While increasing the level of automation has been at the forefront of discussion, it seems nothing compares to old-fashioned reliability. Jessica Darnbrough writes.
Outotec has approached a team of CSIRO researchers, working through the Parker Centre for Integrated Hydrometallurgy Solutions, for an independent analysis of their patented new feedwell design.
The Australian minerals industry's R&D effort has received a major boost with the launch of CSIRO's Minerals Down Under National Research Flagship by the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator the Hon. Kim Carr.
CHARACTERISATION of heavy mineral sands deposits in the South Australian portion of the Eucla Basin shows that the region has the potential to be Australia’s next big mineral sands resource.
THOROUGH detective work by CSIRO researchers has helped identify the cause of unusual brick degradation in a Tasmanian zinc smelter.
In MINERAL processing operations, phenomena that strongly influence the overall outcome of the operation usually function over a very wide range of length scales.
RESEARCHERS using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) have identified a large recirculating vortex as the cause of performance variations in precipitation tanks being used at an alumina refinery.
It might be physically impossible to peer inside an industrial mixer-settler and see what is going on, but the Parker CRC for Integrated Hydrometallurgy Solutions has developed tools that effectively allow operators to do both.
CRUCIAL characterisation work on undeveloped bauxite deposits is unlocking opportunities in alumina production for the Australian industry.
A CSIRO-developed on-line reagent monitoring system which measures collector levels within flotation pulps could prove valuable for the mining industry.