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: A method of sorting mined material, such as mined ore, is disclosed. The method comprises exposing particles of mined material to radio frequency electromagnetic radiation and heating particles depending on the minerals present in the particles and then thermally analyzing particles exposed to radio frequency electromagnetic radiation to detect temperature differences between particles which indicate differences in the minerals in the particles. The method also comprises sorting the particles on the basis of the results of the thermal analysis.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for sorting mined material, such as mined ore, are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a chamber for exposing fragments of a material to be sorted to electromagnetic radiation, with the chamber comprising an inner wall for fragments to move downwardly and outwardly over from an upper inlet of the chamber to a lower outlet of the chamber. The apparatus also comprises a detection system for assessing one or more than one characteristic of the fragments. The apparatus also comprises a sorting means for separating the fragments into multiple streams in response to the assessment of the detection system.

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: In developing an underground mine a mine shaft 80 is formed by excavating earth and removing excavated material from the shaft 80 by a material transport system comprising skips 36 movable up and down on skip guides within the shaft. Tunnels 82 are launched from a bottom part of shaft 80 by excavating a cavern 81 in which a tunnel boring machine is assembled and operated to bore the tunnels 82. Material from the tunnel excavation is transported from the tunnels via conveyor 87 to the material transport system established within the shaft during formation of the shaft which is operated to transport that material to an earth surface region.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for sorting mined material is based on using a range of options for sensing multiple properties of a mined material on a fragment by fragment basis and then analyzing the multiple types of data and making decisions about the classification of each fragment and then sorting the fragment based on the analysis. The multiple sensing options include the response of the fragments to electromagnetic radiation. Other sensing options may include sensors that look at the response of fragments of a mined material to an acoustic wave or a magnetic field or optical sensors that evaluate texture or other surface characteristics of fragments.

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 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 block cave mining comprising excavating undercut tunnels (21) at an undercut level; drilling undercut blast holes (25) through the undercut tunnel roofs and setting and detonating explosive charges in those holes to blast rock above the undercut tunnels to initiate the formation of broken rock caverns (26) above the undercut tunnels (21); excavating extraction level tunnels (22) at an extraction level below the undercut level; drilling drawbell blast holes (33) upwardly from the extraction level tunnels at selected drawbell locations toward the broken rock caverns (26) and setting and detonating explosive charges in those holes to blast drawbells (32) through which broken rock falls down into the extraction level tunnels (22); and progressively removing such fallen rock from the drawbell locations through the extraction level tunnels (22); wherein some of the excavation is done mechanically by tunnel boring machinery.

Abstract: A method of sorting mined material for subsequent processing to recover valuable material, such as valuable metals, from the mined material is disclosed. The method includes a combination of selective breakage of mined material, for example, by using microwaves and/or high pressure grinding rolls, subsequent size separation, and then particle sorting of a coarse fraction of the separated material based on differential heating and thermal imaging.

Abstract: A material supply apparatus and process for co-injecting heated solid metalliferous material and solid carbonaceous material via a solids injection lance into a direct smelting vessel are disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a gravity gradiometer that comprises a detector for detecting a gravity gradient. The detector comprises at least one movable sensing element and that is arranged to generate a signal in response to a change in gravity gradient. The gravity gradiometer also comprises a support structure for supporting the detector in an aircraft and a component that is arranged to reduce transmission of an aircraft acceleration to the detector. The at least one movable sensing element and the support structure together are arranged to reduce an influence of the aircraft acceleration on the signal by a factor of at least 107 when the gravity gradiometer is airborne and exposed to the aircraft acceleration.

Abstract: A method of sorting mined material to separate the mined material into at least two categories is disclosed. The method comprises exposing particles of the mined material to microwave energy and heating the particles depending on the susceptibility of the material in the particles. The method also comprises thermally analyzing the particles using the temperatures of the particles as a basis for the analysis to indicate composition differences between particles and then sorting the particles on the basis of the results of the thermal analysis. The method also comprises compensating for temperature variations in the mined material that is supplied to the method.

Abstract: A material supply apparatus and process for co-injecting heated solid metalliferous material and solid carbonaceous material via a solids injection lance into a direct smelting vessel are disclosed.

Abstract: A surveying system 10 includes a data storage system 12 containing survey data defining a terrain model 14 of a region 16. A processor module 18 is configured to interrogate the data storage system 12 automatically to assess characteristics of the survey data to determine whether or not the survey data require updating and to provide instructions automatically to scanning equipment 26, 28 to scan the region 16 to provide updated survey data to the processor module 18 to enable the processor module 18 to update the terrain model 14.

Abstract: A system and method for the drilling of ground holes by a track steer drill rig including a drilling arrangement that permits the speed of drilling holes to be balanced against the stability of the hole thus formed.

Abstract: A method of sorting mined material to separate the mined material is disclosed. The method comprises exposing particles of the mined material to microwave energy and heating the particles depending on the susceptibility of the material in the particles. The method also comprises thermally analyzing the particles using the temperatures of the particles as a basis for the analysis to indicate composition differences between particles and sorting the particles on the basis of the results of the thermal analysis. The method also comprises controlling the temperature of particles as the particles are moved between a station at which particles are exposed to microwave energy and a station at which particles are thermally analyzed.

Abstract: A system 10 for controlling operation of a vehicle 12 in a defined area 14 includes a perimeter 16 defining a boundary of the defined area 14. A user interface 18 is provided for at least one of controlling and monitoring movement of the vehicle 12 as it traverses the area 14 and monitoring the location of the vehicle 12 relative to the perimeter 16. The system 10 further includes a controller 26 to which the vehicle 12 is responsive, the vehicle 12 having a plurality of modes of operation, one of which is an autonomous mode and another of which is an operator controlled mode. The controller 26 is operative, when the vehicle 12 is operating in the autonomous mode and the vehicle comes within a predetermined range of the perimeter, to inhibit the vehicle 12 from crossing the perimeter 16 and, when the vehicle 12 is operating in the operator controlled mode or is converted from autonomous mode to operator controlled mode, to permit the vehicle 12 to cross the perimeter 16 under control of the operator.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a gravity gradiometer for detecting a gravity gradient. The gravity gradiometer comprises at least two sensor masses that are pivotable about respective axes and each experience a change in torque in response to a change in gravity gradient whereby the at least two sensor masses move relative to each other in response to the change in gravity gradient and wherein a signal indicative of the gravity gradient is generated in response to the relative movement of the at least two sensor masses. Further, the gravity gradiometer comprises an acceleration sensor for sensing an acceleration associated with an external acceleration applied to the gravity gradiometer. The gravity gradiometer also comprises an actuator for generating an adjustment force that is dependent on an acceleration sensed by the acceleration sensor. The adjustment force is also dependent on a mechanical response parameter associated with at least one of the at least two sensor masses.