Topics

Narrow vein mining operations form a relatively small but important part of the global mining industry, principally focused on commodities such as gold, silver and tin. Many historical narrow vein mineral fields are now being reworked or redeveloped in Australia and beyond.

The skills and expertise required to manage these resources are arguably highly specialised and relatively rare at this time. The challenges of narrow vein deposits include: dealing with issues of complex geology; high to extreme nugget effects; ore/waste misclassification; high planned and additional dilution; the need for strong selectivity; high-stress conditions; low tonnes per vertical metre; and coarse gold and/or complex metallurgy. Today, there is an overarching need for lower costs, mechanisation and a zero harm environment.

The purpose of this Conference is to gather all involved in narrow vein mining, including geologists, mining/geotechnical engineers, and metallurgists. The future of narrow vein mining depends upon skilled professionals and on developing practical and innovative methods for orebody definition, mining and processing.

This event consists of two one-day seminars to be split between Brisbane and Perth. Each seminar will comprise 12 keynote-quality speakers, who are experts in their field. The intent of these sessions is to provide attendees with a complete overview of developments in the multi-faceted work of mineral property valuation and the preparation of technical reports for public domain distribution.

Project Evaluation 2012 is the third conference in a developing series of conferences that commenced in 2007 and was followed up with a conference in 2009. The broad objective of these conferences was to provide a professional forum for personnel responsible for undertaking evaluations of mineral properties and projects and also those who rely on them for financial decision making as investors or as developers.

As the demand for uranium and new sources of clean and greenhouse friendly energy increases, the next International Uranium Conference will continue to build upon The AusIMM’s hugely successful series that has been held over the past six years.

The AusIMM International Uranium Conference for 2012 returns to the Adelaide Convention Centre and will include a two day technical program, public forum, workshops, technical tours to South Australian sites and much more.

The Conference will give presenters the chance to exchange information on topics such as:
• Geology, Exploration and Reporting
• Processing Technologies
• Mining, Milling and Transport
• Production
• Supply and Demand
• Updates on International Projects
• Health, Safety and Environment Best Practice
• Approvals Process for Uranium-Related Activities
• Government Approvals, Policy and Community Relations
• Education, Training and Skills

Presenting leading practices in mined land rehabilitation, Life-of-Mine 2012 will cover the full spectrum of risks and opportunities for landscapes and sustainable end land uses arising from activities and impacts at exploration and pre-feasibility stages, mineral extraction and processing phases, and the post-operational closure era.

Attracting a broad range of mineral industry professionals, this newly developed conference seeks input from site-based environmental staff through to corporate HSEC, mining and processing engineers, planners, and geologists. Conference themes will include, but not be limited to:
• Integration of engineering & science to minimise impacts & closure risks
• Lessons learnt from the legacies of closed & abandoned mines
• Pre-requisites in mine design & rehabilitation planning for end use options
• Baseline knowledge & data at the pre-feasibility stage as benchmarks of change
• Biophysical factors that influence rehabilitation strategies & land use options
• Mine waste management & modification to maximise rehabilitation success
• Regulator & community perspectives and expectations for rehabilitation
• Assessment frameworks for measuring & monitoring rehabilitation performance
• Opportunities for positive environmental outcomes through innovation

The IGC was first held in 1878, and the Oceania region has only hosted the event once in its prestigious history. High level political and scientific support secured in Australia and New Zealand for the Congress will underpin this outstanding event.

Under the theme “Unearthing our Past and Future” the IGC will showcase the Oceania region’s geoscience strengths, innovations and natural wonders, through an exciting range of pre and post Congress field trips.

The Congress will be staged at the highly acclaimed Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, a world class venue that has hosted numerous large and very successful international meetings. Brisbane offers great August weather, value for money and proximity to geo-tourist features such as the Great Barrier Reef.

AUSTRALIA 2012 will include a GeoExpo, an education outreach program, and a support program to encourage young delegates to attend. The IGC will demonstrate the crucial role that geoscience plays in the quest for sustainable development and show how geoscience contributes directly to the future of its resource-based industries, land and water management and mitigation of geohazards.

Sampling 2012 is a sequel to the very successful Sampling 2010 and Sampling 2008 conferences held in Perth in 2010 and 2008. As for previous conferences, it is being organised to bring together geologists, engineers, metallurgists, grade controllers, samplers, chemists, consultants and managers involved in all aspects of sampling mineral commodities, including exploration, resource estimation, process control, quality control and export. Sampling 2012 will provide opportunities for networking, meeting respected international sampling experts, sharing ideas and catching up on the latest developments in sampling and sample preparation. The conference is being jointly organised by The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (The AusIMM) and CSIRO.

The theme of Sampling 2012 is ‘The critical role of sampling’. While substantial resources are devoted to utilisation of the best analytical methods and equipment, unfortunately there are still many instances where sampling and sample preparation continue to be neglected despite the fact that use of correct practices is critical to obtaining representative samples for analysis. As a direct consequence, mining companies stand to lose millions of dollars and fail to optimise utilisation of their mineral resources.

Advancements in new mining technologies and techniques may have had their origins in the ideas and observations of one person, but the development and implementation of those ideas into successful practice is the ongoing result of continuous scientific investigation, application and improvements by a culmination of people throughout history. These people are the New Leaders, who have led us from a ‘hunter and gather’ lifestyle of the Stone Age, through the Bronze and Iron Ages into the Nuclear Age. Their ability and insight to not only extract elements and energy from the Earth, but to then combine them by innovative methods, have allowed us the lifestyle and privileges that we have become accustomed to and enjoy today.

The minerals industry is a fast-paced, active community with a wide range of career prospects. As technologies and techniques advance to meet the ever increasing need for minerals, continuing professional development is the key to ensure an individual’s employability and the overall progression of the minerals industry. To address this need for professionalism and technological advancement, the AusIMM New Leaders’ Conference 2012 intends to focus on imparting professional and technical skills required by New Leaders’ to progress their careers within the minerals industry. The Conference Organising Committee invites all AusIMM members, together with friends and colleagues across all disciplines of the mining industry to participate in this exciting event. Presentations are welcome and should focus on any aspect of the topics listed under the Call for Papers. Presenters are welcome from any facet of the mining industry, from financial analysts and geoscientists through to mine developers and operators. The two day conference will include a special Industry networking lunch held on Day one, a New Leaders’ Meet and Greet, a delegate breakfast and a post conference tour.

The last Mill Operators’ Conference was held during the height of the Global Financial Crisis. The challenges of operating at that time challenged the entire economy but none the less the quality of the papers presented in Adelaide was not diminished by the turbulent times.

The challenge for Mill Operators in Australasia now is to meet the ever growing demand for our products in the markets of Asia. The events of 2008-09 illustrated that the markets are vulnerable. The boom appeared to have ended, but quite clearly that was not the case. The minerals industry in Australasia has been given an opportunity to grow and advance again. It must accept that opportunity and ensure that continued thinking and innovation by its people sees it well placed to maintain its position as a cost-effective supplier into the future. It is for that reason that regular forums such as The 11th AusIMM Mill Operators’ Conference are vital to the development of the profession generally. MOC2012 will provide a serious opportunity for practitioners to share their learnings, provide inspiration, and produce an ongoing reference for years to come.

International Mine Management 2012 is the second conference in a developing series of conferences on this theme that commenced in 2006. The broad objectives are to bring together mining professionals and to provide a forum for the discussion of the key management issues facing the industry today, and with sharing experiences and lessons learnt. The AusIMM will be working in conjunction with its international peers, such as the CIM, in order to develop and present a truly global perspective of the issues.

The present resources boom has served both to emphasise and to exacerbate the shortage of trained and broadly experienced managers in the mining industry. The mining industry has been notoriously volatile in its demand for both managers and technical specialists, and places heavy demands on those who choose a career in the industry, including the need to work in remote locations and a lack of employment security during periods of cyclic recession. Minerals industry managers working in remote locations assume diverse responsibilities unfamiliar to their urban management peers, and must be sensitive to the expectations of a broader range of stakeholders.