CRC ORE Annual Report 2011 - 2012

TRANSFORMINGRESOURCE EXTRACTION

2011-12 ANNUAL REpORT

research | develop | deliver

crc ore is transforming resource extraction and the way it is evaluated by developing innovative techniques to upgrade ore between mining and concentration.

through a systems approach encompassing orebody characterisation, metallurgical process design, grade engineering™ and life-of-mine project evaluation, these technologies have the potential to dramatically reduce water and energy consumption while ensuring the viability of mines beyond high commodity prices.

VISION

1 2011-2012 CRC ORE Annual Report | pg 1

INSIdEindustry focused

research

management

2. what is crc ore?

4. industry challenges

8. research & industry partners

10. chair report

12. ceo report

16. opinions on performance

18. Research Overview

22. coarse liberation circuits

24. integrated extraction simulator

26. integrated evaluation

28. environmental indicators

30. Integrated Case Studies

32. grade engineering™

36. telfer

39. cadia

40. olympic dam

42. resource to market

44. Foundation projects

46. flexible circuits

48. selective blasting

52. Education & Training

54. mass mining design and planning

55. geometallurgy training modules

56. research communication

58. Governance & Administration

61. operations

63. financial report

64. our board

68. our people

70. publication list

72. glossary of terms

CRC ORE is a Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) established in June 2010 under the Commonwealth government CRC initiative. The CRC Program supports end-user driven research collaborations to address major challenges facing Australia.

With the support of Anglo Platinum, BHP Billiton, Newcrest Mining, Xstrata, The University of Queensland, AMIRA International, Queensland University of Technology and The University of Tasmania, CRC ORE was awarded $17.5m over five years in the 12th round of the Federal Government’s Cooperative Research Centre Program. Since then, JKTech, Quantitative Group, CAE Mining and Teck Resources have joined as participants of the Centre.

The collective expertise of the participant organisations affords CRC ORE a position with remarkable

opportunity to make a significant difference to the Australian mining industry

and the broader community.

WhAT IS

CRC ORE?

3industry focused | research | management 2011-2012 CRC ORE Annual Report | pg 3 industry focused | research | management 2011-2012 CRC ORE Annual Report | pg 3

Mining

QG

S

INDU

TRY FOCUSED

RESE

AR

CH

DRIVEN

INdUSTRy ChALLENGES

5industry focused | research | management 2011-2012 CRC ORE Annual Report | pg 5

declining ore gradesOver the last 30 years, the average grade of Australian ore bodies being mined has halved while the waste removed to access the minerals has more than doubled. This trend is repeated worldwide and is driving massive increases in energy consumption by the mining sector. In the last decade Australian mines incurred a 60% rise in energy use, and a 40% decline in productivity over the same period. At the same time, growing constraints on energy, water and carbon have seen costs rise dramatically.

resource boomsDuring this period, prolonged periods of increasing demand combined with lagging increases in supply have created a resource boom. The graph on the following page identifies a period over the last 10 years where value increased by 250% with only a 23% increase in volume.

increasing energy consumptionDuring such a boom the economic viability of processing increasingly marginal material will increase the energy

intensity of production, as mining companies raise throughput levels and extract as much metal as possible from the available low grade ores.

multifactor productivityIt has been well documented that productivity improvements are not offsetting the decline in grade, and in the near future the industry will reach a tipping point where mass processing of low grade deposits using conventional technology is no longer viable.

These pressures directly threaten the economic viability of mineral extraction, and the situation is set to deteriorate further as social expectations and new environmental legislation continue to target the industry.

To reverse the trend the industry is seeking to embrace new technologies to increase extraction efficiency. These technologies will need to increase the metal content of ore being processed, while reducing energy and water consumption during the extraction process.

This is the challenge that CRC ORE was created to address, with a three program portfolio targeting inefficiency throughout the mining process and aiming to dramatically reduce the cost and environmental impact of mining operations.

Australian Bureau of Statistics 2011, Experimental Estimates of Industry Multifactor Productivity, 2010-11, ABS, Cat no: 5625.0.55.002, Canberra.

Average Ore Grades Over Time

Metal Price Driving Returns

Average Ore Grades Over Time

3

2.5

2

1.5

1

0.5

0

Lead Grade (%) Gold Grade (g/t)Copper Grade (%)Nickel Grade (%)

Up

gra

de

Fact

or

Ore

Gra

de

Year

1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

8

7

6

5

4

3

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1

0

declining ore grades

resource booms

1989-90

1991-92

1993-94

1995-96

1997-98

1999-00

2001-02

2003-04

2005-06

2007-08

2009-10

Ind

exed

200

0-01

= 1

00

GVA – ValueGVA – Volume

0

100

200

300

400

GVA (Gross Value Add)


Multifactor Productivity in the Australian Mining Industry

110

100

90

80

70

60

50Ind

exed

200

0-01

=10

0

From Topp et al. (2008) From Topp et al. (2008)

1974-75

1976-77

1978-79

1980-81

1982-83

1984-85

1986-87

1988-89

1990-91

1992-93

1994-95

1996-97

1998-99

2000-01

2002-03

2004-05

2006-07

2008-09

Multifactor Productivity in the Australian Mining Industry

Energy Consumption by Mining in Australia

ABARES 2011, Australian Energy Statistics - Australian Energy Update 2011, Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences, Canberra.

increasing energy consumption

multifactor productivity

research participantsThe world class capability of mining and minerals processing research at The University of Queensland extends back over 40 years through the activities of the Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre (JKMRC) and the WH Bryan Mining and Geology Research Centre (BRC). In 2001 these Centres were amalgamated with four others to form the Sustainable Minerals Institute and encompass all aspects of sustainable mining practice.

Queensland University of Technology is well established as a leader in business and mathematics, and brings knowledge from applications in other industries to provide a fresh look at mining practices with tremendous opportunity for step change discoveries.

The University of Tasmania is renowned as one of the premier international teaching and research centres in Earth Sciences. Its extensive, state of the art geological laboratory facilities enable cutting edge testing across all fields of geology.

industry participantsAs the world’s largest mining company, BHP Billiton brings over 100 years’ experience in the industry from a portfolio of operations and projects which span every commodity and continent.

Newcrest Mining is Australia’s leading gold mining company with operations in Australia, Indonesia, Ivory Coast and Papua New Guinea.

Xstrata Technology has been developing and marketing technology in the metals industry for over 30 years, and has produced advances such as IsaMill, IsaSmelt and Albion Process.

Anglo Platinum has a long history of supporting extensive R&D effort and sponsored the demonstration of concept study which developed the simulator for Sustainability and Extraction Efficiency (SEE). The concepts developed through this project underpin the CRC ORE philosophy of mine wide process optimisation with a focus on economic and environmental performance.

AMIRA International acts on behalf of over 40 sponsors of the P9 and P843A projects to bring a wealth of knowledge in minerals processing, geometallurgy and mining industry driven collaborative research which has been developed over four decades.

Teck Resources joined CRC ORE at the end of 2010 and is Canada’s largest diversified resources company. Teck’s portfolio includes copper, zinc and coal operations across Canada, Peru, Chile and the USA.

commercial partnersQuantitative Group (QG) is a premier provider of geological and mining consulting services, specialising in mining geostatistics, mine geology, mine planning, geometallurgy and quantitative financial risk analysis. The technical expertise, business acumen and high-level communication skills brought to CRC ORE by QG add particular value through contributions to the Resource Evaluation projects.

CAE Mining draws on CAE’s position as a global leader in modelling and simulation technology and combines it with Datamine’s 30 years’ experience in mine planning and ore-body modelling to deliver innovative technology and services to the mining industry.

JKTech translate research findings into industry standards and delivers education and training to support the utilisation of innovation and technology by industry.

RESEARCh & INdUSTRy pARTNERS


Mining QG



The resource industry faces a future of deeper, larger, lower grade and more complex ore bodies, in an environment of escalating social-license, capital and operating cost inputs.

Established process improvement tools and techniques, while offering many ways of identifying cost and operating efficiencies, have not kept pace with this rise in input costs. This is especially true in the current environment where commodity prices have come off boom-time highs, but the cost of inputs has not fallen.

CRC ORE is pursuing opportunities to re-engineer the complete mining process from pit to port, by developing whole-of-process optimisation techniques that reflect variability and risk: that geology and mineralisation are variable, that input costs are variable, and that commodity prices are variable. These techniques recognise that the best outcome for a project is to cater for this and to develop flexible, risk-cognisant operating strategies that can accommodate variability over time. We call this “Understanding and Leveraging Heterogeneity”.

CRC ORE has also set itself the challenge of meeting real-world problems, and has determined that a large portion of its work will be undertaken in the form of mine-based case studies tackling immediate operating challenges. As a result of this we offer our solutions as a service to the resource industry through the establishment of consulting and operational support services.

I would like to thank the management team of CRC ORE which, under the leadership of Prof. Alan Bye, has very ably met the challenges of the past year. We also welcomed Nick Beaton, who joined the management team to oversee the development of our key tool, the Integrated Extraction Software (IES), and to develop our site-based projects and commercialisation activities.

I would also like to acknowledge the involvement of our research and industry participants, who have invested continued time and effort in support of CRC ORE’s activities. During the year we welcomed Teck Resources as a capable and committed new participant. We have been very pleased with the level of industry support and involvement, and continue to view the industry’s enthusiasm for our work as a sign that we’re heading in the right direction. Geoff Oldroyd, Chair of CRC ORE’s Technical Advisory Panel, has worked hard with the participants to provide input into the workings of the CRC.

We also seek to provide knowledge transfer and capacity building through our education programs, supporting both research students and industry representatives in developing their skills. In the last year CRC ORE has delivered courses on Mass Mining, Geometallurgy and Environmental Indicators, and our researchers have engaged in further knowledge transfer through presentations at major conferences internationally.

Looking forward to the coming year, we expect to see the research outputs of CRC ORE being progressively made available for use in addressing the challenges that lie before the resources industry, and transforming its approach to optimising resource extraction.

ChAIR REpORT

Jon Loraine Chairman

‘conventional resource modelling, planning and evaluation averages away the extraction opportunities. we need to embrace the mind-set that variability drives opportunity.’


The 2010-11 Annual Report discussed the metal price cycle and the increasing likelihood of a commodity downturn. During 2012 this scenario eventuated, and as a result the focus of the mining industry has shifted to productivity rather than production. The Commonwealth Government and the Australian mining industry forecast the risks of declining ore grades, increasing operating costs and reducing productivity, and took action through

the formation of CRC ORE. As Participants in the CRC, these organisations are investing in new technologies to

maintain the viability of Australian mines during periods of lower commodity prices.

case studies (industry engagement):Large integrated case studies are being used to demonstrate the value of a systems approach to mineral extraction.

Through its collaborative partnerships, CRC ORE’s commitment to industry case studies as the platform for R&D has resulted in 13 case studies during 2011/12 with $1.25m invested by mining companies to support the research at mine sites. We will continue to leverage and expand these studies as they provide the ideal environment for industry, research and commercial partners to develop and validate step change technologies, and six more case studies are in development for 2012-2013. Projects such as this are only possible through a large scale collaborative effort, and this structure ensures the developed technologies are shaped and validated by operating mine sites and commercial providers in a way that directly addresses the industry’s requirements.

Case studies 2011-2012

Client

Pyrite Deportment in Waste Rock

Xstrata Freida River Project

Telfer SAG S50 Trials Newcrest - Telfer

Flash Flotation Newcrest – Cadia Valley Operations

SAG Mill Control Newcrest – Cadia Valley Operations

Carbon Neutral Mining Anglo American – Sishen

Zero Net Water Consumption Anglo American – Sishen

CVO Expansion (Phase 1) Newcrest – Cadia Valley Operations

Telfer Integrated Case Study Newcrest - Telfer

3D Block Modelling for Integrated Evaluation

BHPB – Olympic Dam

Integrated Evaluation BHPB – Olympic Dam

Advance Scheduling Methodologies for Ore Mining

BHPB – Mt Whaleback

Testing Valuation Methodologies

Newcrest – Cadia Valley Operations

Resource to Market Anglo American – Los Bronces

CEO REpORT

‘conventional resource modelling, planning and evaluation averages away the extraction opportunities. we need to embrace the mind-set that variability drives opportunity.’

grade engineeringtm The case study approach has paid great dividends with the Telfer and Mogalakwena case studies yielding step change opportunities in Grade EngineeringTM.

The Grade EngineeringTM concept has developed out of these case studies and describes technology and methods for rejecting waste and gangue throughout the extraction process, thereby significantly increasing head grades. We have devoted a full section to these exciting developments on page 33 of this Annual Report.

research activities: crc ore phase 2: realising the value of researchAs the Centre approaches the half-way mark of its initial term, CRC ORE activities are changing focus toward developing and delivering technologies to transform resource extraction and the way it’s evaluated. Research projects in Phase 1 of the CRC aimed to build a foundation for the next stage of technology transfer. The majority of these projects will be complete by the end of 2012, and focus has been placed on managing the conclusion of these Phase 1 projects to ensure the value of the work is realised and that the necessary foundation is laid for the commencement of Phase 2 projects in July 2012. The first quarter of year three sees a transition from 14 foundation projects to 4 large, well funded, resourced and managed projects. This provides a simpler research portfolio and clearer project management accountabilities.

Alan Bye CEO

ProjeCt ProjeCt Manager teChniCal suPPort assoCiated Case study

1 Environmental Indicators Assoc. Prof Ron Berry (UTas)

Prof Bernd Lottermoser • Xstrata Frieda River

• Xstrata MIOP

2 Coarse Liberation Circuits Bevin Wong (JKTech) Dr Steve Walters

Prof Malcolm Powell

• BHPB Escondida

• BHPB Spence

• AngloPlat Batopele

• Newcrest Lihir

• Newcrest Cadia

3 Integrated Extraction Simulator

Stephen Pooley

(JKMRC)

Nick Beaton

Dr Wayne Stange

Dr Dan Alexander

• Anglo Mogalakwena

• Anglo Los Bronces

4 Integrated Evaluation Prof Rodney Wolff (BRC) Scott Dunham

David Whittle

• BHPB Olympic Dam

• BHPB Mt Whaleback

CRC ORE Research Management:

CRC ORE Project Management:

Dr Steve Walters & Lauren Stafford

Rosemary Swanborough

‘whole of system gangue separation for increased metal yield’


the focus for year 3 Having established CRC ORE the primary task for year two was to focus on the key research projects and develop industry case studies to support CRC ORE activities. The major collaborative effort yielded success in a number of areas, the highlights of which you will find listed on this page.

The research portfolio has been set for the remaining term and a full cohort of 16 PhD’s are in place with a focus on delivering the four Phase 2 projects. Year three sees a ramp-up on the planned Commonwealth utilisation outputs and attention will be placed on converting the research into measurable utilisation outputs.

The industry case studies are aimed at addressing the requirements of a productivity focused minerals industry. There will be an increasing emphasis on technology transfer through industry training courses and the establishment of a commercial venture to implement the Grade EngineeringTM capability that will sustain the delivery of research outputs.

highlights• CRCOREundertakesR&Don13industrycasestudies

• Transitiontophase2,developmentfocused research portfolio

• 16PhDstudentssupportingtheresearchprojects

• 2studentscompletedPhDs

• 36journal,conferenceandtechnicalpublications

• Keynotepresentationsat10majorinternationalconferences

• GeometallurgyandMassMiningindustry courses delivered

• Financials

– Additional Industry funding at 156% of plan (1.5m)

– Admin costs below budget (86%)

– Driven by case studies, in-kind 218% of plan ($9m)

– Total activity for financial year 2011-12 – $17m

RESEARCH

PROTOTYPES& INDUSTRY EVALUATION

COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS

AND SERVICES

crc ore: research – develop – deliver

Neville Plint

Anglo American Platinum

The mining industry requires a step change in its performance to remain profitable due to declining head grades, falling metal prices and increasing input costs, in particular labour and energy. CRC ORE has the ability to deliver step change transformation because it collaborates

directly with those that will be utilising new technologies to improve the productivity and efficiency of their mines. This participation by industry partners is apparent in the site based case studies associated with each project, and is a clear sign that the Centre is proceeding in the right direction.

CRC ORE’s systems approach to mining is examining the cumulative gains in efficiency and production that are possible across the whole mining value chain. By incorporating the perspectives of those from outside the traditional engineering disciplines, the Centre has developed novel approaches to both the extraction and evaluation of mineral resources and is validating these methods in real world case studies. Anglo American has provided significant support for these activities, including the successful completion of a selective blasting trial at our open pit operation, and is currently evaluating other opportunities to further this technology.

We look forward to continuing our association with CRC ORE and participating in the research, development and delivery of applied technologies to solve the challenges faced by the minerals industry.

John Vann

Quantitative Group (QG)

A major challenge facing the minerals industry is how to deal with declining grades in the face of declining commodity prices. This challenge has been masked in recent years by the escalation of price. Focus is now rapidly swinging back onto efficiency, and CRC ORE is leading the way by

considering holistic (systems) approaches to gain step-change efficiencies.

QG have been closely involved with CRC ORE, especially Program 3 where the added value that can be gained from such systems approaches is being explored. Program 3 has linked core mathematical and statistical researchers from The University of Queensland and QUT with researchers in economics, accounting and finance at the University of Tasmania and QUT. QG’s role has been to provide research-to-industry articulation and also software platforms to link the required disciplines together. The end result will be an innovative capability to evaluate different alternative engineering and policy configurations for existing and potential mineral projects. Not only will this be done in a rapid manner, it will also be done in a framework that realistically models variability and uncertainty throughout the value chain.

Major case studies for BHP Billiton are now underway and the next twelve months promises the first practical outcomes: these are essential to sustain mining’s contribution to Australia in the coming decade.

OpINIONS ON pERFORMACE


J. Bruce Gemmell

University of Tasmania

CRC ORE and the University of Tasmania share a common goal of achieving “total ore deposit knowledge”, and the Environmental Indicators program is a very important component of this goal. The early predictive geometallurgical data being examined in this program informs

environmental management and resource evaluation throughout a mine’s lifecycle, with implications for effective resource management, efficient circuit design, waste management and eventually mine closure. This whole of mining value chain approach to operational efficiency is at the heart of the CRC’s goals.

The research team at the University of Tasmania, led by Prof. Bernd Lottermoser, is producing innovative chemical

tests and customised software for data analysis and visualization, and is validating these techniques through mine site case studies in cooperation with CRC ORE’s industry partners.

A key concern for the future of the minerals industry is education and training of the next generation’s mining professionals and young researchers. The first geometallurgy Masters short course run in Hobart in March was fully subscribed and a tremendous success, clearly indicating the minerals industry is hungry for education and training. We look forward to partnering with these groups on future courses to continue to transfer knowledge to industry end users.

CRC ORE’s strong industry engagement and the common aim to conduct applied research of actual relevance to real world problems is one of the main strengths of the CRC, and the University of Tasmania is proud to be a partner in this collaboration.

RESEARChOVERVIEW


RESEARCh OVERVIEW A SySTEMS AppROAChCRC ORE’s success rests on its ability to deliver results that demonstrate the impact of its techniques and methodologies through a step change in mining project economics. To achieve these results CRC ORE projects investigate opportunities for innovation between the traditional departments of geology, mining, mineral processing and mineral economics, considering operations from the perspective of a whole mining value chain.

phase transitionFor the first two years of its operation, CRC ORE projects focused on providing a foundation for the next stage of

technology transfer. The majority of these projects were complete by the end of 2012, and the Centre’s program structure has evolved to develop these research outputs for adoption by industry.

Phase 2 projects will demonstrate the value of cross discipline integration by consolidating the outcomes of Phase 1’s foundation projects and furthering their development through to industry adoption. Coarse Liberation Circuits, Integrated Extraction Simulator, Predictive Environmental Indicators and Integrated Mine Planning and Evaluation, key projects from Phase 1, will continue to develop new tools and methodologies for the mining industry.


Phase 2CurrentPositionFoundation

Projects

Research Progression

Timeline

Case StudyPhase 2 ProjectFoundation ProjectExisting Research

Integrated Extraction Simulator (IES)

Environmental Indicators

Advanced Scheduling

Integrated Mine Planning & Evaluation

Escondida

Batopele

Spence

Lihir

Mogalakwena

Cadia

TelferCoarse

LiberationCircuits

Mt Whaleback

Freida River

Olympic Dam

SMI BlastOre

Flexible Circuits

Process Indicators

Rock Mass Characterisation

SMI SEE

ExistingResearch

AMIRA GeM

SMI MMT

AMIRA P9

CommercialisedOutcomes

project portfolioCRC ORE’s systems approach to innovation sees significant collaboration between individual projects, with research outcomes integrated through large scale site based case studies. Projects are grouped into their broader aims, and involve researchers from disciplines that are not traditionally involved in mining operations.

Resource Characterisation projects are developing ways to measure and describe the features of complex rock materials in order to better predict how they will behave in mining and waste management processes. This information and understanding of the rock mass is then drawn on in the Resource Extraction projects, enabling simulation of the best methods for mining and processing an orebody. Resource Evaluation values the changed economics of the mining operation resulting from the techniques created through the prior projects. Using sophisticated financial models these projects are examining new approaches to mineral resource economics, incorporating quantifiable scenario planning and dynamic assessments of risk.

innovation in the hands of end usersA systems approach to research requires a systems approach to deployment, and the Centre’s research projects come together in cross discipline case studies to demonstrate their influence across the full scope of a mining operation.

Through case studies at sites such as Newcrest Mining’s Telfer and Cadia Valley operations, Anglo Platinum’s Mogalakwena operation, and BHP Billiton’s Olympic Dam, industry partner mine sites receive the dedicated attention of teams of cross discipline specialists focused on optimising minerals extraction processes and valuing the influence of these changes on the operation. Results are measured by the impact on metal production and profitability, energy and water consumption, and carbon emissions.

Following validation on case study sites, proven techniques will be developed into tools for deployment on mine sites across the globe. These will take the form of software and methodologies that will enable decision making to enhance the efficiency of mining operations, allowing corporate tracking and comparison of business unit energy efficiency per unit metal produced. In addition, these tools will allow site engineers to consider changes to the design, layout and operation of mines through accurate and integrated simulation, minimising disruption to processing while maximising metal production and reducing environmental impact.


COARSE LIBERATION CIRCUITSProject Leader Bevin Wong

Project team Cristian Carrasco, Dr Richard Hartner, Dr Marko Hilden, Paul Kay, Luke Keeney, Prof Malcolm Powell, Pat Walters, Dr Steve Walters

The increasingly low grade and bulk tonnage nature of base and precious metal mining operations generates mill feed with over 95% waste material. Coarse liberation involves early rejection of waste typically in the range 10-100 mm based on emerging grade engineering technologies and controls. This produces higher grade pre-concentrated mill feeds which can also be separated into different streams, enabling more flexible processing design.

Rejection can be on the basis of screened size distributions as a result of customized blasting and primary crushing; or the application of sensor based sorting to selected streams. Pre-concentration provides potential to increase feed grades and decrease tonnage to current processing circuits with major implications for increasing productivity and decreasing energy costs on a unit metal basis.

Variable coarse liberation response is a function of rock type and breakage energy linked to size distributions. However, while preferential breakage and coarse liberation are widely accepted phenomena, there is limited information to indicate economic significance and engineering control options at production scale.

The CLC project extends work undertaken by CRC ORE in conjunction with Newcrest at the Telfer Au-Cu mine in Western Australia. This has demonstrated potential to pre-concentrate feed grades using size by size screening of run-of-mine ore after blasting and primary crushing. Production scale data indicate responses with over 80% Au-Cu concentrated in less than 40% of the mass below 20 mm. This represents Au-Cu upgrade factors of 1.5 to 3 times current feed grade. However, high levels of variability are evident; indicating that predicting and exploiting coarse liberation feed upgrade requires a new approach to ore type characterisation.

Results from Telfer also demonstrate that pre-concentrated streams generate different physical property attributes in addition to grade. At Telfer this includes differences in hardness, pyrite content and clay abundance, with significant processing performance implications. The multi-component nature of stream changes requires re-evaluation of processing and circuit design options.

The initial phase of the CLC project is designed to generate fundamental data on coarse liberation response and variability across a range of sponsor nominated sites and ore types. This data will provide key inputs for developing modelling and evaluation capabilities for future coarse liberation-enabled circuits based on pre-concentrated feed streams. The project is also developing small scale testing using drill core and blast hole products to predict variable pre-concentration response which can be incorporated into resource block models and mine optimisation.

The ultimate output is demonstration of transformational opportunities to increase feed grade and unit metal productivity, while supporting decreased unit metal energy requirements and emissions. Emphasis will be on identification of short term modifications to existing circuits, as well as establishing the value proposition for a new generation of coarse liberation circuits.

In conjunction with CRC ORE’s Integrated Evaluation and Integrated Extraction Simulator projects, these technologies will shift the industry’s focus from micron to centimetre scale in the pursuit of higher feed grades and improved productivity.

INTEGRATEd EXTRACTION SIMULATOR (IES)Project Leader Steve Pooley

Project team Matthew Fisher, Robert Watkins, Jorgen Nordquist, Mikael Holmqvist, Steve Roberts

commerciaL advisor Nick Beaton

The Integrated Extraction Simulator (IES) is a CRC ORE software system designed to perform mining and mineral processing simulations in a single environment in order to measure the overall impact of upstream mining decisions on downstream processing outcomes, such as the impact of reduced blasting costs on grinding throughput and flotation recovery.

As a production capable system the IES will enable optimisation of process design and operation through testing and evaluation across characterisation, blasting and novel circuit design.

With the development of the IES, mining industry engineers will have the toolset to consider changes in the design, layout and operation of processing and extraction systems so the environmental footprints are minimised and metal production optimised. The simulator will provide full reporting of energy, water and emissions to equip mine managers with an understanding of the impact of mining decisions across the whole value chain.

Advancing upon the concepts established with the Anglo Platinum Sustainability and Extraction Efficiency Simulator (SEE) prototype, the simulator will also incorporate the outcomes of over 40 years of JKMRC research, combining existing simulation models into a single platform to enable multi-component modelling.

In addition to JKMRC models, the IES will provide a platform for the integration of models from multiple sources,

allowing the mining industry to use models developed in-house or by other research centres or vendors.

Through 2011-12 a scoping study project was conducted by the WH Bryan Mining and Geology Research Centre to identify software architecture, database and data processing structures that would satisfy the requirements of a flexible, robust and extensible minerals extraction simulator. In June 2012 it was determined that the system would be based on the ValueSim engine - a simulator developed specifically for the minerals industry which reviewed positively against those developed for different industrial processes and requiring considerable modification.

Development of the Integrated Extraction Simulator has now begun in earnest with the appointment of Project Manager Steve Pooley of the JKMRC to lead the project’s technical team. A number of delivery options are being considered including web based Software-as-a-Service deployments.

The IES also forms the integration point for the CRC ORE research portfolio, and is a key tool in the effective utilisation of technologies such as a selective blasting and flexible circuits. Discussions are currently underway for commercialisation of the IES to enable its implementation by the broader minerals industry.

The Integrated Extraction Simulator will provide a single software platform to be used daily by mine planners around the world to understand the long, medium and short term effects of mining and processing ore, and will transform the way in which mineral resources are evaluated and extracted.



RESOURCE EVALUATIONProject Leader Prof Rodney Wolff

Project team Prof Chris Eves, Dr Michael Falta, Imad Haidar, Scott Jackson, Prof Erhan Kozan, Dr Samuel Liu, Dr Sorousha Moayer, Prof Tony Pettit, Jason Scally, Michael Scott, Dr Helen Thompson, Prof Roger Willett

The transition to Phase 2 of CRC ORE’s endeavours has placed the Resource Evaluation program in a leading research-intensive role. In addition to these research activities there remains a focus on developing commercially valuable algorithms and methodologies which support robust, integrated evaluation.

The Resource Evaluation program aims to create innovative new methods for resource evaluation which may replace the traditional methods currently in use. Existing methods are static and ignore the multi-dimensional complexity of resource valuation problems. The program will create user friendly tools to simplify complex decision making and attach value to decisions in a rational way. This program involves a number of sub-projects investigating advanced scheduling methodologies, evaluation methods and integrated project evaluation.

Professor Erhan Kozan’s project on “Advanced Scheduling Methodologies for the Ore Mining Industry” will deliver a database-supported optimal scheduling method based on mathematical graph theory. Professor Kozan and his research assistant, Dr Sam Liu, have been given access to BHP Billiton’s Whaleback site, which they visited in July 2011. Their work to date has reviewed the site’s scheduling approaches, constructed a database to support scheduling models, and begun technical development of these models. On the academic side, four papers have been published in quality journals, and two papers have been presented at industrial conferences, including at the CRC ORE Annual Assembly in November 2011.

Since early 2012, Professor Chris Eves has worked on the project “Testing Evaluation Methods” which investigates mine operations from a value perspective. Professor Eves has interviewed industry partners to open his research in this field, and has constructed a review of valuation methods as used in the mining industry, as well as in property valuation more broadly. Historical data from Newcrest’s Cadia Hill operation are being used to test limitations of valuation methods and to draw out comparisons among them. This research continues through 2012.

The project “Integrated Mining Project Evaluation in a Risk Framework: Faster and Robust Decision-making” was signed off in June 2012. This project is the CRC in microcosm: it considers evaluation of mine projects in the presence of multiple capital and operational alternatives, linking with large geometallurgical data sets. Challenges here include reconciling and simplifying data sampled with different density and support; accelerating computation of planning options; subjecting mine plans to externalities such as market price for metal; and obtaining robust evaluations of alternative plans. In May 2012, members of the project team, led by Professor Rodney Wolff, were hosted for two days by Josh Bryant, Kathy Ehrig, and Sarah Chinner at BHP Billiton’s Olympic Dam site, which will provide the case study data for the present project.

The objective of the project is to develop a tool-kit, drawing on sophisticated quantitative methods and data presentation techniques to make decision options accessible to managers and directors, which will be grounded in industrially relevant practice through engagement with the Quantitative Group. Scheduled for completion in mid-2015, the Integrated Evaluation project involves a large team with participants from The University of Queensland, Queensland University of Technology, and The University of Tasmania.

The Resource Evaluation program continues to benefit from generous contributions of time and expertise from program mentor David Whittle (BHP Billiton) and John Vann (Quantitative Group). At the time of writing, John was preparing to leave QG to take on a new role, which will much reduce his time for the program. The research team wishes John good fortune, and thanks him for his passionate engagement in our research.

ENVIRONMENTAL INdICATORSProject Leader Professor Bernd Lottermoser, School of Earth Sciences, UTAS

Project team Assoc. Prof. Professor Ron Berry, Dr Taryn Noble, Ms Anita Parbhakar-Fox (Research Fellows), and Mr Ashish Sadhu (PhD student) (SES-UTAS), Dr Mansour Edraki (CMLR-UQ)

Predicting environmental risks is typically not an attribute which is embedded into the development of our natural resources. The Environmental Indicators project is designing accurate tests that will yield predictive information on the characteristics of mineral resources, which in turn may impact on the environmental performance of mining operations. The underlying aim is to gain information to support more effective mineral processing, better storage of waste and ultimately improved mine closure outcomes. Based mainly on drill core sampling and testing, the project will deliver tools, methodologies and knowledge which can be used to characterise environmental attributes which will be used as inputs into mine planning, mineral processing designs and waste management strategies.

The Environmental Indicator team comprises Professor Bernd Lottermoser, Drs Taryn Noble and Anita Parbhakar-Fox as research fellows, Associate Professor Ron Berry, and the PhD student Mr Ashish Sadhu. Activities have been developed in close collaboration with the AMIRA P843A Geometallurgical Mapping and Mine Management project involving over 20 global industry sponsors.

Training is a vital aspect of industry awareness for improved predictive environmental planning and

management. In March 2012, 21 MSc students enrolled in the National Minerals Geoscience Masters Programme completed the Geometallurgy short course supported by CRC ORE at the University of Tasmania. Students were given an integrated curriculum that demonstrated a quantified and comprehensive approach to ore characterisation and included presentations on industry tools for better environmental prediction.

Activities in 2011/2012 focused on validating existing procedures and establishing novel pH laboratory tests. pH is a fundamental environmental attribute that controls the mobility of environmentally significant elements and is particularly hazardous upon sulphide oxidation. Estimated costs for total worldwide liability associated with the current and future remediation of acid mine drainage are approximately US$100 billion. With this in mind, the research team is currently focused on improved prediction of acid drainage, as well as computing risk grades for the problem. Treating acid drainage, once it has occurred, is usually a costly admission that something has gone wrong either in the characterisation, planning, design or operation of a mine. The research group led by Bernd Lottermoser will help to achieve an improved approach to the prevention of environmental issues such as acid mine drainage.

INTEGRATEdCASE STUdIES



GRAdE ENGINEERING™Grade Engineering™ recognises that production is not the same as productivity, reconsidering the traditional view of mining and processing to identify opportunities to upgrade ore through the entire extraction process.

In most cases mining methods focus on throughput – achieving the maximum tonnage through the mill. Grade Engineering™ focuses on maximising the amount of metal processed by removing waste as early as possible. This method can significantly increase the financial return per tonne processed while at the same time reducing cost per unit metal through reductions in energy and water use, transforming the economics of large, low grade mining operations.

Case studies showing significant results are underway with mining operations at Telfer, Mogalakwena, Batopele, Frieda River and Escondida. These case studies are resolving key questions, such as:

• Whatextractionsystemwillleverageorevariability at low levels of workflow complexity?

• Whatlevelofresourceknowledgeisrequired?

• Whatistheunitscaleofseparation?

• Whereisthetechnical&economicbalancebetween selective and mass processing?

The answers to these questions lay in methodologies being demonstrated through trials at the participating case study sites.

Leveraging Heterogeneity

Particle sorting (High Grade - –Low Tonnage)

Multi-Stream Processing

Selective Mass Processing

Semi-Selective Processing

Mass Processing (Low Grade – -

High Tonnage)

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Declining ore grades are driving the need for Grade Engineering TM approaches to improve value.

Leveraging Heterogeneity

The Telfer case study examined geological characteristics enabling coarse liberation, identifying significant opportunity for pre-concentration and differentiated handling of streams according size fractions. The project recognised the potential to increase Au-Cu grades by as much as twice the current feed grade using preferential breakage and coarse liberation techniques.

The Mogalakwena selective blasting trial utilised the newly developed SMI BlastOre software to facilitate a selective blast in a mass mining environment. Designing blast patterns to target areas of high grade material, the blasts partitioned the ore body into fine

and coarse size fractions according to metal content.

By putting the material through a screen prior to

processing, the study sample exhibited an increase

in head grade 2.5 times the average.

Grade Engineering™ has the potential to

transform the economics of minerals extraction by

increasing the viability of low grade deposits and

instituting control over metal grades impacting

processing performance.

Turn over to see how innovative techniques such as

these are being applied on CRC ORE partner mine

sites globally.

Size by size deportment signatures indicate the tendency for metal to concentrate in particular size fractions. Utilising these signatures, feed may be assigned into streams to enable optimisation of mineral processing.

Grade distribution by size

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Grade Distribution by Size


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Highlighted area indicates the period in which feed from the Selective Blasting trial passed through the mill. Head grade was as much as 2.5 times the planned feed grade.

Selective Blasting and Screening

TELFER INTEGRATEd CASE STUdyThe partnership between CRC ORE and Newcrest Mining has made the Telfer copper/gold operation in Western Australia host to a range of technologies and methodologies that may radically transform the minerals industry’s approach to grade and throughput.

CRC ORE researchers from The University of Queensland’s JKMRC and WH Bryan Mining and Geology Research Centre have performed extensive trials at the Telfer site, focusing on increasing feed grade and reducing energy and water intensity by classifying upgrade opportunities as early in the process as possible.

With the objective of doubling the feed grade while halving the tonnage, the project demonstrated opportunities to separate waste material during mining and concentrate high value ore prior to processing, increasing effective Au feed grades and reducing energy per unit metal production.

Telfer’s geological characteristics made it an appropriate host for this project, with the Telfer ore tending to deport grade into finer fractions.

This behaviour makes it possible to screen material during processing to reduce the amount of rock that must be milled, at the same time raising the mineral content of ore being fed to the mill.

In October 2011 researchers visited Telfer to collect pebble rejection data, 134 belt cuts, 17 bulk screened samples and close to 1000m of drill cores for analysis. These results showed the extent and magnitude of Au pre-concentration as a function of coarse liberation, and defined the implications for designing and operating future circuits.

The results of the Telfer case study have paved the way for the CRC ORE Coarse Liberation Circuits project, a second phase research project examining grade engineering techniques across a wider range of case study sites to determine the applicability of these methods to the broader mining industry.

The Telfer Integrated Case Study was completed in September 2012. Dr Steve Walters and the CRC ORE integrated case study team wish to thank Newcrest Telfer and Marcus Hope for their assistance and support on this project.

37


CAdIA VALLEy OpERATIONS CASE STUdy Replacing one of the largest open pit gold-copper mines in Australia, Newcrest Mining Limited’s Cadia East Expansion will utilise Australia’s first underground panel cave to target one of the world’s largest gold deposits in the Cadia Valley orebodies.

Shifting from open pit mining to panel caving has required an increase in tonnage processed, which combined with the increased competency of the Cadia East ore has created a challenge for efficient processing with minimal addition of installed power or use of fresh water.

The CRC ORE Cadia Case Study demonstrated the potential to significantly increase the throughput of the Cadia 40ft SAG mill through improved understanding of the influence of liner profile and mass on the mill performance.

The CRC ORE Flexible Circuits project has also worked closely with Newcrest to develop a processing circuit that includes the first use of HPGR

technology to debottleneck and expand an existing concentrator. This expansion is being accomplished via the installation of up-front crushing and HPGR milling of the ore, with the SAG mill receiving a secondary crushed feed.

The technology provides an energy efficient method to increase the throughput of the existing SAG mill and increase the overall energy efficiency of the circuit when compared with a new plant fed directly with ore from the panel cave.

A flexible process design enables the SAG mill to be fed by a combination of primary crushed, secondary crushed or HPGR crushed ore. This allows the feed to be constantly tailored to provide an ideal size distribution to the mill, providing a balance of throughput, mill filling, and fineness of grind.

The result is a smooth mill operation that can respond to changes in RoM feed competence and size, both in the short and long term.

OLyMpIC dAM CASE STUdyMajor mining operations are high value, long term investments of capital, and firms must forecast future market, legislative and environmental constraints to determine risk and plan accordingly. In addition to these factors, evaluation of the resource itself contains risks such as spatial variability and ore type performance.

Traditional approaches to mining project evaluation are often based on singular, smoothed ore body estimates, which presume certainty and a lack of variability of inputs and outputs. These approaches are unable to characterise uncertainty and may have significant impact on specification of infrastructure, design of processing circuits and scheduling of the ore body.

BHP Billiton is working with CRC ORE’s Resource Evaluation program in supporting BHP Billiton to develop new ways to quantify these risks and model their impact across a range of scenarios, creating decision making tools that enable mining companies to determine appropriate courses of actions within a range of probable scenarios.

The Resource Evaluation program, led by Professor Rodney Wolff, is developing these new methodologies using data sets from Olympic Dam to draw on sophisticated quantitative methods and data presentation techniques to make decision options accessible to managers and directors.

Following a site visit in May by members of the research team, the program has received access to data from the Olympic Dam site and initial modelling has been completed by Scott Jackson from Quantitative Group. These models will feed further research to produce a tool-kit for robust and integrated control of risk by harmonising multi-scale, multi-attribute geometallurgical data sets for use in planning scenario evaluation.

“By modelling the physical and financial systems and combining them statistically, we can scrutinise the overall risk associated with a project in a number of different scenarios,” says project team member Professor Roger Willett of the University of Tasmania.

The group wishes to thank Gavin Yeates, David Whittle and BHP Billiton personnel at Olympic Dam for their support of the project.



ANGLO AMERICAN – RESOURCE TO MARkET (R2M)Recent research supports the reality that mining companies experience on a daily basis in their current operations and planning for the mines of the future: that the challenge of decreasing grades and increasingly complex geologies is here to stay.

To meet this challenge mining operations must find a range of solutions to improve head grades and increase productivity, and these solutions will invariably come from a coordinated systems perspective rather than a point solution.

Technologies such as Integrated Operations Centres (IOCs) are an example of a systems solution, and have seen rapid take-up by the minerals industry in the past few years. However without a deep understanding of the connected Mine-to-Mill activities which drive “system value”, IOCs risk only realising marginal financial return for mining operations rather than the desired step-change.

Led by Alan King (Head of AO Resource to Market Optimisation) and managed by Petro du Pisani, Anglo American’s Resource to Market team is conducting a number of studies at Los Bronces and Mogalakwena to be extended to other mines demonstrating that the application of Mine to Mill practices has long term benefits for lifting production, improving efficiency, reducing equipment maintenance and increasing productivity.

Drawing on CRC ORE’s significant experience in systems approaches to mine optimisation,

the Resource to Market (R2M) project with Anglo American is providing IOC personnel with guidance on how to implement practical management practices at a mine site that promotes these Mine to Mill principles.

The focal point of these procedures is individual blast blocks, and the project is demonstrating the opportunities for drawing value adding steps in mineral processing back up into the mining operations.

CRC ORE’s expertise in analysing connected activities has enabled it to equip IOC personnel with the knowledge to understand the impact of mining decisions on the whole value chain. This knowledge allows operations to realise maximum benefit from the increased control offered by IOCs, providing the ability to manage head grade, ore throughput, metal recovery, energy/water consumption and CO2 production from extracting a given set of mining blocks.

The long term use of Mine to Mill practices is dependent on them being improved and adapted as circumstances change, or as certain practices demonstrate that they are not effective. This project provided practical assistance in how to adopt change management procedures into the long term implementation of the management practices (e.g. continual improvement through measurement and review as well as total quality management).

FOUNdATION pROJECTS


FLEXIBLE CIRCUITSProject Leader Professor Malcolm Powell

Project team Dr Marko Hilden, Nirmal Weerasekara, Dr Simon Michaux, Paul Kay, Dr Mohsen Yahyaei, Dr Grant Ballantyne

The Flexible Circuits research project was designed to address two inter-related research questions:

1. How to assess and simulate the influence of novel equipment on circuit performance?

2. How to optimally integrate a detailed knowledge of the ore geology with the processing stages of blasting, comminution, classification and separation for radically new circuit designs?

Over the last 12 months, the JKMRC has continued an approach to comminution design that incorporates the capability to investigate the benefits of staged size reduction and separation. The focus has been on reducing energy consumption by rejecting materials with value insufficient to justify energy intensive size reduction, and this approach requires the merging of multiple research outcomes.

The multi-tiered approach includes early rejection of waste material so a more concentrated ore stream with a valuable mineral is being processed, and the ability to respond to changes in ore type through alternative routing and changes in grind size. An integral part of this is the ability to incorporate novel circuit layouts and equipment, as well as more efficient use of energy intensive comminution equipment.

This opens the opportunity to produce larger quantities of metal through processing of an upgraded portion. As ore grades decline this step is becoming an essential rather than optional route to profitability.

Flexible circuit simulation has the capability to quantify the impact of totally new designs on performance, providing the information to answer questions such as, “with 35% more production for ½ the consumables operating cost - would you build it?”

Current “state of the art” models for comminution are not able to incorporate preferential breakage or predict mineral distribution across size ranges in output from staged size reduction processes. A prototype simulation platform (MDK – developed under the AMIRA P9 project) has been deployed to allow incorporation of advanced models and their additional data into circuit simulations. This allows assessment of the energy savings resulting from the rejection of components of a feed stream, along with analysis of the enhanced recovery of valuable minerals.

The Flexible Circuits project has encompassed a broad body of work including a coarse upgrade survey using pilot scale testing at Newcrest Mining’s Telfer operation, a desktop study of comminution energy consumption in Australia, and an analysis of the energy requirements for particle breakage in mills. In addition, a programme of better ore testing techniques is underpinning the evolution of more robust and predictive comminution models, by addressing the underlying modes of breakage present in all different types of equipment.

The methodologies developed by the Flexible Circuits project have been examined in the field at another Newcrest operation, Cadia Valley, and demonstrated significant potential to increase throughput and reduce energy and water consumption.

summaryThe Flexible Circuits project concluded during 2012, and the outcomes of the project will be utilised in both the Coarse Liberation Circuits and Integrated Extraction Simulator projects. Three industry projects are also underway that employ the approach and technologies developed thus far, and the changing resources environment shows potential for many more.

design & build with today’s technology, while allowing the uptake of tomorrow’s technology for tomorrow’s challenges.


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Results from a desktop study of the amount of energy consumed by comminution in Australia.

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Energy Attributable to Comminution in Australian Gold and Copper Producers

SMI BLASTOREProject Leader Alan Cocker

Project team Mark Jones, Peter Pope

SMI BlastOre integrated blasting software for open pit mines draws on three years of prior research to develop a single software interface to import geological information and optimise blast design and charging. Blasting considerations can be made for fragmentation, movement (grade control) and metal concentration. The software enables selective blasting techniques to be employed in a mass mining environment.

The SMI BlastOre software addresses two fundamental requirements for efficient, minimum impact mining of a deposit – applying appropriate breakage energy to known geological units, and predicting the movement of these units during the blast. Appropriate charging allows an operation to optimise fragment size for transportation and/or plant performance. Using SMI BlastOre it is possible to tailor fragmentation to suit ore and waste, supporting the different operational priorities that apply to them.

The movement module in SMI BlastOre predicts the post-blast location of both ore and waste, allowing optimisation of grade movement. This module supports the control of dilution and loss, which is fundamental to maximising recovery in mining operations, and can significantly improve extraction efficiency, thereby increasing revenue. SMI BlastOre provides the framework in which these modelling modules can be run iteratively in order to

achieve optimisations and/or suggest refinements to the blast design process. It will also enable the industry to fully utilise the data sources it has already invested in.

At SMI BlastOre’s core are advanced models of blast fragmentation and movement. The fragmentation model is used by the program in ways that provide results immediately useful to blast design. Prior to drilling, SMI BlastOre can generate a distribution of blast pattern burden and spacing that matches the geology in a block in order to satisfy a pre-defined fragmentation target. Once the holes have been drilled, a different set of algorithms is applied to the fragmentation model in order to arrive at the ideal blast charge distribution in each hole, again to match the geology and a fragmentation target.

The 3D movement module in SMI BlastOre incorporates blast design and geology information, and uses a physics engine to predict the flight and collisions of material fragmented by the blast. This provides vital information about the final location of ore, and the mixing of ore and waste. It also models issues in the blast that lead to poor performance, such as “choking” and flyrock.

The development of SMI BlastOre to tested prototype stage was completed at the end of May 2012. It is anticipated that individual sites will now sponsor projects to validate its functionality in routine operational workflow.

EdUCATION & TRAINING


EdUCATION & TRAINING making a difference in the minerals industryInnovative approaches to resource evaluation and extraction require a strong skills base for effective implementation on mining operations. A core focus of CRC ORE is developing training and education activities aimed at creating the organisational cultures required to bring new technologies to reality in the minerals industry.

Industry focused training courses such as the Mass Mining Design and Planning course transfer the results of years of research to end-users in the minerals industry, enabling them to harness these advances for implementation on their sites.

The growing importance of cross discipline interaction is being addressed through education initiatives including the Geometallurgy Training Modules project. This project has been incorporated into the existing accredited Masters of Exploration Geology course at the University of Tasmania, and has also generated short foundation courses for industry practitioners.

CRC ORE collaborative projects investigate the challenges faced in minerals extraction from the perspective of a whole mining value chain. As integral members of their project teams, our students gain site and operation experience and the opportunity to work with world renowned discipline specialists and industry professionals.

Through day to day interaction with colleagues from various backgrounds, students supported by CRC ORE develop an appreciation for the factors impacting on the mining value chain and the effect their decisions have on other functions of the operation.

Education and training activities throughout 2011-12 have included:

• The support of Research Higher Degree students, Postdoctoral fellows and research associates.

• The development and delivery of training courses that offer new knowledge on cutting edge technologies and emerging disciplines. CRC ORE and its participants have ensured that these courses have a delivery pathway which offers opportunity to gain credit within tertiary institutions and eventually may articulate to enable the award of post-graduate degrees.

• 2 PhDs completed in comminution and geometallurgy.

• Workshops to support skills and competency development.

• Support of initiatives within partner institutions including the SMI RHD Conference.

• Facilitation of Industry internships to offer opportunities for operational experience and practical learning activities.


Rhd STUdENTS RELATEd TO RESEARCh ACTIVITIES

student enrolling institution

PrograM toPiC

Anita Parbhakar-Fox UTAS PhD Predictive environmental mineralogy and geochemical techniques: a new approach to integrated acid rock drainage characterisation

Ashish Sadhu UTAS PhD Uses of Carbon Sulphur Analyses for Sulphide Waste Characterisation.

Ashleigh Collins UQ PhD Modelling of multicomponent interactions in hydrocyclones

Bianca Newcombe UQ PhD Developing a method of predicting plant performance of ores from mineral characterisation and laboratory tests

Boris Albijanic UQ PhD Flotability of multiphase particles in different chemical environments

Cristian Carrasco UQ MSc Control and predictive models for coarse gold beneficiation with sorting potential at Telfer mine, Newcrest, Western Australia

Gerson Sandoval UQ PhD Development of a Novel Strategy towards comprehensively estimating the Flotation Specific Rate Constants and their uncertainties

Amin Mousavi QUT PhD Advanced Scheduling methodologies for the Ore mining industry.

Hector Galvez UQ PhD Investigation and quantification of blast induced fragment conditioning

Jason Scally UQ MSc The dynamic parameters and higher order moments of the generalised hyperbolic distribution within the context of risk and portfolio management applications

Marcos Bueno UQ PhD Development of a multi-component tumbling mill model

Michael Scott UQ PhD Modelling the financial impact of eco-efficiency parameters in the mining industry

Mitesh Chauhan UQ PhD Development of small scale floatation test (Mineral Separability Index - MSI)

Richard Hartner UQ PhD Integration and analysis of optical and MLA-based microscopy for optimisation of geometallurgical modelling and ore deposit characterisation

Will Hancock UQ PhD Fundamentals of gravity flow in block caving based on large scale numerical simulations

Bianca Foggiatto UQ PhD Novel techniques in ore classification and sorting

CRC ORE is currently recruiting three Research Higher Degree Students to continue the development of capacity across the scope of the CRC ORE portfolio.

MASS MINING EdUCATIONProject Leader Prof Gideon Chitombo

Project team Dr Geoff Just, Dr John Read, Brian Hall, Dr Alan Guest

Mass mining, which includes large scale underground caving and open pit methods, is increasingly becoming the preferred method for mining major commodities such as copper, gold, silver and iron ore due to the deep, low grade ore deposits available to be mined. Presently there are an insufficient number of suitably qualified engineers in the technical aspects of mass mining design and planning.

The Mass Mining Education project is addressing this gap through the development of industry training programs combining current best practice with new knowledge from research projects such as the International Caving Study and Mass Mining Technology project. The program has been developed with cooperation from the resources sector, CRC ORE and the W.H. Bryan Mining and Geology Research Centre (BRC) based at the Sustainable Minerals Institute within The University of Queensland.

CRC ORE and SMI Knowledge Transfer delivered a workshop on Mass Mining Design and Planning in Brisbane from the 5-7th of March 2012, providing a unique opportunity for industry personnel to interact with an exceptional field of leading industry specialists, researchers and consultants in mass mining design and planning. Delegates experienced unbiased expertise and advocacy with respect to determining the mass mining options up to the completion of pre-feasibility studies.

The Mass Mining Design and Planning course is an introductory course about mass mining focusing primarily on caving methods, and covers the essential knowledge required to conduct investigations to determine mass mining options during concept, pre-feasibility and feasibility studies. Major topics include ore body knowledge, mining method selection, stability issues and caving design factors. It is assumed that participants in the course will have a background in a related mining discipline, with at least two years’ experience and a relevant tertiary degree in that field.

The workshop presentations covered a review of industry accepted practice in mass mining design and planning, new knowledge gained through recent collaborative studies such as the International Caving Study (ICS) and the Mass Mining Technology (MMT) projects; and the essential knowledge to assist in the identification of the key components of mass mining design.

In future the program will be included in the SMI Centre for Health and Safety in the Mining Industry (MISCH)’s Post Graduate Coursework 7033 – Minerals Industry Risk Management course. This is an interim step in the path to becoming accredited into the SMI NextWorkForce portfolio of programs.


GEOMETALLURGy TRAINING MOdULES Project Leader Dr Julie Hunt (CODES)

suPPorted by Staff of AMIRA, UTAS, JKMRC, JKTech, SMIKT

Geometallurgy combines geology and extractive metallurgy in a cross-discipline approach to resource characterisation that requires broad awareness of the many aspects of mining including mine design, planning, optimisation and valuation.

This emphasis on integration challenges traditional discipline-based approaches to optimisation of resource extraction, and effective education and training in this field must be based on a fully integrated approach that provides an overview of these techniques before focusing on specialist tools and knowledge. There is currently no professional development course that addresses these needs.

The Geometallurgy Training Modules project focused on addressing this gap through the development of integrated industry training and education programs for resource characterisation and geometallurgy. Course development emphasised ‘how to’ training and awareness of approaches across multiple fields, resulting in modules incorporated into a Masters course as well as short ‘foundation’ courses for industry practitioners.

Researchers at the forefront of geometallurgy have collaborated on the project, including the AMIRA P843A GeM project, CRC ORE, the ARC Centre of Excellence in Ore Deposit Studies (CODES), JKTech and SMI Knowledge

Transfer, to ensure that the modules remain relevant while targeted at several levels of learning.

A two week detailed overview module has been incorporated into the existing accredited Masters of Exploration Geology course at the University of Tasmania. This course was delivered for the first time in March 2012 and was attended by industry participants in addition to Masters of Economic Geology students.

The foundation courses created by the project have been offered to industry sponsors several times during the last year, and introduce methods, outcomes and integration for industry practitioners. The courses have included “Foundations in geometallurgy: technical bridging course” (September 2011) and “Environmental indicators in mining” (June 2012).

Discussions are underway between AMIRA, JKTech and SMI Knowledge Transfer for the design and delivery of future courses. Suggested course offerings include a five day “Geometallurgy fundamentals” course based on the two week masters module, and a 12 to 24 month “Geometallurgy competency program” providing company specific training and technical support built on geometallurgy practice guidelines.

RESEARCh COMMUNICATIONCRC ORE recognises the importance to collaborative endeavours of effective communication of research, and throughout the year undertook a range of programs to develop the communication abilities of the next generation of researchers.

In November 2011 the Centre supported UQ’s Sustainable Minerals Institute and its annual Research Higher Degree (RHD) Conference with a workshop on the topic “Engaging industry in research through development of a strong business proposal”. The session promoted collaboration and engagement by bridging the gap between research and industry with the assistance of senior industry mentors. Through development of a five minute pitch for an industry sponsored research project, CRC ORE and SMI students learned how to emphasise the value of research and put forward a strong business case to support these projects.

Following on from this event, CRC ORE engaged researcher, educator and professional speaker Dr David MacDonald to present a series of workshops in June 2012 teaching effective strategies for communicating the value of research.

The six week course involved post-graduate students and early career researchers from CRC ORE and its affiliated research institutions in practical skills development targeting both technical and mental aspects of speaking, to give participants the confidence to clearly convey their message. A two-day intensive workshop was also presented to participants from the University of Tasmania’s School of Earth Sciences in Hobart at the end of May.

The workshops culminated in a symposium event where all speakers demonstrated significantly improved presentation skills, speaking before an audience of RHD supervisors and CRC ORE representatives.

The course trained 24 RHD students and ECRs from UQ and UTas in a range of presentation skills directly applicable to both academia and industry, and CRC ORE looks forward to continuing its development of industry ready graduates in 2012-13.

Dr David MacDonald leads a CRC ORE supported presentation workshop in Hobart.

Students and ECRs at the Communicating Research with Confidence symposium in June.


GOVERNANCE &AdMINISTRATION


GOVERNANCE, BOARd, COMMITTEES ANd kEy STAFFstructure of crc oreCRC ORE has been established as a collaboration between CRC ORE Ltd and the various industry and research participants under the Commonwealth Government Cooperative Research Program, administered by the Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education (DIISRTE). CRC ORE Ltd signed the Commonwealth Agreement as a requirement of Commonwealth funding, while participants signed an additional Participants Agreement. The company is further bound by the requirements of the Company’s Constitution.

The Board of CRC ORE is committed to upholding the principles of good governance recommended by the Australian Stock Exchange Corporate Governance Council, in a manner consistent with the broader corporate business community. With this in mind, the Centre’s governance entities have been structured to ensure a level of transparency and accountability in line with the ASX recommendations.

CRC ORE Ltd has been endorsed as a not-for-profit institution by the Australian Taxation Office and is entitled to a number of tax concessions.

governance arrangementsOverview

The Board of CRC ORE Ltd defines business policies, provides strategic direction, considers commercial matters and oversees research activities. The Board met five times during 2011-12.

The company has eight Directors including the Chair and CEO, with the appointment and term of Directors governed by the Company’s Constitution.

The Constitution also requires that the Board as a collective possess skills in the following areas:

• corporategovernance

• mining/resourcesindustryknowledge

• relevantresearchexperience

• commercialandfinancialexpertise

The Board has established the following committees:

• Audit,ComplianceandRiskManagementCommittee

• RemunerationCommittee

• IPManagementandCommercialisationCommittee

• TechnicalAdvisoryPanel

Each of these Committees is governed by a charter approved by the Board.

At the June 2012 Board meeting the Chairman acknowledged the contribution of Professor Ian Mackinnon, QUT, during his two-year term as a Director of CRC ORE Ltd. By rotation, the Directorship transfers to Professor Bruce Gemmell, University of Tasmania for the following two years.

Technical Advisory Panel

Audit, Compliance and Risk Committee

IP Management and Commercialisation Committee

Remuneration Committee

CEO

Centre Executive

CRC ORE Ltd BOARD

Research Program Leaders


OpERATIONSThe Cooperative Research Centre for Optimising Resource Extraction (CRC ORE) is the first large scale research initiative that considers ore body knowledge, spatial modelling, blasting engineering, selective mass mining, mineral processing and resource economics as one unified system. Now in its second year of operation, the Centre continues to deliver quality research outputs through its research programs and integrated case studies.

CRC ORE was established in July 2010, with a five year agreement between 8 industry and university partners and the Commonwealth of Australia. The Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education (DIISRTE)’s Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) program supports end-user driven research collaborations to address major challenges facing Australia, and the Centre is funded through this program to pursue solutions to these challenges that are innovative, of high impact and capable of being effectively deployed by the end-users.

Managed through CRC ORE Limited, the Centre has an initial funding of $33m over the five year period. As of 30th June 2012, membership of the CRC has grown with 1 new end-user, 2 commercial partners and 1 research partner joining CRC ORE.

staffingThe transition to Phase 2 of the Centre’s research plan has seen a restructure of the organisation to bring research activities under the guidance of Dr Steve Walters. CRC ORE welcomes Bevin Wong as Project Leader of the Coarse Liberation Circuits project, while Professor Rodney Wolff and Professor Bernd Lottermoser continue to lead the Resource Evaluation and Environmental Indicator projects. Nick Beaton has joined the CRC to oversee commercial activities around the Centre’s key tool, the Integrated Extraction Simulator (IES).

The Organisational Chart is shown over-page.

ip & commercialisationIt is part of CRC ORE’s central mandate that channels for technology transfer are developed to enable uptake of innovative mining process optimisation techniques by the industry.

Recognising that the resources industry is inherently conservative in its application of novel techniques and technologies, it is a key objective of CRC ORE that such technology transfer is achieved in an effective manner, and that it is comprehensively supported to ensure implementation and adoption.

CRC ORE is developing a number of strategies to ensure that the benefits of its work are soundly imbedded in industry. This will involve multiple channels including:

• CRCOREeducationprograms

• Cooperatively-fundedminesitestudies

• TransfersofIPtoCRCOREparticipantsthroughtheirengagement with CRC ORE

• ServicesofferedthroughCRCORE’scommercialisationpartners such as QG, JKTech and CAE Mining

• Servicesofferedonacommercialbasisthroughthe proposed establishment of dedicated commercialisation entities formed by CRC ORE.

The objectives are that IP can be licensed to industry participants, that back-up and support can be provided, and that consulting and support resources based on the IP can be offered.

The CRC is planning for its 3rd Year review with the Department of Innovation scheduled tentatively for April 2013, and lodged its inaugural Transition Plan with the Commonwealth on 30th June 2012.

CEO ORE Ltd BOARD

Commercialisation Management

Centre Executive

Research Management

ORGANISATIONAL ChART

Technical Advisory Panel

Audit, Compliance and Risk

CommitteeCEO

IP Management and Commercialisation

Committee

Remuneration Committee


FINANCIAL REpORTCRC ORE Ltd (CRC ORE) is a public company limited by guarantee. The principal activity of the company during the course of the financial year was the administration of the Cooperative Research Centre for Optimising Resource Extraction.

In accordance with the Commonwealth and Participants Agreements, the Centre will receive funding over a five year period (2010 - 2015) from its participants and the Australian government in the proportions outlined below.

In addition, CRC ORE secured further revenue of approximately $3 million through new memberships and research agreements. The Centre continues to seek backing from external funding sources to expand its research portfolio.

These cash and in-kind resources are used to finance industry driven research into innovative techniques for evaluating and extracting mineral deposits. The Centre’s activities are directed by the research outcomes articulated in the Commonwealth agreement, and seek to develop and deliver commercial products and methodologies for use on industry participant mine sites.

In-kind contribution covers non-cash support, primarily the provision of human and physical resources for CRC ORE research activities. This generally includes time spent providing support and mentoring, as well as the use of participants’ facilities for research and events.

2011 – 2012 financial yearIn the 2011-12 financial year CRC ORE received or accrued cash funding from participants totalling $5.53 million, exceeding the 2012 budget by 26%. Additional contributions of $1.49 million were secured from Newcrest and Anglo Platinum to support further research effort. The Centre has also received the government grant of $3.15 million funded by the Cooperative Research Program.

Overall in-kind contributions from CRC ORE’s participants reached $9 million, well above the amount committed under the Commonwealth Agreement in the second year. This was primarily due to an increase in number of new members and the strong engagement of end user participants in site based case studies.

78% of CRC ORE’s expenditure of $7.87 million (actual and accrued) was used to fund research activities. The remainder supported administrative functions including commercialisation, communications and corporate governance.

CRC ORE FINANCE OVERVIEW2010-11 2011-12

Tied Industry Funding 113% || $4 million 118% || $2.94 million

Additional Industry Funding 156% || $1.49 million

Untied Funding 101% || $3.90 million 107% || $4.37 million

New Participants Funding Commitment $1 million $0.5 million

In-Kind Contribution 122% || $4.68 million 218% || $9.01 million

Research Expenditure 114% || $5.71 million 95% || $6.29 million

Administration Costs 93% || $1.33 million 86% || $1.57 million

Industry Case Studies $0.03 million $1.25 million

*Includes actual and accrued figures *percentage is against the CRC ORE Budget

Total Cash Funding

Industry Partners $11.67 million

Participating Universities $4.1 million

Government $17.5 million

Total In-Kind Funding

Participating Universities $12.4 million

Industry Partners $8.8 million

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Jonathan Loraine – Chairman (Independent)

Jonathan Loraine has over 30 years of senior level mining industry operational and commercial experience in Europe, Africa, North and South America, and Australasia. This has encompassed exploration management, project development and financing, and operational management across all sectors of the resources industry.

Alan Bye – Director

Professor Alan Bye is the Chief Executive Officer and a Director of CRC ORE Ltd.

Alan’s experience spans roles from exploration geology, mine management and international specialist consultancy within the minerals industry to leading the growth of world renowned, multi-discipline research centres.

Andrew Logan – Director

Andrew is the Executive General Manager for Strategy, Step Change and Technology at Newcrest Mining.

Andrew’s experience in the mining and civil industry ranges across multiple disciplines including business step change & improvement projects, investment management, project management, technical leadership, Ore Reserve evaluation, geotechnical engineering and mine planning. His experience spans civil engineering, open pit mining; and underground mining techniques including selective and bulk techniques.

Bill te Kloot – Independent Director

Bill te Kloot is a highly experienced executive with a broad background in all aspects of financial and administration management and corporate governance. This experience has been gained in a wide selection of industries (sugar, coal, retail, waste management, marine transport and technology) and in both public and private companies.

Chris Moran – Director

Professor Chris Moran is the Director of the Sustainable Minerals Institute at the University of Queensland.

Chris started with a degree in agriculture and a PhD in soil science and digital image processing from the University of Sydney. He worked as a natural resource scientist doing spatial science in the CSIRO for 16 years. He has been involved in minerals industry water and sustainability research since 2004. He has published around 80 articles in scientific journals, technical reports and a significant number of commercial and government information papers and popular media reports.

Don McKee – Independent Director

Professor Don McKee has over 40 years experience in the mining and minerals industry and related fields.

For over three decades, Don held roles which were responsible for the leadership and business development of the mining and engineering research and education activities across The University of Queensland.

Don was personally responsible for the establishment of JK Tech in 1986, in 1997 he became the first full time Director of the Sir James Foots Institute of Minerals Resources and was responsible for the development its’ successor, the Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI), after successfully receiving funding from the Queensland State Government and the University of Queensland.

Gavin Yeates – Director

Gavin Yeates is currently the Vice President of Minerals resource Development at BHP Billiton.

Gavin has over 30 years of experience with BHP and BHPBilliton in mining and related fields at a variety of locations across a range of commodities, in operations, planning, and consulting, and more recently in management and executive roles with exposure to all aspects of the mining business.

OUR BOARd


Ian Mackinnon – Director

Currently Professor of Research and Commercialisation at QUT, Ian Mackinnon has many years experience in technology transfer including founder and executive director of a start-up company – NanoChem Pty Ltd – which developed environmentally friendly new materials for the chemicals and wastewater-treatment industries. Before this, he was Professor and Foundation Director of the Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis and Director of Advanced Ceramics Development, UniQuest Pty Ltd, both at the University of Queensland.

Mark Neville – Company Secretary

Dr Mark Neville is the Chief Operating Officer and Company Secretary for CRC ORE Ltd.

Mark has extensive experience in the role of company secretary with a number of companies over the last 10 years, including SRP Management Ltd, SRP Intellectual Property Ltd, and the Geopolymer Alliance and Geopolymer Foundation Ltd.

at the june 2012 meeting of the crc ore ltd board, professor mackinnon finished his two year term as a director, and by rotation the position transferred to professor bruce gemmell.

Bruce Gemmell – Director

Bruce Gemmell is the Deputy Director of the world-leading Centre for Ore Deposits Research (CODES) and the Head of the School of Earth Sciences at the University of Tasmania. Following studies at the University of British Columbia and Dartmouth College, his early research was focused on the trace metal geochemistry of volcanic gases from active volcanoes in Central America. Bruce gained extensive experience across a wide range of ore deposit types, and more recently he and his students have conducted research on base and precious metal vein systems in Indonesia and South America. Bruce has supervised over 50 M.Sc. and Ph.D. students and published over 60 refereed papers in international journals. He has also been a member of the editorial boards of both Mineralium Deposita and Economic Geology.

technical advisory panel

Geoff Oldroyd – Technical Advisory Panel Chairman

Dr Geoff Oldroyd is the Chairman of the Technical Advisory Panel for CRC ORE Ltd.

Dr Oldroyd is a mining engineer with over 40 years of experience in the mining and mineral resources industry, and brings to the position a global understanding of the technical, economic and environmental challenges of resource extraction.

This important position strengthens governance at CRC ORE by providing oversight for research programs while addressing new research opportunities.

committeesThe Audit, Compliance and Risk Management Committee has been established to advise the Board, to verify and safeguard the integrity of the CRC’s financial reporting and ensure that the CRC adequately manages its risk. It was established along with the Remuneration Committee by the Board and meets throughout the financial year.

The Remuneration Committee is a committee of the Board established to focus the company on appropriate remuneration policies, to enhance corporate and individual performance and to ensure the company attracts and retains high quality directors and senior executive.

The IP Management and Commercialisation Committee has been established to provide the Board with advice on intellectual property and commercialisation issues including ensuring integration of research, development, commercialisation and adoption processes and matters of risk management and corporate governance in the area of intellectual property, adoption/commercialisation activities. The Committee charter requires that the Committee meet as and when required.

technical advisory panel

naMe indePendent/organisation

Dr Geoff Oldroyd Independent Chair

Dr Dan Alexander JKTech

Prof Alan Bye CRC ORE

Dean Collett Newcrest

Prof Bruce Gemmell UTas

Dr Wayne Stange UQ

Scott Jackson Quantitative Group

Prof Erhan Kozan QUT

Nathan Bullock Xstrata

Jeremy Mann Anglo Platinum

Lauren Stafford CRC ORE

Dr Ray Shaw AMIRA

Dylan Webb CAE Mining

David Whittle BHP Billiton

Nichola McKay Teck

The Technical Advisory Panel (TAP) provides the Board with technical advice on project proposals, as well as guiding existing projects through the research process. The TAP meets quarterly and is comprised of research and end-user representatives, with an independent Chairman.

Members of the Technical Advisory Panel, presenters and CRC ORE staff at the committee’s May 2012 meeting.


Professor Alan Bye – Chief Executive Officer

Professor Alan Bye is the CEO of the Cooperative Research Centre for Optimising Resource Extraction. This high profile, multi-million dollar programme aims to address some of the mining industries significant challenges in the areas of energy use and improved exploitation methods for mineral resources.

In his prior post, Alan was director of the W H Bryan Mining and Geology Research Centre at the Sustainable Minerals Institute (University of Queensland). He was with Anglo American for over 10 years and has held a range of cross-discipline positions in the areas of geology, geotechnical engineering, mine to mill, blasting engineering and mining manager.

Dr Mark Neville – Chief Operating Officer

Dr Mark Neville is the Chief Operating Officer and Company Secretary for CRC ORE Ltd. He has extensive experience in Business and R&D management, technology transfer, product commercialisation, intellectual property management, business development and contract negotiation.

Mark has previous experience as Manager of Technology Transfer for the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO). Prior to joining ANSTO Mark was the International Business Development Manager for Environmental Systems & Services for AEA Technology plc., formerly the UK Atomic Energy Authority.

Mark has published more than 30 technical papers in international journals and holds 9 international patents.

Nick Beaton - Commercialisation Advisor

Mr Nick Beaton has enjoyed a successful 30 career in the development and commercialisation of technology for the global mining industry.

His professional experience covers senior appointments with Datamine, Mincom, KPMG and CAE Mining, with postings to the UK, South Africa, Germany, the USA and Switzerland.

In addition to his extensive mining industry experience Mr Beaton has also worked in management consultancy in Europe leading pan-European projects in business restructuring, technology development and enterprise system “roll-outs” for automotive, chemical and pharmaceutical clients.

Dr Steve Walters – Research Director

Dr Steve Walters is the Research Director for CRC ORE. Steve has over thirty years of experience in the global minerals industry in the areas of exploration geology, mining geology, corporate research and geometallurgy. He previously played a key role in the establishment and subsequent management of the AMIRA P843 GeM project - the largest university based research project in the emerging field of geometallurgy. During this time he was a joint appointment between CODES - the ARC Centre of Excellence in Ore Deposits at the University of Tasmania and the JKMRC at the University of Queensland. In addition to his current CRC ORE role, Steve is also a Research Consultant to JKMRC mainly involving support for technology transfer and validation case studies related to the ongoing AMIRA P843A project.

Professor Rodney Wolff – Program Leader - Resource Evaluation

Professor Rodney Wolff is the Program Leader for CRC ORE’s Resource Evaluation program.

His research interests cover topics including applied statistics, data analysis, econometrics, experiment design, gambling, mathematics, probability, risk, surveys and time series. He received his PhD from the University of Oxford in 1990. Prior to joining Queensland University of Technology he was a Senior Research Fellow at Jesus College in Oxford.

kEy STAFF


Professor Malcolm Powell – Program Leader - Resource Extraction

Trained in Physics then mineral processing at Mintek (South Africa), Professor Malcolm Powell completed a PhD in grinding media motion and linear wear. After forming the comminution group at the University of Cape Town he joined the JK Research Centre at the University of Queensland to take up the Chair in Sustainable Comminution in 2007. He continues to lead comminution research at JKMRC while overseeing CRC ORE’s resource extraction program.

Jana Baranovic – Finance Manager CPA

Jana Baranovic is the Finance Manager at CRC ORE. In this role she is responsible for the financial management, tax and other compliance processes and management, government and statutory reporting.

Jana is a CPA qualified accountant (Flinders University of South Australia), has completed her Graduate Diploma of Applied Corporate Governance, and holds a Law degree from Czechoslovakia.

She has extensive experience in financial management in a number of industries in both the public and private sectors.

Lauren Stafford – Manager Research and Utilisation

Lauren Stafford is the Manager of Research and Utilisation at CRC ORE. In this role she is responsible for the research project management, communication and education and training activities of the Centre. Lauren was previously the Business Manager of the WH Bryan Mining and Geology Research Centre at Sustainable Minerals Institute where she played a key role in the establishment of CRC ORE. Lauren holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Hons) and a Bachelor of Education from The University of Queensland.

Tim Howard – Communications Officer

Tim Howard is the Communications Officer for CRC ORE, and is responsible for communications activities including marketing strategy, public relations, events management and production of creative. Tim brings with him expertise in brand management, advertising and creative industries.

He has previously worked as a digital marketer for electronics manufacturer Canon’s Australian Ambassador for Photography, Chris Bray.

Rosemary Swanborough – Project Management Officer

Rosemary Swanborough is the Project Management Officer for CRC ORE and her role involves the project management activities for the Centre’s research and industry projects. Rosemary is also the Secretariat for the CRC ORE Technical Advisory Panel. Rosemary joins the Centre from the Queensland Government Department of Main Roads and Transport, where she held a number of project management roles and was the Secretariat for two National Committees, The Rail Safety Regulators Panel and the Rail Safety Co-Regulation Group.

Shirley Millett – Administration Officer

Shirley Millett is the Centre’s Administration Officer, and brings with her a wide range of experience working in administration roles with the private and public sectors, as an executive assistant, and in large specialist project teams.

pUBLICATIONS 2011-12journal publications• Kozan,E.(2012).Ahybridshiftingbottleneckprocedure

algorithm for the parallel-machine job-shop scheduling problem. Journal of the Operational Research Society, 63, 168-182.

• Kozan,E.(2011).AMulti-ResourceMulti-StageOpen-PitMine Production Scheduling Methodology. CRC ORE Annual Assembly 2011, 2nd November 2011, Brisbane, Australia.

• Kozan,E.&Liu,Q.S.(2011).OperationsResearchformining industries: A classification and literature review. ASOR Bulletin, 30, 2-23.

• Liu,Q.S.&Kozan,E.(2012).AnInteractivePlanningandScheduling Framework for Optimising Pits-to-Crushers Operations. International Journal of Industrial Engineering & Management Systems, 11, 94-102.

• Liu,Q.S.&Kozan,E.(2012).Optimumutilisationofrollingstocks for iron ore mining industries. Advanced Materials Research, 361, 1529-1534.

• Noble,T.N.,Lottermoser,B.G.&Parbhakar-Fox,A.(2012). Evaluating pH tests for mine water prediction. 3rd International Congress on Water Management in the Mining Industry, 504-512.

• Vann,J.,Bye,A.&Coward,S.(2011).HowGeometallurgyCan Have Step-Change Influence on Mining Project Evaluation. SEG News.

• Vann,J.,Jackson,S.,Bye,A.,Coward,S.,Moayer,S.,Nicholas, G. & Wolff, R. (2012). Scenario Thinking – A Powerful Tool for the Strategic Evaluation of Mining Projects and Operations. in Proceedings Project Evaluation 2012, 5-14. Melbourne, Australia: The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.

• Vann,J.&Stewart,M.(2011).Philosophyofscience:a practical tool for applied geologists in the minerals industry. Applied Earth Science, 120, 10.

CONFERENCES• Ballantyne, G. and Powell, M.S. (2012). Early rejection

of gangue - how much energy will it cost to save energy? Proceedings Comminution 12, Cape town, April. Publ. MEI.

• Bird, M., Powell, M.S., Hilden, M. (2011). Adapting mill control to account for liner wear on the Cadia 40ft mill. Proceedings International autogenous and semiautogenous grinding technology 2011, Sep. 25-28, Ed. Flintoff et al, Published CIM.

• Bye, A. (2011). Case Studies Demonstrating Value from Geometallurgy Initiatives. Keynote presentation at AusIMM GeoMet 2011, Sep. 5-7, Brisbane, Australia.

• Bye, A. (2011). Transforming Resource Extraction. Keynote presentation at Mining Technology Australia Summit, Aug 25-26, Perth, Australia.

• Bye, A. (2012). Upgrading orebodies by leveraging variability – Scale and Flexibility required. Keynote presentation at KIN Catalyst Summit, April 17-19, Brazil.

• Bye, A. (2012). Strategies for energy management. Keynote at CEEC JKTech Workshop 2012, June 13-14, Noosa, Australia.

• Engelhart, D., Robertson, J., Lane, G., Powell, M.S. & Griffin, P. (2011). Cadia Expansion - from open pit to block cave and beyond. Proceedings International autogenous and semiautogenous grinding technology 2011, Sep. 25-28, Ed. Flintoff et al, Published CIM.

• Kozan, E. (2011). A Multi-Resource Multi-Stage Open-Pit Mine Production Scheduling Methodology. Paper presented at the CRC ORE Annual Assembly 2011, November 7, Brisbane, Australia.

• Liu, S.Q. and Kozan, E. (2011). Interactive Planning and Scheduling Framework for Optimising the Operations from Pits to Crushers in Ore Mining Industry. 12th Asia Pacific Industrial Engineering and Management System Conference, October 14-17, Beijing, China.

• Moayer, S., Vann, J., Coward, S., Jackson, S., Bye, A., and Wolff, R. (2012). An Innovative Approach to Robust Optimisation for Scenario Based Mineral Project Evaluation. Project Evaluation 2012, May 24-25, Melbourne, Australia.

• Noble, T.N., Lottermoser, B.G. & Parbhakar-Fox, A. (2012). Evaluating pH tests for mine water prediction. Paper presented at Water in Mining 2012 Conference, June 19-21, Brisbane, Australia.

• Noble, T.N., Lottermoser, B.G. & Parbhakar-Fox, A. (2012). Evaluating pH tests for mine water prediction. Paper presented at Water in Mining 2012 Conference, June 6-8, Santiago, Chile.


• Powell, M.S., Benzer, H., Mainza, A. N., Evertsson C. M., Tavares L. M., Potgieter M., Davis B.,… Rule C. (2011). Integrating the strengths of SAG and HPGR in a flexible circuit designs. Proceedings International autogenous and semiautogenous grinding technology 2011, Sep. 25-28, Ed. Flintoff et al, Published CIM.

• Vann, J., Jackson, S., Bye, A., Moayer, S., Nicholas, G. and Dunham S. (2012). Scenario Thinking – A Powerful Tool for the Strategic Evaluation of Mining Projects and Operations. Project Evaluation 2012, May 24-25, Melbourne, Australia.

• 16. Van, J. and Bye, A. (2012). Uncertainty, Variability and Systems Aspects of Project Evaluation: Why ‘Whole of Value Chain Thinking’ Lowers Risk and Reveals Value. Project Evaluation 2012, May 24-25, Melbourne, Australia.

TEChNICAL REpORTSthese reports are ‘commercial-in confidence’ contract research outputs and are therefore restricted and not available in the public domain, or amira project reports where circulation is restricted to the project sponsors.

• AMIRAInternational(2012).GeMP843ASponsorsReviewMeeting Technical Presentation Notes. 31 May-1 June.

• AMIRAInternational(2012).P9OSponsorsReviewMeetingTechnical Presentation Notes. 4-6 June.

• Casali,G.L.andRobertson,P.L.(2011).FactorsInfluencingthe Absorption of New Technologies in the Australian Mining Industry. CRC ORE Technical Report, pp18. CRC for Optimising Resource Extraction. Brisbane Australia.

• Ballantyne,G.R.,Powell,M.S.andTiang,M.(2012).Comminution energy usage in Australian gold and copper producing mines. CRC ORE Technical Report, pp31. CRC for Optimising Resource Extraction. Brisbane Australia.

• Liu,S.Q.andKozan,E.(2011).Areviewofoperationsresearch applications in mine planning and scheduling. CRC ORE Technical Report, pp23. CRC for Optimising Resource Extraction. Brisbane Australia.

• Nasir,A.R.M.,Yusof,Y.,Choden,P.,Eves,C.andSarkar,J.(2011). Mining valuation: Industrial governance, practices and economic structures. CRC ORE Technical Report, pp20. CRC for Optimising Resource Extraction. Brisbane Australia.

• Parbhakar-Fox,A.andLottermoser,B.G.(2011).PredictiveIndicators in Mining: Review of the literature and current best Practices. CRC ORE Technical Report, pp147. CRC for Optimising Resource Extraction. Brisbane Australia.

• Scally,J.,Aderounmu,A.andWolff,R.(2011).ReserveEstimation, Modeling and the Cut-Off Grade Problem. CRC ORE Technical Report, pp19. CRC for Optimising Resource Extraction. Brisbane Australia.

• Walters,P.J.andWeerasekara,N.(2012).Inter-ParticleGrind Response Characterisation (AG Index). CRC ORE Technical Report, pp25. CRC for Optimising Resource Extraction. Brisbane Australia.

• Yahyaei,M.,Weerasekara,N.,Michaux,S.andPowell,M.S. (2012). Pilot scale abrasion test work. CRC ORE Technical Report, pp58. CRC for Optimising Resource Extraction. Brisbane Australia.

• Ziemski,M.,Bye,A.andTordoir,A.(2011).AngloPlatinumMogalakwena Survey Report. CRC ORE Technical Report, pp16. CRC for Optimising Resource Extraction. Brisbane Australia.

• Ziemski,M.(2012).TelferEnergyStudy:Submissionto Newcrest Telfer Gold Mine on current status and opportunities in energy. CRC ORE Technical Report, pp81. CRC for Optimising Resource Extraction. Brisbane Australia.

GLOSSARy OF TERMSterM desCriPtion

ag mill Autogenous Grinding mill

aMd Acid Mine Drainage (see also: ARD)

aMira P843a geM AMIRA International Geometallurgical Mapping and Mine Modelling project

aMira P9 AMIRA International Minerals Processing Project

ard Acid Rock Drainage

asX Australian Stock Exchange

ausiMM Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy

BrC W.H. Bryan Mining and Geology Research Centre

Ceo Chief Executive Officer

ClC Coarse Liberation Circuits

CMlr Centre for Mined Land Rehabilitation

Codes ARC Centre of Excellence in Ore Deposit Studies

Comminution Grinding

Coo Chief Operations Officer

CrC Cooperative Research Centre

CrC ore Cooperative Research Centre for Optimising Resource Extraction

CVo Cadia Valley Operations, Newcrest mining operation in NSW, Australia

CWiMi Centre for Water in the Minerals Industry

diisrte Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education

eCr Early Career Researcher

gangue Waste rock material

hPgr High Pressure Grinding Rolls

iCs International Caving Study

ies Integrated Extraction Simulator

iP Intellectual Property

jKMrC Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre

MdK AMIRA P9 Model Development Kit

MFP Multi-Factor Productivity

MMt Mass Mining Technology project

Msc Masters of Science degree

ore Rock containing minerals or metals


ph Measure of acididty or alkalinity

Qg Quantitative Group

Qut Queensland University of Technology

rhd Research Higher Degree

roM Run of Mine

sag mill Semi-Autogenous Grinding mill

ses School of Earth Sciences (University of Tasmania)

sMi Sustainable Minerals Institute

sMi-Kt SMI Knowledge Transfer (see also: SMI)

taP Technical Advisory Panel

throughput Number of tonnes per hour processed

tPh Tonnes per hour

uQ The University of Queensland

utas University of Tasmania

syMBol eleMent

au Gold

Cu Copper

ni Nickel

Pt Platinum

Zn Zinc

established and supported under the australian government’s cooperative research centres programme

CRC ORE Ltdlevel 7, sir james foots building

corner of staff house and college roadsthe university of queenslandst lucia, qld, australia, 4072

po box 6043st lucia, qld, australia, 4067

CRC ORE Annual Report 2011 - 2012

Documents

crc ore annual report

delivercrc ore

crc program

declining ore gradesover

glossary of termscrc

research collaborations

research overview22

research communication58