Other SMI research highlights

Mass mining
The Mass Mining Technology project, now a major activity of the SMI Mining group, has support from 12 major companies located in Australia, South Africa, Canada, Chile, Finland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. Research participants are located in USA, Chile, Sweden and Australia. The research is developing mathematical models to predict the way ore breaks under caving conditions and then flows under its own weight. The outcomes are a set of design tools which provide rigorous methods for designing caving operations, a major advance on traditional, experience-based methods.

Core discipline
JKMRC researchers have developed a series of breakage-characterisation devices, each a significant improvement on existing methods. A major breakthrough, the JK Rotary Breakage Tester (JKRBT), uses a rotor-stator impacting system, in which ore particles gain a required kinetic energy while being spun in a rotor. Particles are then ejected against a stator, causing particle breakage. Breakage parameters for the ore being tested are then calculated. Major miners involved include Anglo Platinum, BHP Billiton, Newmont, Rio Tinto, and Xstrata.

Maximising mine safety
The aim of the Minerals Industry Safety and Health Centre’s Cerberus project is to lower a probe from a surface borehole to “see” underground via video. The probe would include other equipment that would allow sampling and identification of gas content and temperature. A prototype has been developed, capable of accessing areas up to 500 metres below ground. This project is a joint venture between MISHC and Geotechnical Systems Australia Pty Ltd and has received funding from the Australian Coal Association Research Program (ACARP).

Caring for the environment
Phoenix is a Mine Environment Data Visualisation, Analysis and Management System developed by the Centre for Mined Land Rehabilitation (CMLR) to record and visualise the large amount of data collected from several mine sites over past decades. It is now being tested as a potential commercial software package.

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