Completed Projects

Innovation in base metals electrowinning can lead to increased throughput in tankhouses, reduced operating costs and better product quality. This project is aimed at helping the industry to achieve these outcomes. The work program focuses on improving the performance of anodes of both current and new compositions, and the quality of cathodes produced. Commodities covered will be copper, nickel and zinc. Work will be undertaken at laboratory and pilot plant scale complete with in-plant studies. Specific areas for improvement will…

Large throughput iron ore oscillatory dewatering system Project Number: P1150AStatus: ActiveAmira Program Manager: Olga Verezub Overview: This project is an extension to its predecessor – AMIRA P1150 “Moisture measurement and control for iron ore conveyor systems” – which discovered the optimum oscillation motions to enhance moisture migration for a range of iron ore types; over 1% moisture reduction was achieved for deslimed ROM iron ore product exhibiting bottom moisture migration behaviours; and nearly 2% moisture reduction was achieved for non-deslimed…

Amira’s Project P1187 developed a 30 cm long magnetic radar receiver that significantly outperformed traditional electrical field dipoles which are 20 times their length. The magnetic sensors are designed for low frequency (< 40 MHz applications) for deep penetration in challenging radar environments. In a trial at a mineral deposit in Western Australia overlain by conductive aeolian sands, the new magnetic sensor was able to nearly double the penetration of deepest conventional GPR system, as confirmed by extensive drilling. Unlike…

There is a drive to speed up the turn-around time for sample analysis. The high number of samples submitted for analysis from exploration or everyday operations result in sample processing backlogs and delays in reporting. These delays can have a crucial impact on decision making whether it is operational decisions or exploration and project decisions. This project will explore dramatically improving the sample turn-around time by automating the acid addition to the ColdBlock Digestion Technology proven in the P1196 Project. …

Overview:Amira’s P1245 “Spectral Induced Polarization (SIP)” project will explore ways to promote wide-spread industry use of SIP, by devising and testing solutions to factors currently limiting its utility and application”. Solutions to those limitations will be devised and tested. Key deliverables from the two-year project include a knowledge “database” containing: Data and analytical results from the field programs: spectral signatures and character vs. chargeable source. This will incorporate information that exists from prior efforts in this field by the like…

Optimal Pushback Design Project Number: P1210Status: Open to sponsorsAmira Program Manager: Olga Verezub Overview: The aim of this project is to develop software that optimises designs for the operational constraints of connectivity, minimum bench width and appropriate angles between pushbacks. Current market solutions provide blocky designs that have no practical mining considerations, require significant human intervention and reduces potential of some oreblocks for inclusion into the life of mine design and schedule. The software incorporates features to minimise each of…