article by Kay Sever resonated strongly: does it apply in your work place? Early rockets were designed with two stages - one with the power to...

14-Feb-2014