CRC ORE integrated research encompasses the whole mining value chain, harnessing insights from resource characterisation to inform extraction and processing optimisations. To ensure these optimisations result in overall improvement to efficiency and productivity, CRC ORE's resource evaluation research program is investigating new methods to accurately assess and value the changed economics that stem from these actions.
Primary outputs from these projects include software for simulating and optimising the mining process (Integrated Extraction Simulator), and techniques to upgrade ore after it has been mined and prior to concentration (Coarse Liberation Circuits).
The objective of ore upgrading is to reduce the total amount of material being treated in the concentrator with no appreciable loss of metal content. Techniques for achieving this include selective blasting, selective mining, ore screening and ore sorting - often in careful combination with each other.
Executive management in the mining industry understands that these techniques can deliver a step change in project economics and they are enthusiastic to pursue them. As a result a number of large integrated case studies are being used to demonstrate the value of a “systems approach” to mineral extraction.
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Research Phase 2 - developing and delivering for industry...
For the first two years of its operation CRC ORE Centre projects focused on providing a foundation for the next stage of technology transfer. Eighty per cent of these projects will be complete by June 2012, and the Centre's program structure is evolving 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 the foundation projects from Phase 1 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.
A cross-discipline research portfolio...
A cross-discipline research portfolio is developing the capability to go beyond mine-to-mill and optimise all stages in the mining process, from ore body characterisation to financial evaluation.
Environmental Indicators examines early predictive geometallurgical information from rock characteristics likely to impact on environmental management, resulting in more effective resource management and life of mine valuation.
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Real-world validation of results...
CRC ORE has partnered with industry participants to prove the validity of new tools and methodologies in large scale site based case studies. See the links below for more information about the case studies that are transforming the mining industry's approach to the evaluation and extraction of mineral deposits.
Research
Telfer Integrated Case Study