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Tag: Mount Isa Mines

George Fisher doubles down on raiseboring

Written by dev on . Posted in All News, Exploration, Processing / Manufacturing.

Contractors Pybar and RUC are carrying out two simultaneous raiseboring projects at Glencore's George Fisher mine to boost ventilation underground and sustain the southern blocks of its L72 operations.

The works will see the addition of a new fresh air intake and return air shaft, both stretching 750m from the surface to underground and each with a diameter of 5m.

Senior project engineer Robert Harrington said running two raiseboring contractors meant operation had access to more specialised equipment.

"This will save about 18-months on the project schedule and provides the best overall return on investment,” he said.

Prior. . .

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Stacks of Isa history in lead smelter milestone

Written by dev on . Posted in All News, Copper, Processing / Manufacturing.

Glencore has delved into the archives to celebrate Mount Isa Mines' history as it marks the 90-year anniversary of the commissioning of the lead smelter.

It is a mighty milestone for the mining city, with a skyline marked by the towering presence of the operation's current lead stack, standing at 270m.

When Mount Isa Mines was formed in 1924, with no processing plants in Queensland, ore was sent the enormous distance to either Port Pirie or Newcastle for processing.

For the company to be profitable, given the huge expense that came with handling, brokerage, freight and processing, the. . .

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Silica step enhances copper smelter yield

Written by dev on . Posted in All News, Copper, Processing / Manufacturing.

Glencore Mount Isa Mines has started using a technique known as silica banking within the copper smelter's Pierce-Smith Converters to improve its overall copper yield and reduce the amount of valuable copper lost to waste.

The idea to trial silica banking at the Mount Isa copper smelter came from one of Glencore’s overseas smelting operations.

“It was something the Altonorte copper smelter was already doing and with great success, so we were able to reach out to their metallurgical team and develop a plan for our smelter,” copper smelter plant metallurgist Michael Carkeet said.

“The initial silica. . .

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Apprentices help Glencore ‘future-proof’ its business

Written by dev on . Posted in All News.

Glencore is taking on 39 new apprentices at Mount Isa Mines and Ernest Henry Mining this year.

The Queensland Metals Apprenticeship Program offers a pathway for careers in trades including electrical, diesel fitting, boiler making, fitter/welder, auto-electrical, motor mechanic or radio technician disciplines.

Glencore Queensland Metals manager risk audit and training Greg Palm said the program was about future-proofing the business ensuring it had the right mix of qualified skills for the future.

“Our comprehensive four-year program covers all aspects of the apprentices' chosen field, and sees them rotated through different areas of our operation to. . .

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Milestone for Mount Isa’s Black Rock Cave project

Written by dev on . Posted in All News, Copper, Processing / Manufacturing.

The first production ore from the Black Rock Cave project at Mount Isa Mines has come online more than two years after the underground mine development began.

The ore body is expected to yield about 1.8 million tonnes of copper ore from 2020 to 2024.

General manager Mount Isa mining Simon Pope said ore from the Black Rock Cave project would be extracted from a series of sub-levels downward through the ore body in a highly efficient pattern, using loaders and trucks to transfer ore to the surface.

“Glencore’s Ernest Henry Mining, located outside of Cloncurry, successfully. . .

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New loaders in George Fisher automation drive

Written by dev on . Posted in All News, Processing / Manufacturing.

Six Sandvik LH517i's are being introduced at George Fisher Mine in Mount Isa as part of an automation project.

The Glencore-owned mine welcomed the first three new underground loaders in June, according to the company's Resourceful news bulletin.

The company says the transformative automation project is designed to improve safety, and increase efficiency and productivity.

Principal project engineer − automation, Nick Fryer, said all six Sandvik LH517i's would come online over the next eight months, replacing existing units as they reached their end of life.

"Three loaders have been introduced this year and a further. . .

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Glencore on the ball with concentrator upgrade

Written by dev on . Posted in All News, Copper, Processing / Manufacturing.

Glencore has brought a new ball mill online at the Mount Isa Mines copper concentrator in a move to improve flotation performance.

A third ball mill complete with a 3500 horse power-motor now sits between the SAG milling and flotation sections at the concentrator.

It will deliver finer ground ore to increase metal recovery and improve the quality of copper concentrate supplied to the Mount Isa copper smelter, Glencore says.

Installation was largely completed in June and the mill has been in operation since the start of July this year.

. . .

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MIM ponders copper smelter future

Written by dev on . Posted in Copper, Processing / Manufacturing.

Glencore is playing its cards close to its chest on the future of the copper smelter in Mount Isa.

A four-year extension was due for review this year. In the past, the owner has made a decision to continue smelting copper contingent on operating under legacy environmental standards.

Mount Isa City Council and the Australian Workers Union have called on Glencore to secure a future for workers.

Copper is mined at Mount Isa and Cloncurry, processed at Mount Isa and smelted into 99.7 per cent pure copper anodes.

The anodes are transported to CRL in. . .

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Lofty undertaking to give ore bin a new lease on life

Written by dev on . Posted in All News, Copper, Processing / Manufacturing.

When one of Mount Isa Mines' tallest structures needed a little TLC recently, it was a job for specialised rope technicians.

The copper crude ore bin at the Glencore site boasts a newly resheeted roof, anticipated to see out the life of the asset, after the 54-day project.

The 35m tall, 85m long structure acts as a storage facility for mined ore ready for processing.

The Mount Isa Mines copper crude ore bin with the. . .

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Bumper cohort joins mentoring program

Written by dev on . Posted in All News, Copper.

Glencore’s Mount Isa Mines recently launched the 2019 Girls for Mining Mentoring Program with a record 33 students matched with employees.

The mentoring program will help girls from the Good Shepherd Catholic College and Spinifex State College gain insights into professional working life from a mining and processing perspective.

The program is its fourth year, and for first time the mentor roles have been open to the entire workforce, regardless of gender.

“Mentees now have the opportunity to learn from both male and female mentors which broadens the range of occupations the girls can gain experience in,” North Queensland. . .

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