Preview

Mine Design and Feasibility

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
10711 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Mine Design and Feasibility
University of New South Wales

School of Mining Engineering

Prepared for

Dr Serkan Saydam

Mine 8150

Mine Design and Feasability

Major Assignment

Prepared by

David G Rolph

3309524

Thursday, 8 September 2011

[pic]

Summary

Huntley and Avondale Collieries are existing underground mines in the Illawarra coal fields of New South Wales. Both mines are on care and maintenance at present but with an improved financial outlook, the existing infrastructure and the location of the mines in relation existing coal mining infrastructure, an opportunity to reopen the mines is available. A financial model for the reopening of the mines based on provided economic conditions, historical operating costs and production rates has been generated to aid evaluation as well as a critique of the technical aspects of reopening the mines as provided in project evaluation document.

Contents

Summary ii

1. Contents iii

1.1. Table of figures vi

2. Introduction 1

3. Description of Huntley and avondale coal mines 2

3.1. Mining Process and Systems 3

3.2. Mining Operations 3

3.2.1. Bord and Pillar Mining 4

3.2.2. Development Mining 4

3.2.3. Pillar Extraction / 2nd Workings 5

3.2.4. Shortwall Mining 7

4. Coal Reserves 9

4.1. Huntley / Avondale Coal Reserves 10

5. Financial Model 12

5.1. Cash Flow 12

5.2. Costs 13

5.3. Revenue 14

5.4. Sensitivity Anaylisis 15

6. Technical Analysis of Redevelopment Proposal 18

6.1. Mining Method 18

6.2. Spatial Characteristics of the Deposit 19

6.3. Geologic and Hydrologic Conditions 20

6.4. Geotechnical Properties 21

6.5. Economic Considerations 22

6.6. Technical Factors 22

6.7. Environmental Concerns 22

6.7.1. Subsidence from Mining Activities 22

6.7.2. Atmospheric Control 22

6.7.3. Waste Disposal Areas 23

6.7.4. Workforce 23

6.8. Government



References: New South Wales Mineral Council, Illawarra Mining History, [online] Available from: < http://www.nswmin.com.au> [Accessed, September 2nd, 2011] AusIMM, 2009 Underground Coal Mining, Shortwall Mining Method, [online] Avaialble from: [Accessed August 20th, 2011] AusIMM, 2009

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    Lead mining of Phoenixville and Chester Counties began about 1808. In 1850, the first discovery of mining in the district started, and the discovery of ore was approximately along the Mine Run about one-half mile northwest of present Audubon village. Similarly, zinc utilized derived from a mixture located about the Perkiomen and Franklin Furnace in N.J. This mining activity in the district can be deduce that the alloy of zinc ore mining process lead to the modern discovery of copper and other essential minerals that constitute the Phoenixville…

    • 89 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    ECO 370 Benefits Cost

    • 612 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Prepare a 10- to 15-slide Microsoft® PowerPoint® presentation summarizing the costs and benefits of the proposed mine. Include the following elements:…

    • 612 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    I strongly disagree with the building of Polymet mining in Hoyt Lakes for the very large amount of pollution that is caused, the tremendously high cost of fixing a polluted mine, and a very, very bad track record. The Polymet mine will cause so much pollution such as the sulfuric acid drainage: sulfide + H20 + O2. If this is to be leaked into the rivers it can cause toxicity to marine life. The Polymet Mine my also cause pit walls, waste rocks piles, tailings basin, and even heavy metal contaminants which will cause a lot of damage to marine life and life on land. The second point is that Polymet has a very bad track record. The financial and environmental statistics are dismal. Pollution is not always predictable. One hundred…

    • 264 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    is a significant geological discovery and it 's description is the first account of volcanic material in the Sydney Basin…

    • 2183 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    New South Wales West locates one of the greatest archaeological sites in Australia’s history, that is, Lake Mungo.…

    • 1385 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Without the preservation of the caves they would be destroyed in no time and future generations will not be able to enjoy the natural phenomenon. The gold mines need to be properly managed because gold is a finite resource. Without the proper management the mines will shut down faster than expected because all the gold has been mined or because there is environment issues. The Gilt Edge and Homestake mine both closed because they were not properly…

    • 654 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Mining has been integral to Nevada’s history, from Native American use of its mineral wealth to fashion arrowheads, spear points, and tools to today’s modern industrial mining operations. Nevada’s silver deposits were the key to statehood; a driving force in the state’s economy in the mid-nineteenth century, they were a major reason for Nevada’s admission into the United States in…

    • 649 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    ‘During the 1850’s Australia had become so prosperous that its population demanded commodities and luxuries that her own industries could not yet provide.’ The gold rushes had caused an influx in migrations on a scale previously unheard of in world history; ‘Gold fever’ had taken its grip on the colonies of Victoria and New South Wales. Although there are continuous arguments among historians that the consequences of the gold rushes have been exaggerated, especially when studying the political effects of the Eureka Rebellion, it is still clear that through the intensity of mining a significant change occurred economically, urbanely and industrially, that has benefited Australia to this day.…

    • 1151 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Qmont Mining, headquartered in Vancouver, is a major metal producer with 17 remote locations across northern Canada. The distance between these locations range from 5000 to 300 km, crews and supplies are flown in by plane or helicopter. The largest expense for the mines was for air transport at $420K, $170 K of this was for crew flights.…

    • 305 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Beginning in 1941, Scanlan's reports of "excessive coal dust" in the Centralia No. 5 mine were sent to Robert Medill, the Director of the Department of Mines and Minerals, and handled as "routine" by Robert Weir, the Assistant to the Director. All three positions were appointed by the Governor, Dwight H. Green. Also in 1941, the U.S. Bureau of Mines began making inspections of mines. The first inspection of Centralia No. 5 was in September 1942. However, only the State of Illinois had any power to enforce compliance, and reports from the Bureau there¬fore had primary significance as further documentation in the hands of the Department of Mines and…

    • 1166 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    There was a massive demand of natural recourses from these developing countries hence encouraging export of minerals on large scale. This sudden boom in export contributed in development of Australian economy.…

    • 326 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Anderson, Maureen; Conroy, Jeffrey: Keese, Ian; Lowe, Anne, RETRO ACTIVE AUSTRALIAN HISTORY, Milton Queensland, John Wiley and Sons, 2000…

    • 3796 Words
    • 16 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    By 1901, Australia had grown as a population as gold had been discovered and migrants moved to Australia to mine this mineral, as well as political activism and women’s suffrage and everyone standing up and fighting off the British and raising the Southern Cross flag. With the gold discovered, people migrated from all over the word to come mine in Ballarat and Bathurst. These miners would receive large sums of money for the gold they would mine out.…

    • 601 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Since the beginning of the history, frequently the necessity to survive had been base in the interaction between different parties. Most of the time, each party is looking for something that could benefit them. For instance, I could have the ability to catch a fish easily, but I’ll need a canoe which my neighbored have, to go through the river to get the fish, and my neighbored need the fish to eat as well. There is where the exchange between products begins. The same happens in mining, where develop (rich) countries “helps” the developing (poor) ones to extract their minerals and raw materials to “increase the economy”. However, what does the wealthy countries gets from this? It is a true help or they like me, just need the canoe to catch the fish. The first world commerce system was the Silk Road, and it was substitute with the first worldwide commerce system, the silver. The Silver was the first mineral obtained in the Americas and send to the Old continent to commence. From there humans stated mining to get minerals, and gemstone, such as gold, diamonds, and silver, among others. Minerals are solid inorganic substances of natural occurrence. Mining is the process of obtaining coal or other minerals from a mine. What are the benefits of mining? What are the disadvantages of mining? One side doubt of the advantages that could bring mining for a country and the other side discussed that mining give essential benefit to the country and increase its economy. “To mine or not to mine? That’s the question” The discussion had been a big inquiry during the past centuries. It had cause controversy because of its pros and cons. But it is really worth it?…

    • 306 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    A small town located in Prosper, West Virginia is losing its major source employment. The mine has been open since 1901 and is closing due to lack of demand for coal and shutdown in manufacturing nationwide. The United Coal Company’s Mine No. 3 will close for an indefinite period and the mine will remain sealed until there is an increase in coal demand.…

    • 322 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays

Related Topics