Abstract: Methods and systems for mining described herein include a surface mine site including a processing site situated remotely from a blast site within the mine site and coupled by a network of roads. A first proportion of the roads are sealed and a second proportion of the roads have a maximum width in the range of 3 to 12 metres. A fleet of autonomous material handling units are located at the surface mine site, each autonomous material handling unit including a wireless transceiver for coupling to a communications network. The autonomous material handling units include a plurality of small capacity haulage vehicles, each having a maximum payload capacity of 80 tonnes or less. The autonomous material handling units are configured to be controlled by a control centre via the communications network.

Abstract: A conveyor system supporting a conveyor belt in a trough shape through a transition portion in which an elevation of the conveyor belt changes, the transition portion comprising an upward change in elevation and a subsequent downward change in elevation.

Abstract: A network product planner (29) ascertains material levels required at dispatch stockpiles (15), for example by checking upcoming orders for material to be shipped by transport ships (19) to end customers. Tolerance bands for chemical components required at the dispatch stockpiles are then ascertained. The tolerance bands are defined by upper and lower expected value control limits for each chemical component. The network product planner (29) then passes the collected information to the optimization engine (29a), which finds the values of decision variables in the form of weights, that minimize variance of the chemical components in the dispatch stockpiles, whilst being constrained to comply with the specified tolerance bands of the chemical components. The network product planner (29) then passes the weight values to the rail dispatch controller (23) in messages (14).

Abstract: A method is provided for operating a railway network having a number of trains, the method comprises operating a scheduling machine that is in communication with the railway network over a data communication system, to receive time separated state data defining states of the railway network at respective times. The scheduling machine accesses a model of the railway network that is stored in an electronic data source. The model defines locations in the railway network that allows for passing of trains and paths for journeys of each of the trains. The method includes operating the scheduling machine to apply the state data to the model to determine, at each of the respective times, controls associated with each trains' path for each of the trains.

Abstract: A compact hyperspectral imager adapted to operate in harsh environments and to conduct post acquisition signal processing to provide automated and improved hyperspectral processing results is disclosed. The processing includes luminance and brightness processing of captured hyperspectral images, hyperspectral image classification and inverse rendering to produce luminance invariance image processing.

Abstract: A method of determining the draft of a vessel comprising the steps of: measuring the draft of the vessel using at least one optical imaging device to provide optical draft measurement data; measuring the draft of the vessel using elevation data provided by at least one GNSS or GPS device so as to provide elevation draft measurement data; and using the elevation draft measurement data and the optical draft measurement data to determine the draft of the vessel.

Abstract: Described herein is a method and system for classifying rock types in a rock body. The method comprises the steps of obtaining spectral data from a spectral measurement (202) of a surface region of the rock body and then determining a first spectral ratio between two wavelength bands of the spectral data. From the first spectral ratio it can be assessed (204) whether the measurement is a high-angle measurement, and if the measurement is not a high-angle measurement then a further spectral ratio between two further wavelength bands of the spectral data is determined (208). The further spectral ratio is then compared (210) with a corresponding diagnostic criterion to assess whether the surface region comprises a first rock type associated with the further spectral ratio and diagnostic criterion.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus method for producing direct reduced iron (DRI) from iron ore using biomass as a source of reductant and as a heating source of the iron ore and electromagnetic energy as a further heating source in a furnace having multiple zones. The zones include a preheat zone and a reduction zone between an inlet for briquettes of iron ore and biomass and an outlet for direct reduced iron. The method includes counter-current movement of (a) briquettes of iron ore and biomass in a direction from the inlet to the outlet and (b) combustible gases in an opposite direction in the furnace.

Abstract: A system 10 for controlling a drilling operation by a drill rig 12 includes a receiver 16 for receiving sensed data related to the drilling operation. A processor 18 is in communication with the receiver 16, the processor 18 processing the sensed data to estimate at least one geological property of interest of a zone 20 in which the drill rig 12 is active. The processor 18 is configured to operate as a decision engine 22 to optimize the drilling operation automatically by changing at least one drilling related parameter during the drilling operation based on the at least one geological property of interest.

Abstract: Described herein is a method and system for classifying rock types in a rock body. The method comprises the steps of obtaining spectral data from a spectral measurement (202) of a surface region of the rock body and then determining a first spectral ratio between two wavelength bands of the spectral data. From the first spectral ratio it can be assessed (204) whether the measurement is a high-angle measurement, and if the measurement is not a high-angle measurement then a further spectral ratio between two further wavelength bands of the spectral data is determined (208). The further spectral ratio is then compared (210) with a corresponding diagnostic criterion to assess whether the surface region comprises a first rock type associated with the further spectral ratio and diagnostic criterion.

Abstract: A method 10 of refurbishing a bucket wheel reclaimer (BWR) 41 having structural frame 68, a chute 66 supported by the structural frame 68, a yard conveyor 42 for receiving material from the chute 66 and an impact table 64 supported by the structural frame 68 below a portion of an upper run 44 of the yard conveyor 42. The method includes a step 12 of decoupling a current impact table 64 from the BWR structural frame 68. The impact table 64 is lowered at step 26 from the structural frame 68. Thereafter at step 14 the current impact table is moved laterally away from and to one side of the yard conveyor. At steps 16 and 18 a fresh impact table is moved laterally to a location beneath the upper run 44 of the yard conveyor and coupled to the BWR 41.

Abstract: A continuous process provides direct reduction of iron ore in a solid state. Briquettes of iron ore fragments and biomass are transported through a preheating chamber and preheated to a temperature of at least 400° C. The preheated briquettes are transported through a heating/reduction chamber that has an anoxic environment, and iron ore and biomass in the briquettes are exposed to electromagnetic energy in the form of microwave energy under anoxic conditions. Microwave energy generates heat within iron ore, and biomass acts as a reductant and reduces iron ore in a solid state, as the briquettes move through the heating/reduction chamber.

Abstract: An impact detection system is disclosed for detecting and identifying an object colliding with a vehicle. The impact detection system comprises a sensor arrangement arranged to measure a characteristic of an impact of the object against the vehicle, a trigger determiner associated with the sensor arrangement for determining whether the characteristic of the 5 impact is greater than a predefined threshold value, and an image capturing device arranged to capture an image of the object. The system is arranged to automatically make the captured image available for inspection in response to the trigger determiner determining that the characteristic of the impact is greater than the predefined threshold value so that the object in the image can be identified substantially in real-time.

Abstract: A support frame is disclosed for a temporary signal for a railroad. The railroad includes a track having two elongate rails, and the support frame comprises a post arranged to support a railroad signal, a base joined to the post, and at least one attachment for attaching the base to both rails of the track. The base comprises a first beam and a second beam, and the first beam and the second beam are each arranged to be attached to both of the rails.

Abstract: A control arrangement for a railroad level crossing is disclosed. The control arrangement comprises monitoring sensors for monitoring the level crossing, the monitoring sensors arranged to detect an obstruction within a restricted area at or near to the level crossing, and a processing unit associated with the monitoring sensors and arranged to generate an alarm warning when an obstruction is detected. The alarm warning is used to adjust a Movement Authority issued to a train approaching the level crossing.

Abstract: A heap of a material to be leached to recover a valuable metal from the material includes an electromagnetic heating system to generate heat in situ in the heap.

Abstract: A planning system (201) for scheduling the operation of autonomous entities within a defined geographical region. The planning system operates at a region plan level (301) for strategic planning across the geographical region, at an operation plan level (302) for operations to be performed by autonomous entities in localised zones having operation-defined geographical boundaries, and at a task plan level (303) in which processing is undertaken in respect of specific tasks to be performed by the autonomous entities, in undertaking the operations.

Abstract: An open cut mine includes an area to be mined bounded by a perimeter. The area to be mined includes (a) a manned zone within the perimeter in which manned resources operate to the exclusion of unmanned resources, (b) an unmanned zone within the perimeter in which unmanned resources operate to the exclusion of manned resources, (c) a first manned resource access location in the perimeter including a roadway through which manned resources move into and from the manned zone, and (d) a separate second unmanned resource access location in the perimeter including a roadway through which unmanned resources move into and from the unmanned zone.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an apparatus for treatment of mined material. The apparatus comprises a source for generating electromagnetic radiation and a microwave inlet region for exposing fragments of the mined material to the electromagnetic radiation. Further, the apparatus comprises a reflective structure adjacent the microwave inlet region and providing, or surrounding, a passage for guiding the fragments of the mined material to the microwave inlet region. The reflective structure is arranged to attenuate penetration of the electromagnetic radiation from the microwave inlet region into the passage during throughput of the fragments of the mined material.

Abstract: A method of leaching copper-containing ores includes leaching copper-containing ores or concentrates or tailings of the ores or concentrates with a leach liquor in the presence of an additive that enhances the dissolution of copper from copper minerals in the ores and concentrates by forming a complex between (a) sulfur, that has originated from copper minerals in the ores, and (b) the additive. A method of leaching copper-containing ores includes leaching copper-containing ores or concentrates or tailings of the ores or concentrates with a leach liquor includes leaching copper-containing ores or concentrates or tailings of the ores or concentrates with a leach liquor in the presence of a nitrogen-containing organic complexing additive that forms a complex between sulfur, that has originated from copper minerals in the ores, and the additive.