Abstract: A method of dewatering a tailings lagoon retained by a dam comprising: excavating an excavation hole in the tailings lagoon; allowing water from surrounding tailings to enter the excavation hole; and pumping water in the excavation hole out of the excavation hole and discharging beyond a toe of the dam. Also disclosed is a method comprising: excavating a channel in a tailings lagoon from a shore of the tailings lagoon and floating a pontoon in water in the channel from the shore along the channel,wherein: excavating involves breaking down solid tailings in the tailings lagoon into a slurry using water and removing the slurry using a submersible slurry pump mounted on the pontoon.

Abstract: Fire extinguisher apparatus comprising at least one vessel containing a fire extinguishing medium and adapted to release said fire extinguishing medium when a fire or potential fire is identified characterised in that said fire extinguishing medium comprises an aqueous suspension of expanded vermiculite.

Abstract: A spray paint with fire resistant and/or fire retardant properties comprises an aqueous suspension of fine expanded vermiculite particles wherein the vermiculite particles are from a mixture of chemically exfoliated vermiculite preferably about 75 to 99% by weight and thermally exfoliated vermiculite preferably about 1% to 25% by weight. The spray paint preferably has a viscosity as measured on a Brookfield test machine, number 6 bob at 20 rpm of 5,500 to 10,000 cps.

Abstract: A steel including, in mass %: 0.005 to 0.015% carbon; 0.05 to 0.35% silicon, 7.45 to 8.4% nickel; 1.00%> or less manganese; 0.025%> or less sulphur; 0.030%> or less phosphorous; 24.0 to 26.0% chromium; 0.50 to 1.00% copper; 3.0 to 4.0% C molybdenum; 0.002 to 0.010% niobium; 0.75% or less cobalt; 0.015% or less aluminium; 0.20 to 0.30% nitrogen; 0.50 to 0.85%) tungsten; the balance being iron and incidental impurities.

Abstract: A spray paint with fire resistant and/or fire retardant properties comprises an aqueous suspension of fine expanded vermiculite particles wherein the vermiculite particles are from a mixture of chemically exfoliated vermiculite preferably about 75 to 99% by weight and thermally exfoliated vermiculite preferably about 1% to 25% by weight. The spray paint preferably has a viscosity as measured on a Brookfield test machine, number 6 bob at 20 rpm of 5,500 to 10,000 cps.

Abstract: Fire extinguisher apparatus comprising at least one vessel containing a fire extinguishing medium and adapted to release said fire extinguishing medium when a fire or potential fire is identified characterised in that said fire extinguishing medium comprises an aqueous suspension of expanded vermiculite.

Abstract: A method of mitigating against thermal contraction induced cracking during casting of a super Ni alloy, the method comprising: pouring liquid alloy into a mould such that liquid alloy is present in a feeder of said mould; and inducing an electrical current in alloy in said feeder to reduce a rate of cooling of alloy in said feeder.

Abstract: A method of mitigating against thermal contraction induced cracking during casting of a super Ni alloy, the method comprising: pouring liquid alloy into a mould such that liquid alloy is present in a feeder of said mould; and inducing an electrical current in alloy in said feeder to reduce a rate of cooling of alloy in said feeder.

Abstract: An ant-pressure surge device mounted in or on a closure member (1) of a check valve to eliminate overpressure and reduce shock waves in a pipeline when the check valve closes. The anti-pressure surge device comprises a fast acting flow relieving valve having a flow path sufficient in the open position to relieve the reverse flow on closure of the check valve closure member and is designed to open when the back pressure shock wave on the downstream side of the valve approaches a predetermined value. A suitable anti-pressure surge device comprises a poppet comprising a piston portion (7) and a sealing element (7A) moveable by the back pressure shock wave against resilient disk springs (10).