Abstract: A microwave radiation applicator for exposing mined material to microwave radiation is disclosed. The applicator includes side walls 3 and end walls 5 that define a chamber. One end wall has an opening that forms an inlet for mined material to be supplied to the chamber and the other end wall has an opening that defines an outlet for mined material to be discharged from the chamber. The side walls define a pentagon in transverse cross-section.

Abstract: A molten bath-based process for direct smelting metalliferous material and producing molten metal in a direct smelting vessel that contains a molten bath that has a metal layer that is at least 900 mm deep. The process includes selecting operating parameters of the process so that feed material (solid material and carrier gas) is injected from above the metal layer into the metal layer via at least one solids injection lance with sufficient momentum to penetrate to a depth of at least 100 mm below a nominal quiescent surface of the metal layer to cause upward movement of molten material and gas from the metal layer.

Abstract: A system and method for the drilling of ground holes by a track steer drill rig. The system and method include a drilling arrangement that permits the speed of drilling holes to be balanced against the stability of the hole thus formed. The system and method allow for the autonomous drilling of ground holes and, particularly, although not exclusively, for the purposes of exploration, mining, and/or construction. In particular, the system and method relate to the autonomous drilling of ground holes which are used for subsequent blasting.

Abstract: A train loading system for loading material onto cars of a train is disclosed. The system comprises a material bin arranged to receive material to be loaded onto the train, a closure device arranged to facilitate control by an operator of the amount of material loaded into each car from the material bin, and a car mass estimator arranged to estimate the mass of material loaded into each car. The system also comprises a display arranged to communicate to the operator the estimated mass of material loaded into each car. A corresponding method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of starting a smelting process in a smelting vessel includes heating frozen slag and forming molten slag and draining molten slag from a forehearth connection via a forehearth and establishing a clear flow path through the forehearth connection and thereafter hot starting the smelting process.

Abstract: A method for changing a vehicle wheel held to the vehicle by nuts and retainer cleats comprising: using a mobile robot for removal and replacement of the wheel nuts and retainer cleats in combination with the use of a mobile mechanical wheel handler to grip and remove the wheel and to bring a replacement wheel into position before replacement of the wheel nuts and cleats by the robot.

Abstract: A method of analyzing particles of a material which include a constituent is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of exposing particles of the material to x radiation having a range of x-radiation energies, detecting x-radiation intensities at two different energy levels transmitted through the particles, and determining the concentration of the constituent in particles from the detected intensities.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a mine operation is disclosed. The method comprises collecting map data associated with a mine operation, the map data being indicative of at least one map representation associated with the mine operation, collecting mine equipment location data indicative of the location of at least one item of mine equipment relative to the mine operation, and facilitating selection and display of a map representation associated with a mine operation. When a map representation associated with a mine operation is displayed, a representation of at least one item of mine equipment on the map representation at a representative location relative to the mine operation.

Abstract: An apparatus for injecting gas into a vessel is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a gas flow duct from which to discharge gas from the duct, an elongate central structure extending within the gas flow duct, and a plurality of flow directing vanes disposed about the central structure adjacent the forward end of the duct to impart swirl to a gas flow through the forward end of the duct. The apparatus also comprises cooling water flow passages in the vanes that have inlets at the forward ends of the vanes and outlets at the rear ends of the vanes.

Abstract: A heap of a material to be leached to recover a valuable metal from the material and a method of constructing the heap are disclosed. The heap comprises sides and a top and a system to control air flow into the heap. The air flow control system comprises a combination of an air impermeable barrier and an aeration system.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for direct smelting metalliferous material is disclosed. The invention concentrates injection of solid feed materials comprising metalliferous material and carbonaceous material into a direct smelting vessel during the course of the process into a relatively small region within a metal layer in a molten bath in the vessel in order to generate a substantial upward movement of molten material and gas from the metal layer into a region in the vessel that is above the molten bath. In particular, the invention injects the solid feed materials with sufficient momentum and/or velocity via an opposed pair of lances that are oriented within the vessel and arranged to form overlapping plumes of injected material in the molten bath.

Abstract: A mine operation monitoring system a plurality of mine equipment interfaces each being located at a mine operation and being associated with at least one item of mine equipment, each mine equipment interface being arranged to monitor operation of the at least one associated item of mine equipment. A plurality of monitoring stations is located remotely to the mine operations and is arranged to communicate with at least one equipment interface associated with a different mine operation so as to monitor operation of at least one item of mine equipment associated with said at least one equipment interface from the remote locations. A plurality of local monitoring stations located at respective mine operations monitors operation of the one time of equipment associated with the one interface. A communications network is arranged to facilitate communications between the equipment interfaces, the local monitoring stations and the remote monitoring stations.

Abstract: A method of separating a mined material that comprises assessing the grade of successive segments of the mined material, and separating each segment on the basis of grade into a category that is at or above a grade threshold or a category that is below the grade threshold. An apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for injecting gas into a vessel is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a gas flow duct from which to discharge gas from the duct, an elongate central structure extending within the gas flow duct from its rear end to its forward end, and a plurality of flow directing vanes disposed about the central structure adjacent the forward end of the duct. The forward end of the central structure and the vanes are water cooled by separate supply passages.

Abstract: A method of sorting material that comprises determining whether a volume of material to be mined or a volume of stockpiled material is upgradable to produce a supply of material of greater economic value. If the determination is positive, the material is dry sorted to increase the grade or economic value. The determination is done by taking a plurality of samples from the initial volume of material and analyzing the material to determine if the material is able to be upgraded. The determination can be by X-Ray analysis. The upgrading can involve a size reduction step.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing mined material that includes an applicator assembly (2) is disclosed. The applicator assembly includes a plurality of applicators (12) for exposing a moving bed of fragments of mined material to electromagnetic radiation as the bed of fragments moves through the applicator assembly. The applicators are arranged so that, in use, there is a high level of assurance that all of the fragments in the moving bed will receive at least a minimum exposure to electromagnetic radiation by the time the fragments reach an outlet end (8) of the applicator assembly.

Abstract: A method of reducing the size of material, such as rocks of mined ore, is disclosed. The method comprises comminuting and electro-fracturing rocks of the material and thereby reducing the rock size.

Abstract: A method of open cut mining an ore is disclosed. The method comprises carrying out mining operations in an area of an open cut mine with manned resources and unmanned resources and providing separate access for these resources to the mine area at selected locations. Alternatively, or in addition, the method comprises carrying out mining operations in the mine area with manned resources and unmanned resources operating in selected, separate unmanned and manned zones, respectively within the mine area.

Abstract: A method for sorting mined material in a sorting apparatus is disclosed. The method includes supplying particles of a mined material onto a conveyor belt (5), transporting the particles on the conveyor belt past a detection assembly (9, 13) and assessing the particles, and separating the particles based on the assessment into an accepts stream and a rejects stream at a discharge end of the belt using a separator assembly (29). The method also includes controlling the arrangement of particles so that there is an ordered arrangement of particles on the belt to optimise the throughput of particles through the sorting apparatus.