Document K9j5ebw0MyMm8eo9572oLGMQ

C 4238 3FFtc:.iL ;; THE A.B.A. STORY This is the story of Australian Blue Asbestos Pty. Ltd., the blue asbestos mine at Wittenoom in the north-west of Western Australia. This operation was a development in the growth of The Colonial Sugar Refining Company Limited, in the expansion of its bases from purely sugar interests, into the utilization of by-products from sugar milling, such as bagasse, for use as a building material, and the company's eventual interest in the mining of asbestos fibre for incorporation in exterior wail linings. The embarkation of the Company into mining typifies the pioneering spirit on which the Company was founded and with which it has always been associated. The information in this report has been collected by Mr. E.K. Penrose at the request of Mr. K.O. Brown. Much of the information has been supplied by the General Superintendent, Manager and heads of departments of Australian Blue Asbestos Pty. Ltd. 1st October, 1963. Australian Blue Asbestos Pty. Ltd. THE A.B.A. STORY Volume 1. CHAPTER: 1. Historical 2. Asbestos and its uses 3. Location, climate and seismology 4. Township of Wittenoom 5. Leases held by the company and others in the area 6. Geology 7. Description of mining operations 8. Treatment operation 9. Engineering department .10 Industrial and safety 11. Exploratory drilling 12. Markets 13. Company organisation Chapter 1 Historical A. Early prospecting 6. Development of the mine and town C. Why C.S.R. engaged in mining asbestos D. Addendum: Notes by Or. G. Oxer A. Earlv prospecting The occurrence of blue asoestos in the Hamersiey Ranges has been known for nearly 50 years. In the early days, the known exposures were the outcrops of flat seams situated in the faces of cliffs in deep gorges in the ranges, sometimes up to 200 feet above the creek bottom. Access was through stony, and in some cases comparatively heavily timbered creek beds. The inaccessibility of the deposits, combined with the hazardous track of over 200 miles to Roebourne, the nearest port, made their exploitation at current world market prices quite uneconomical. In later years, however, parcels of high grade fibre, marketed in London brought prices up to 75 sterling per ton. When this became known, together with the fact that large quantities of asbestos were available by stripping and hand dressing methods, a small scale rush to the area took place and an uncontrolled output of fibre by some 100 or more men commenced pouring into Roebourne. Local agents, who were paying 35 to 40 per ton advance on fibre, which was shipped to London and America,found that they could not cope with the supply and suddenly stopped buying. As the advances paid barely covered the cost of production and transport under the primitive conditions of working, this action was the cause of considerable distress among the miners. The majority of these men had no capital whatever and were con sequently dependent on advances for their immediate necessities, and numbers of them had not as yet marketed any of their product. The upshot was that all but a very few men were starved from their holdings and left the district. Speculators purchased outright the production of these men at prices varying from 20 to 25 per c 4241 o ton and a number oi producers, who had received advances on their fibre as mentioned above, received no final payments, although the value of the material was supposed to be irom 60 to 70 sterling per ton. The output over this period (1937-8) is recorded at the Mines Department, Perth, as not more than ISO to 200 tons. The asbestos rush thus ended rather dismally and most unprofitably for the would-be producers. In two ways, however, it was not without value. Firstly, it demonstrated the futility of uncontrolled production on a market that is not firm and, secondly, it brought into prominence the fact that high grade crocidolite was available m commercial quantities in Western Australia. Small parcels continued to be broken out by a few remain ing operators and at least two companies or syndicates were floated with a view to continuous production. However, these companies did not reach the production stage, and eventually disposed of their holdings to the Asbestos, .Molybdenum and Tungsten Company Limited, an English company, which was operating a chrysotile plant at Lionel, near Nullagine. After the acquisition of the cro cidolite leases, this company abandoned the chrysotile workings, removed the plant to Yampire Gorge in 1939, and concentrated on the production of the blue fibre. However, this company's interests were taken over by the de Benales Group, Australian Mines Management and Secretariat in 1943, in the name of Western Australian Blue Asbestos Fibres Limited. At the same time, The Colonial Sugar Refining Company Limited acquired the asbestos leases (and a primitive mill) held at that time by the Hancock Syndicate (Messrs. Lang Hancock, Wright and Warren) and formed Australian Blue Asbestos Limited to develop the deposits. Mr. Hancock became Superintendent of the operation from its inception to 1944. The company was incorporated on 17th April, 1943. At a later date the interests of the de Benales Group, including those of their subsidiary company, Lionel Chrysotile, which held leases at Yampire and Colonial Gorge, were acquired by Australian Blue Asbestos Limited by an exchange of shares. The main reason for C.S.R. 's interest in the asbestos deposits was as a raw material for an asbestos cement factory in Sydney, acquired about 1942 as part of the operations of its Building Materials Division. Although the venture had the full approval and support of the Federal and State Governments, progress in such an isolated area and at such a time was necessarily slow and because of the low yield of fibre and the high cost of mining, it was several years before the venture showed any promise of being a success, its isolation will be understood when it is realised that at chat time, the nearest aerodrome was 200 miies away; the nearest railhead 490 miles; the nearest port 210 miies; and by the shortest track, Perm was 1,000 miies away. By 1947, sufficient work had been done to make u clear that the operations had to be on a much larger scaie than previously anticipated if the venture were to be an economic success. Con sequently, a town was planned. During the next few years there were constructed 152 houses for married employees, accommodation for 100 single men, a hotel, a general store, a cinema, hospital, police station, State school, tennis courts, and several other sport ing facilities including a cricket ground and race track. Later, an aerodrome was built about a mile from the town. Labour was extremely scarce about the time the town was built and it became necessary to seiect about thirty miners in Holland and Italy and to fly them out to Wittenoom, their families following by boat. On the whole these people proved a success and settled in extremely well to the very different conditions from those existing in Europe, particularly from a climatic point of view. As the Federal Government's Immigration Scheme gathered momentum more Europeans were employed and except for a few private quarrels it is interesting to record that very little real difficulty was experienced, although there were at one time twentyone different nationalities employed on the leases. The language problem was overcome to a great extent by engaging several migrants on the office staff, some of whom could speak five or six languages. B. Development of the mine and town Development at Wittenoom commenced with the erection of a small mill in Wittenoom Gorge and by building a small settlement in the same Gorge, about one mile from the mill. C 4243 4. It was recognised that the mining technique wouid be unique in Australianroiningpracuce. The opinions of many mining men were sought in an endeavour to obtain knowledge and to select personnel best suited to a rather unusual problem - although the country rock was a very hard rock, such as is normally associated with metal liferous mining, the seams of ore were flat and low in height, which is rare in metalliferous mining. Such seams are common in coal mining but with coal mining practically all the development work is carried out in the soft coal. Finally, the services of Mr. J.D. Bowdler, then Mine Manager at Glen Davis shale mine in N.S.W., were secured on a consulting basis and the mining at Wittenoom was developed in accordance with his plan on a modified bord and pillar system, very similar to orthodox coal mining technique. Up to 1947, except for a small settlement of 13 houses built by the company in Wittenoom Gorge itself, all labour was accommodated in barracks and tents. The company was opening up in a quite isolated and unsettled area. It was found difficult to get either adequate or good labour at Wittenoom and development and general progress lagged sadly. For the industry to progress, it became obvious that proper living accommodation for men and their families and reasonable amenities and recreation facilities were essential. At the end of 1946, therefore, a reappraisal of the industry was made and the position discussed in detail with officers of the Commonwealth and Western Australian State Governments. The late Mr. J.B. Chifley, who was then Prime Minister of Australia, and Senators H.V. Johnson and W.P. Ashley were interviewed and they agreed to the desirability of continuing with the industry. Mr. F. Wise, then Premier of Western Australia, also discussed the position with the Commonwealth Government. As a result of these discussions, both Governments again expressed the view, which was communicated to the company through the Premier of Western Australia, that everything possible should be done to ensure the development of the blue asbestos industry at Wittenoom as Australia was entirely dependent on import for this important material. As proof of this support for the industry, the Governments agreed to join with A.B. A. Ltd. in the construction of a town at the mouth of Wittenoom Gorge, 7 miles from the mine to C 4244 accommodate 700 to 1,000 people. (As the Gorge is liable to severe :loodmg this was the nearest location tor a township of reasonable size). The Governments agreed to supply ail housing requirements, a school, post office, hospital, police station, to provide water supply for the town, and to bitumenise the seven miles of road connecting the mine and town, as their contribution to the development oi the industry, whilst A. B. A. Ltd. agreed to provide a hotel, general store, butchery, bakery, cafeteria, library, cafe and employees' amenities building and accommodation for 100 single men, as well as the ex penditure involved in developing the mine and mill. Both parties carried out their undertakings and the town is now completely estab lished. The agreement by the Governments to render this assistance was given after a close investigation of the prospects of the industry oy Government officers. At that time, at the end of 1946, the company advised the Government that a cost of production competitive with world prices could not be expected unless a minimum of 6, 000 tons per annum of fibre was produced, because of the heavy overheads involved in creating a complete town to service one industry. Because Australian costs have risen faster than worid costs since 1946 this minimum production is now estimated to be 15,000 tons per annum. {It was estimated in 1946 that at 6, 000 tons per annum to give a return on capital of 6%, the selling price would be about 50 per ton f.o.b. Fremantle based on then existing costs and conditions). The price of 50 per ton was assessed with reference to 4K Canadian fibre, which is the basic staple fibre for asbestos cement production and which cost 46 per short ton landed Sydney m 1946. Because No. 3 Grade South African blue fibre on the world market commanded a slight premium over Grade 4K, it was therefore considered tl at 50 per ton for Wittenoom fibre wouid be a reasonable price. . C. Why C. S. R engaged in mining asbestos From 1925 onwards C.S.R. had carried out extensive research and development work on wallboards, particularly fibre wallboards. In 1935 it commenced the erection of a pilot plant at Macknade sugar mill in North Queensland, to manufacture insulation C 4245 board and hardboard from sugar cane fibre. Later, in 1938, a large factory for the manufacture of cane fibre insulation board was built by C.S.R. a; Pyrmont, Sydney. An Australia-wide sales organisation was set up to sell the products of this factory. In 1940 it was considered that other types of wallboard should be added to the range manufactured to give a complete wallboard service to the building industry. Steps were taken to investigate also the use of gypsum and asbestos for the manufacture of wallboards. One result of this was the development of the gypsum deposits of N.S.W. in order to manufacture a plaster base wallboard, widely known and used in England and U.S.A., now known as ''Gyprock". Asbestos fibre was of interest to C.S.R. for two reasons. Firstly asbestos fibre had been incorporated in vegetable fibre in sulation board in many parts of the world in order to make flameproofed boards. Secondly C.S.R. wished to be able to offer distributors and the building trade a complete wallboard service, and needed asbestos cement sheeting to sell to provide an exterior as well as interior wallboard. Asbestos cement sheet was complementary to and not competitive with the other lining boards produced by C. S.R. Asbestos cement sheeting is used roainiy for exterior walls of timber frame houses whereas insulating board, gypsum wallboard and hardboard are used for internal linings in timber framed houses. When the asbestos fibre position was investigated, it was found that almost all asbestos fibre was imported into Australia, the annual value at that time being some 400, 000. (The annual value today is more than 2, 000, 000. Of this, asbestos to a value of more than 1^ million is from dollar sources). This supply position appeared so uncertain and Australia so dependent on overseas sources for such an impo.-tant raw material that C.S.R. set about investigating the possibility of obtaining asbestos on a large scale in Australia. Such investigations led to the realisation that the only deposits in Australia worth developing on a large scale were the blue fibre deposits in the Hamersley Ranges, Western Australia. Discussions took place with Mr. Telfer, the Under secretary of the Mines Department of Western Australia, with. Mr. A.W. Panton, Minister for Mines, Western Australia, with officers of the Commonwealth Department of Supply and with the Minister for the Interior of the Commonwealth Government and with the Premier of Western Australia, Mr. Willcock. After close inspection of the asbestos deposits in the Hamersley Ranges, it was decided by C.S.R. that if the Commonwealth Government concurred in the opinion that it was important to Australia to develop the deposits, the company should do this. The Minister for the Interior, Mr. H.V. Johnson, strongly supported the establishment of the mine and on 22nd December, 1942, C.S.R. was advised by the Director-General of the Department of War Organisation of Industry as follows: "Following your call on 3rd December on Mr. A.E. Mander, Controller of New Manufacture in this Department, enquiries have been made amongst all the Commonwealth Departments con cerned; and I am now able to place on record the fact that there is complete agreement as to the importance and urgency attached to your projects for the production of Asbestos Fibre in Tasmania and in Western Australia. A copy of this letter is being sent to the Capital Issues Committee; and every effort will be made by this Department to facilitate the estab lishment of the industry. It will be appreciated if, should any difficulties arise, you will communicate with this Department so that any possible assistance may be given in overcoming them. It will be appreciated also if you will keep this Department informed of developments, and particularly if you would be good enough to indicate, as soon as you are able to do so, when it may be hoped that production of fibre will commence. Yours faithfully, (Sgd.) G. T. Chippindall. DIRECTOR-GENERAL C.S.R. was subsequently advised on 13th April, 1943 by Mr. A. E. Mander. Controller of New Manufacture, that orders for its asbestos plant were to be allotted the highest possible priority. As a result, it was decided to proceed with the venture. A company to develop the deposits, Australian Blue Asbestos Limited, C 4247 3. was incorporated on 17th April, 1943, Some asbestos ieases in Wittenoom Gorge, on which some prospecting work had been done, also a sraail pilot mill in Wittenoom Gorge, were taken over by this company from L. G. Hancock Asbestos Co. Ltd. D. Addendum. Dr. Oxer, in addition to his exploring activities, has also made some research into some of the early history of the area related to asbestos mining and his notes are recorded verbatim as follows Notes on the origin of Wittenoom -(1963) bv Dr. G. Oxer George Park, living in retirement at Mulga Downs Station says he founded Juna Downs Station in 1924. Says he found blue asbestos (without knowing what it was) in 1924 in Yampire Gorge, through which runs the track to Juna Downs. The first lease in Yampire Gorge was pegged by Leo Snell working (about 1930) in association with Lang Hancock. This was initially worked for him by Andy and Bob Peacock. Later Snell investigated Dale's Gorge, and with a native named Weano (who had initially led him to the deposits in Yampire Gorge) found a way into the top of the Gorge. Dale's Gorge was named after a well-sinker employed on Mulga Downs Station and after him are called Dale's Welland Dale's Paddock. Later, other men worked for and independently of Snell in both gorges. One was Alec McBeith Cooper now about 75, still living in Wittenoom. Says he was working Dale's Gorge about 1930. The fibre was knapped by hand, raised to the plateau by tlying fox, and carted by horse dray the 240 odd miles to Point Samson. The fibre returned about 2.15.0. per bag. Asbestos was first worked in Wittenoom Gorge by one. Bill McCarty on behalf of Lang Hancock. This was on the southern face of Western (or Colonial) Gorge, the lease on the opposite face at present the A.B.A. mine - having been taken out in the name of Miss K. L. Hancock, Lang's sister. Ultimately, Mr. Snell disposed of his leases in Yampire and Dale's Gorges to the Asbestos Molybdenum and Tungsten Company of London, for whom Mr. Islwyn Walters was Manager. "Issy" Walters was later associated with Mr. Hancock in the Wittenoom Gorge workings, and his house (the present market gardens house) was the first built in Wittenoom Gorge. The Asbestos, Molybdenum and Tungsten Company subsequently went in partnership with the de Benales Group, the combined interests forming a new Company, - The West Australian Blue Asbestos Fibre Company. C 4248 9. Later this went into production under a Manager from the Comet Gold Mine at Marble Bar, Mr. Stuart Stubbs, another de Benaies Company. The Group was however unable to obtain enough capital to work- the asbestos effectively and the venture folded up. It was then that The Colonial Sugar Refining Company Limited bought up the machinery and leases. About 1949 all readily available ore still remaining in Yampire Gorge was transferred to Wittenoom Gorge for milling. * In 19^8 a start was made on a brand new town, just outside the mouth of the Gorge. Prior to that the only building in the locality had been a hangar belonging to Mr. Hancock. From Dave Watkins. (A Dogger). About a year ago. (a year and two days, to be precise) I had the following from Mr. Watkins. The first party to work at Yampire Gorge came with Roy Thomas from Roeboume in an old Dodge car. They joined Leo Snell and the native Weano, Andy Peacock and his brother and later Dick Richards and Eric Walker, then Keith Fitzgerald: one returned to Ballarat, the other worked for Lang Hancock. A Syndicate run by H. Marshall (Road Board Secretary, Roebourne) and Bill Baizely, a policeman. They had about twelve shows, including leases around the Fig Tree well. This Syndicate had about 50 men working at one time. It was Weano who showed Leo Snell the fibre m Yampire Gorge and was thus the one who started off the fibre activities in these ranges. He was a very big man: a magnificent specimen of a native. Had a gin, Laura. Alec Cooper was at the Fig Tree - never at the top end. Lang Hancock had men working for him at the Fig Tree, but was never associated with Snell, or "Issy" Walters in the de Benaies Group at Yampire Gorge, but was associated with Walters at Western Gorge. He had good leases, but was taken down by some of his men and their moving to Western Gorge (1937 or early 1938). Billy Hewett, Ian Dignam (later Manager at Nunyerry, and more recently garage proprietor at Wittenoom, and now in Esperance) and himself (Dave Watkins) were the first men working in Western Gorge for Lang Hancock. Roy Thomas had left to go shearing. Dave stayed there until Lang Hancock sold out to C.S.R. in 1943. There were lots and lots of other small shows - perhaps even one-man shows - in Yampire Gorge, but only the three above were shows of any size. A large number of young men enlisted from Yampire and many were killed at Singapore. Dave Watkins and Roy Thomas were the first ones to work fibre in Dale's Gorge, in 193S, working for Leo Snell. This lease was at the junction of the North Arm (where the deep pool and the waterfall are) and the Western Arm. They piled up a lot of fibre which, a few months after starting C 4249 10. '.here, was washed away in the next flood, they not knowing how to get it to the surface. (Note: there was a flying fox later, traces o: which are still there). In the early days at Yampire Gorge one, Crocker, was hanged in the Fig Tree, but wouldn't die. He, with his horses, had been drinking up all the water m the well. Another time there was one, Markovich, was shot at with a 303 for stealing fibre but he wasn't hit. He was iater lost when the "Betty" was iost with all hands, through a faulty engine, on a trip to the Abrolhos. Stuart Stubbs, Foreman Engineer, Manager of the Coment Mine for de Benales, was in charge of the de Benaies' interests in Yampire Gorge. Later, on 6th July, 1962, I again saw Dave Watkins, and asked about an inconsistency m his evidence. Lang Hancock had told me that Bill McCarty was the first man to work for him in Wittenoom Gorge. Dave confirmed this, saying that he never met Mr. McCarty, he having already left when Dave and Ian Dignam started there about a month after the commencement of operations in Western Gorge. One month after these two started, Bill Hewitt commenced work there also. Lang Hancock has confirmed to me that Dave Watkins and Roy Thomas, (Lang called him "Ron") were the first to work in Dale's Gorge, Lang was sent there by Snell. This pair were followed by one, Reid, and a party of four or five others, who started a little north of Snell's leases. (Dave Watkins had told me that a pair named Frank Reid and Dick Richards were working in Dale's Gorge for some time (in 1937). Lang Hancock states that the Peacock Bros, were defin itely the first to break fibre in Yampire Gorge. He and Snell had discussed the possibility of working the fibre. He lent Snell hcrses to go to Yampire, whilst he himself, chose Wittenoom. Snell sent the Peacocks to Yampire to start work for him. He said the next person to own a lease in Yampire was Eric Walker (mentioned above by Dave Watkins), or after that "quite an influx of people, of whom Cooper was one". Lang mentions Jim and Tony Tsakaios as having worked for him; and Dave Walters mentions Marko Tsakaios as having worked in Yampire and also being shot at. Lang mentions Hooley and Slee whom (in 1909) he thinks were the first to develop Nunyerry white asbestos. This, then, is the origin of the name of Hooley Station, and now Gorge. 17th June. 1963 - Dr. Gordon Oxer. Chaoter 2 Asbestos and its uses A. The asbestos minerals 6. Uses of asbestos C. Grades of fibre D. Properties of crocidoiite fibre E. Procedures for testing blue asbestos F. World production of asbestos fibre G. Principal world producers A. .The asbestos minerals The term 'asbestos'' is a commercial rather than a mineralogicai one and embraces the fibrous varieties of several minerals of the. serpentine and the amphibole group, which are characterized by highly developed prismatic cleavage allowing them to be readily separated into fibres or filaments. ASBESTOS MINERALS Mineral Croup Serpenone Mineral Chrysooie Crocidoiite Amonte AntbopfayUice TrcaoUte Actinelite Chemical formula 3M90.2Si02.2H20 2NaFe(S10J> FeSiOj (Mgfe) O.SiOj (Mgfe) O.SiOj CaO. 3MgO.4Si0j CoO. 3<M9fe)O.4Si0j Competition Hydrated magnesium silicate Sodium-iien silicate Magnesium*iron silicate Magnesium-iron silicate Calcium-magnesium silicate Calcium-magnesium.iron silicate The asbestos minerals are commonly found in narrow veins . At Wittenoom they occur as "cross-fibre" - the fibres are arranged at right angles to the vein walls; the fibre length is there by limited to the vein width and is often less, due to a break or parting, in the vein. The commercial suitability of these minerals depends almost entirely on the length, tensile strength and flexibility of the fibres, although colour, impurities and the degree of resistance to electricity, heat or acids are sometimes important. The fibrous minerals have a fairly wide distribution, but deposits containing fibre C 4251 1 > suitable for use m industry are comparatively rare. Chrysotile is the most important of the asbestos minerals and is generally referred to commercially as "white" asbestos. It usually occurs in veins, ranging from a fraction of an inch to several inches in width, in serpentine - an alteration product of basic igneous rocks, such as gabbro and peridotite or of sedimentary rocks rich in magnesium, such as dolomite. Crocidolite and Amosite are the most important of the amphibole asbestos minerals. Both are commonly found as interbedded cross-fibre veins in ferruginous slate or quartzite, associated with dolomite. Crocidolite is commercially the more important of the two, and is commonly known as "blue'' asbestos from the blue colour, which is retained in the separate fibres. The fibres are, as a rule, of good length and flexibility, and the tensile strength is at least comparable with that of chrysotile. Amosite is usually ash-grey in colour but the fibres are white on separation, pliable and often exceptionally long, though rather coarse in texture. The unique variety of properties possessed by asbestos combine to make it an essential raw material in certain branches of industry. Asbestos withstands fire and insulates against electricity, heat and sound; it is light in weight and can be made into pliable fabrics and resists corrosion by soil and the attack of vermin. The degree to which these properties are developed varies considerably with the various types of asbestos and also according to the grade, so that each type and grade has specific applications in industry. B. Uses of asbestos CHRYSOTILE has by far the widest range of uses and constitutes about 90 per cent, of the asbestos consumed. Much of the long-fibre chrysotile'is spun into yarn from which fabrics such as cloth and tape are woven for use in the manufacture of electrical insulation, brake linings, gaskets, theatre curtains, insulating mats, fire-proof suits, aprons and gloves. Yarn is also manufactur ed into asbestos thread and rope. Portion of the longer fibre is used in the manufacture of wick and rope packings, fillings for mattresses and for magnesia block insulation, which contains 85 per cent C 4252 13. magnesia and 15 per cent asbestos. Medium-length fibre is extensively used as a binding ana reinforcing agent in cement products, in plasters and in asphaltic and moulded articles. The major consumption of chrysotile is m the asbestos-cement industry, in the manufacture of wailboards, shingles, tiles and other asbestos products for building, and in piping and conduit. Asbestos-cement pipes are extensively used for gas and water mains on account of their superior resistance to corrosion. Medium-length fibre is also processed with rubber to make sheet packings, jointing and some brake linings. Similar length fibres are used in the manufacture of boiler lagging and pipe coverings. Shorter fibres are utilized in the manufacture of asbestos paper which is used in the production of boiler and pipe coverings, insulating switchboard materials, etc. The development of moulded brake lining and clutch facing made from heavy paper of the millboard variety has created additional demands for the shorter fibres. Waste, "shorts" and plaster grades are used in the manu facture of asbestos lagging which is widely used for boiler insulation, as a filler in paints and greases and in other compositions such as cold-moulded synthetic resin products and types of flooring material. Floor tiles are now the largest tonnage user of short asbestos. CROCIDOLITE also has a wide range of uses, but it is not as extensively used as chrysotile, due iargely to its colour and slightly inferior spinning qualities. On the other hand, it is superior to chrysotile in its resistance to acids, alkalies and sea-water and, therefore, has its own specific uses such as in flexible boiler and steam pipe coverings for mercantile use, in acid resistant packings and in specialized military equipment. The use of crocidolite in asbestos-cement products is increasing, one important feature being the "harshness" of the fibre, which is referred to later. South African crocidolite has found a wide application and has been used in the manufacture of asbestos cloth, rope and yarn; in packings and millboard; and in asbestos products for building. AMOSITE fibre is inferior in strength and flexibility to chrysotile and crocidolite but commonly occurs in very long fibres. It has a restricted use in industry, mainly in the manufacture of special types of lightweight insulation and in asbestos-cement pro ducts in which it is blended with chrysotile. However, the producers C 4253 14. of amosite in South Africa, which is the only known source of the mineral, have demonstrated that amosite can be used satisfactorily in the manufacture of a wide range of other asbestos products. Main uses. are:- Although asbestos is put to many uses, the main outlets (i) (ii) (iii) Asbestos cement products Floor tiles Brake linings At least 50 per cent of the world production of asbestos is used in asbestos cement products. Of the total world production of asbestos cement products of all types about half is used in the manu facture of asbestos cement pressure pipes. It is in the making of pressure pipes that blue asbestos fibre finds its main use but there is no technical restriction on its use in flat sheets, corrugates and other asbestos cement products. Being a harsh fibre it assists drainage of water from the product in its wet state. In making pipes, better drainage resulting in greater pressures on the pipe walls and higher speeds improves the quality and the economics of the finished product, and enables it to compete very favourably with iron and steel pipes for water supply and sewerage installation. To the best of our knowledge, with very few exceptions manufacturers of asbestos cement pressure pipes, except possibly in Russia and China, use a percentage of blue fibre in the asbestos mixture. Although the users claim that satisfactory pipes can be made without blue fibre, they all admit that by using a percentage of blue, smoother operation and a higher yield of product is achieved, thus producing a more economical result. One comparatively new use for blue fibre is that of sprayed asbestos for fire protection of steel structures. This application has extended to sprayed ceilings and walls for insulating and acoustical effect. All of these applications are growing steadily and should in a few years account for quite an appreciable amount of extra fibre usage. C 4254 J 15. C. Grades of fibre Commercially, asbestos is divided into "crude'1 asbestos and "milled" asbestos. As defined by the Quebec Asbestos Mining Association, "crude" asbestos consists of hand selected material essentially in its native state or unfibreised form and "milled" asbestos consists of all grades produced by mechanical treatment of asbestos ore. Almost all asbestos imported into Australia and almost all asbestos used in Australia is "milled" asbestos. Asbestos is graded basically according to fibre length, the highest grades generally consisting of long fibred material. To a large extent, each country has its own system of grading but the Canadian system is recognized all over the world, and forms a firm basis for comparing white fibres. In the Canadian system, the longest white fibre is called Grade 1 and the shorter fibres are numbered up to Grade 7. the latter consisting of very short fibres less than 1/16" long. Each numerical group is further subdivided according to length and distin guished alphabetically, e.g. Grade 4K is longer than Grade 4M. A full description of the Canadian system, together with the classification of Canadian fibres and those from other countries is given on page 39 of the Tariff Report M 3 (1954). Briefly, how ever, the method is simply to take 16 oz. of asbestos and screen u through three screens consisting respectively of mesh sizes V' open ing, four meshes to the inch and ten meshes to the inch. The amount left in each screen and that in the final tray under the last screen is weighed and expressed, as for example: - 7 - 7 -1.5 -0.5, meaning 7 oz. in top screen, 7 oz. in the mesh screen, 1.5 oz. in the 10 mesh screen and 0. 5 oz. in the tray. Various common grades of asbestos are:- Canadian Chrvsotile (White Asbestos) Canadian Screen Test AoDroximate Average Length 3K 4-7 -4- 1 2 3T 1 - 9 - 4 - 2 3/8" 4K 0-4 -9-3 4t " N o o 5K 1,8" Crocidoiite Australian: - Blue - No. 3 grade Amosite (South Africa) Grade DCA/D Grade AW Grade K3 Fibres up to 5/8" long. Canadian screen test as received from mine. (Equivalent to 3T Canadian) Fibres up to 5/8" long. Equivalent to Canadian 3K by screen test as received from mine. D. Properties of crocidoiite of fibre The principal properties of blue asbestos are:(i) Very high tensile strength (ii) Resistance to chemical attack (iii) Its insulating value. The tensile strength of blue asbestos fibre is about equai to carbon steel and glass fibre and at least twice as strong as cotton fibre. Comparative specification of the three main asbestos minerals are as follows:* Tensile Strength lbs, per sq. inch Chrysotile Amosite Crocidoiite 80/100, 000 16/90,000 100/300, 000 Fusion Point F 2,700 2, 550 2,180 Specific Gravity S. G. 2.4 3. 1 3.2 It should be noted, however, that for most purposes, asbestos fibre is fluffed out or "willowed" before use. For the manu facture of asbestos cement it is the properties of the "fluffed out" condition and not the specific gravity that is important. 17. E. Procedures for testing blue asbestos The principal tests are:(i) Bauer-McNett Classification The four tanks of the classifier are fitted with the following screens: 4 mesh in the first tank, followed by 14 mesh, 28 mesh and 200 mesh. Filtered water is passed through the tanks at the rate of 3 U.S. gallons per minute, from constant head supply. The sample to be tested is dried in an oven, and 10 gm. 0.01 gm. is weighed and added to about 300 mis. of water. The beaters in the tanks are started and the slurry of asbestos is added to No. 1 tank. During the test an 1/8" brass rod covered with 1/4" O.D. rubber tube is drawn rapidly across the face of each screen about once each minute to free any fibre adhering to the screens. Towards the end of the test period the dead spaces behind the screens are agitated with a fine jet of water to wash any settled rock of fibre into the next tank. At the end of 15 minutes the water flow is shut off and 1.00 gm. - 0.01 gm. of diatomaceous filter aid is added to the first tank. After a few seconds stirring the beaters are stopped, the discharge bungs removed and the contents of each tank filtered through a pre-weighed filter paper in the filter cup. During filtering the screens are removed and any fibre adhering to them washed into the tank. After the completion of filtering, the filter papers are removed, dried and weighed, and each fraction is expressed as a percentage of the original sample weight. 1.00 gms. is subtracted from the weight of the +4 mesh fraction to allow for the filter aid used. Any rock caught on the 4 mesh screen is weighed separately and recorded as +4 mesh rock. Each sample is tested in duplicate. (ii) Buoyancy Test 4.00 gms. - 0.01 gm. of asbestos is weighed and trans ferred to a 1000 ml. stoppered measuring cylinder. 1000 ml. of water is added to the cylinder and it is oscillated 20 complete times in one minute. The asbestos is then allowed to settle undisturbed for one hour and the volume of the column of asbestos measured. The buoyancy is expressed in mis. per gm. (iii) Dyckerhoff Air Permeability Tester James Hardie & Co. Pty. Ltd. now have in operation their Dyckerhoff Tester and have found that as supplied, the times recorded for grade 3F blue asbestos have been about 7 seconds. It may be necessary to modify the sample cell of this equipment to give more accurate readings with blue asbestos. F. World production of asbestos fibre Total world production of the main types of asbestos. as quoted by Bureau of Mines, U.S. A., Materials Survey at I960 was approximately as follows: World production tbort tons p. a. Chrvtntil* Whitt 2,258,000 Cmeidnliw Biua 93,000 AfflMlU Total 69,000 2,420,000 Total ccaawnptlan ia AmoeUa at praam u:* thort tear p. a. 33,000 6,000 7,000 47,000 The following figures show growth of total production of asbestos and the growth of production of crocidolite asbestos. Yar 193S 36 37 38 39 1940 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 19S0 St 52 S3 S4 ss 56 S7 S3 S9 I960 Total 403.000 552,000 673,000 496,000 605,000 627,000 744,000 720,000 700,000 660,000 690,000 790,000 960,000 1,100,000 985,000 1,300,000 1,S7S, 000 1,S50,000 i; 565,000 1,670,000 1,93S,000 1,990,000 2,030,000 2.0SO.OOO 2,260,000 2,420,000 ProAicQcn Short Tons Chrywtlla Slue 395,900 $42,900 661,300 478,400 S83.600 600,300 717,400 687,500 666,700 627,100 663,300 771,100 930,100 1,057,900 920,700 1,226,200 1,484,300 1,436,600 1,483,400 1,575,000 1,329,900 1,368,100 1,947,300 1,386,100 2,089,100 2,258.200 2,500 4.300 5,200 8,800 10,100 3,900 7.400 7,600 10,300 9,900 10,000 9,100 10,100 11,800 22,300 31,800 36,500 49,300 43,300 49,000 54,800 71,800 7S.700 93,800 99,000 93,200 Sources - Materials Survey Asbestos 1960 National Security Resources Board Bureau of Mines, U.S.A. Asonu 4,000 4,800 6,500 3,800 11,300 17,300 19,200 24,900 23,000 23,000 16,700 9,800 t9,800 30,300 42,000 42,000 $4,200 64,100 38,300 46,000 50,300 50,100 S7.000 70,100 71,900 68.600 C 4253 19. NOTC^ Abetee Tonnaa. World wide. a too of asbestos fibre is takes as 2,000 lbs. Ch^soaie_ (white) is produeed mainly is Canada but also on a large scale is. Russia and South Alnca. Small deposits exist is Australia and two small deposits bave bees mined, one is New South Woles by a subsidiary of James Hardia 6 Co. Pty. Ltd. Production from each of these mines is quite small. No large deposits of chrytoQle asbestos are known to exist in Australia. Crocldolift (blue! asbestos Is mined mainly in South Africa. Bolivia and Australia. The Australian deposits of blue asbestos are considerable in extent and of vary high quality but are (airly low grade. (In the Repost by the United States Tariff Comniwloo dated December, 1951, blue asbestoe (Australian) is referred to as being of strategic grade - that is asbestos that is suitable far stockpiling for war and defence purposes). Amoots asbestos is mined in the Union of South Africa only. G. Principal worid producers CANADA Canadian Johns-Manviile Ltd., Asbestos, Quebec Province. Type of Asbestos Mined Chrysotile Asbestos Corporation Ltd., Thetford, Quebec Province. Johnston's Asbestos Company, Thetford, Quebec Province. Cassiar Asbestos Corporation Ltd., Cassiar, British Columbia. American Smelting t Refining Corporation, (Black Lake). SOUTH AFRICA African Associated Mines (Private) Ltd., Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia. (Turner & Newall) Chrysotile Cape Asbestos Co., Johannesburg, South Africa and 114 Park Street, London,W.l. Amosite&. Blue Federale Mynbou Mining Company, 5 Fenchurch Street, London, E.C.3. Blue Rhodesian Asbestos Limited Chrysotile Kuruman Cape Blue Blue Northern Blue Asbestos Mines Consolidated Blue Asbestos Corporation, John Beith. Blue Blue 20. U.S. A. Jefferson Lake Asbestos Corporation The Ruberoid Co., Loweil, Vermont. Chrysotile CORSICA Societe de Mimere de I'Amiante, Bastia, Corsica. Chrysotile AUSTRALIA Asbestos Mines Ltd., Baryulgil, N. S. W. Australian Blue Asbestos Pty. Ltd., Wittenoom Gorge, W.A. Chrysotile Blue 4259 O F A S B E S T O S P R O D U C T IO N . c 4260 i/<ie.  C 4261 Chapter 3 Location, Climate and Seismology A. Location B. Climate C. Seismology A. Location Australian Blue Asbestos Pty. Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of The Colonial Sugar Refining Company Limited operates a blue asbestos mine at Wittenoom in north-west Western Australia. The mine and town are located 700 miles, in a line about north-north-east of Perth; 130 miles south-east of Roebourne and its port, Point Samson; 120 miles south-west of Marble Bar ("the hottest place in Australia") and 300 miles north of Meekatharra, the sheep and cattle rail head and the terminal of the line from Perth which serves the pastoral country and the mining towns of the Murchison Goldfield. It is a remote locality. The distance by road from Perth is close to 1,000 miles and it is about 200 miles by road from Point Samson, shipping port for the asbestos. The blue asbestos mineral, crocidolite, occurs in the banded ironstone sediments of the Hamersley Ranges in beds of the so-called Nullagine Series rocks, which form a belt 180 miles long and 20 to 30 miles wide, trending east-south-east from Mill Stream Station, approximately 45 miles south of Roebourne, to the Opthalmia Ranges. These ranges rise abruptly from the barren coastal tableland, which stands at 1, 411 feet above sea level at Wittenoom. The ranges are generally up to 3, 000 ft. above sea level; with one exception, Mt. Bruce, 25 miles from Wittenoom, which is the highest point in Western Australia, at 4, 024 feet. The centre of mining operations is 7 miles from the mouth of Wittenoom Gorge in the Hamersley Ranges and is in latitude 2215'S and longitude 118O20'E. It is a generally rough and tedious journey by road from Perth, but there are good air services in and out of Wittenoom almost It may be said that the hot season extends from early October to the end of April, in which period the conditions are very hot and dry, with warm but tolerable nights. From the end of April to the end of September the days are clear and miid with cool mornings and evenings and very cold nights. (i) Rainfall. The average annual rainfall for the past eleven years is 15 inches, of which more than half falls in the period January to March. The average number of wet days per year is 34. Over a longer term the average rainfall wouid most certainly be nearer 10 inches or less. For the past six years the average relative humidity index is 35 per cent, ranging from 24 to 42 per cent. (ii) Temperature. Generally the air is very dry. When temperatures of 100 and more are experienced, conditions are not enervating, even if trying. The recorded annual average temperatures for the past six years are:- Maximum Minimum Mean 91.2 67.3' 79. 3' It is not unusual to experience sixty or more successive days over 100F in the summer. (iii) Winds. Summer winds blow cycionically from the west in the morning, veering to the west at night. The winter winds generally blow from the south-east in the mornings and drift around to evening southerlies. Dust storms when they occur, are generally from the south-east to south. Wittenoom is in the track of the cyclones which inflict the north-west coast and the January to March rainfall figures confirm that if Wittenoom is not directly on the course each year, then it certainly receives the fringe effects of these cyclones. In the rare year it gets right in the path of a cyclone, and severe rain and flooding is experienced, when more than the average rainfall 24 4263 C 4264 25. can be experienced in one day, with resultant flooding oi the gorges in the area from the extensive catchment areas behind the ranges. it could be said that for half the year the heat is very trying and for the other half the climate is very pleasant but the climate in general is not a vital factor affecting the operations at the mine. C. Seismology It appears that an inter-continent, north to soutn fault line passes through the north-west of Western Australia and movements on this fauit have been recorded as far back as 1907 at places like Carnarvon, Marble Bar, Xullagine, Cue, Onsiow and Port Hedland. The Perth Observatory record of these disturbances is appended as Table 2. On 22nd October, 1962, a tremor recorded at the Perth Observatory coincided with a major fall of ground in the mine at Wittenoom, mainly in the old workings. The fall, affecting 20 acres of ground, was in the area where both the upper and lower seams of fibre, (which will be referred to later), were almost completely worked out, one above the other. However, there was advance warning of the major fall, by unexpected minor falls m the northern end of the mine and most of the men were withdrawn from underground before the main collapse occurred. There was no loss of life but there was substantial loss of equipment and broken ore. However, the financial loss was partly recouped because an earthquake damage clause had been included in the Company's insurance policy in recent times. C 4265 26. TABLE 2 Wegejn^ujttSiiSLSSHSSSSiSS-ESSSliSSiSSSSSL at hem year 1904. I Perth Observatory) DATE 12. 7. 1907 28. 9.1907 IS.10.1910 LOCATION Carnarvon Marble Bor Marble Bar 11.12.1911 North of W. A. 27. S. 1912 June, 1913 NuUogine Marble Bar 1914 22.11.1914 Day Dawn (Murchison) Wahroenga Statlea and Cascoyne District. 21.12.1914 6. 4.191S 16. 8 1916 Marble Bar Mathl* Bar Day Dawn (Mufehiwoj 1 12.1916 1.12.1916 Meekering Northampton Onflow Day Oawa (Miachuon) REMARKS SUoht but distinct tremor frit ber<: also frit ot Hamelin Root and Shark Bay. No damage. Earth trrmor at 6. 35 a. a. , duration 2S seconds. Two distinct earthquake* the first at $. 4S a. m. and the second 10 minute* later. A sound as of distant thunder wa* heard by people 20 mile* away. The shocks travelled from a southerly to a northerly and caused crockery etc. to tactic in clmect every dwelling. Two well marked earth memos. No damage. Not felt in Perth. Recorded at the Observatory. 7h. SO. Sp. m. 8h. 08. 3m. p. m. Earth armor at 6. IS a. m. one minute duration. Slight earth aemon accompanied by audible sounds tike distant thunder on mornings of these dates, tasang in each case fee a few secoad*. Earthquake shock on Creat Fingali Mine, which resulted is considerable underground disturbance. Wahroonga reported:. "At about 6. 30 o. m. two reports, south of west from here, resembling dynamite explosions were heard only two or three seconds between each ex plosion at 6.30 a. m. Meedo reported:- Severe earth tremor accompanied by two rumblings, close together, ooveiling from west to east. Natives report some, saving "ground shook making great noise". About 6 a. m. Earth tremor at 9 a. a. lasting one second travelling N W to S.W. Distinct earth aemor, at 12.13. p. m. appeared to be travelling N. W to S. Two distinct earth tremors were felt on the Creat Fiagoil Mine * the first ot 10.30, whta e long rumbling sound ran through the earth and the second at 10.45. Several fall* of earth occurred. The shock wes felt as far out as Meehan Station to the south and in a northerly direction a* far a* the Cue Hospital. Between 11 a, m. and noon on the 1st several earth aemon reported. Shook buildings end rattled crockery. etc. Severe earth tremors felt in Creat fingali Mine at 8 p. m. S to 7 iccaods. They were accompanied by two violent report* such as might be expected from tee explosion of a magetine. At the 16 ievei there was a vary considerable fall of rock and much of timber-wont was crushed in. Damage wa* done to other parts of the mine, more particularly la the breaking of pipe connections. . L 4266 TABLE 2 Cont'dl DATE LOCATION REMARKS 14 S 1932 3.10.193S 29 . 4.1936 29. 4. 1941 S. 10.1949 1. 12. 19S0 11. 7.1954 23. 3. 19S7 19. 6. 1962 26. 2.1963 3SO Miles of N W. of Perth. Onslow Onslow East of GeraIdton Weebeme Staaon. Gooioroneth Stoaon. Onslow Matblc Bar Marble Bar Port Hedlaad Marble Bar 80 miles E. of Roy Hill Suoon Recorded in Perth at 9. 20 p. a. but so damage done at Perth. Severe earth tremor t'elt at Yonrey Statioa. No damage. Tremors at 4. 30 p. m. acd S. 30 p. m. ground trembled and windows shook. Recorded at Obretvatory, Tremors felt from Pt. Hedlaad to Albany and Kalgoorlie. Widely felt over the State. Manv buildings is Perth shook. Local damage at Geraldtos. Extensive area affected. Centred at Weeberrie Smnos. Epicentre 26 1/2 S 117 E. Magnitude 6 3/4<Riehtert. Mon severe ecrtbquase to occur in Australia. Reporei earth tremor quite revere. Pictures rattled and doors ilammed at 3.55 p. m. Also felt at Mooathusa and Warraragise. Slight earth oemor felt at 7.10 a. m. Report of severe earth tremor. No damage. Noe recorded is Perth. felt Hoolev to Mandora. U.S. C.C.S. epicentre 20.OS J19.3E. H. 16 13 56. oo Intensity 4.8 magnitudes eentre 22 5 S. and 121 2E. TA8LE3 Enrthguaiiee located in N W Australia and recorded at Mundarina Geophysical Observatory, lulv. 19S9 - October. 1962. DATE 7.11.1959 7. 7.1960 18. 6.1961 23. 8.1961 28. 8. 1981 22.10.1962 POSITION 2S.3S 28.2S 20.0S U6.2E 112.5E 119.3E 18.SS 27.5s 22.9S 119.0E 116.2E Ul APPROXIMATE MAGNITUDE S.S 4.2 6.4 S. 1 4.0 4.8 Recorded Adelaide See table 1. Recorded at most Ausc Observatories. Recorded Adelaide and Darwin. Occurred at 13 23 OS (W.S. T.) bearing from M.G.O. - 10 besee position could be 100 miles east or west of long. 116.2E. NOTC: (1) The list includes only earthquakes which could be located. (2) An unlocated oeme* occurred at 03 06 S3W.S.T, on 17th October. 1962 at same distance from Mundanng as the trema of 22nd October, 1962. Epicentres probably roughly umi position. x & a. < <A s 2 O cvi K Z u z < u <A r-. <\j ^r t, s o z *, dIHSNMC Chapter 4 Township or Wittenoom Wittenoom is by far the largest inland community in the north-west of Western Australia and so far, is completely dependent on the blue asbestos industry. Its population at present is 1, 000 people which compares with: Population Carnarvon Derby Broome Roebourne 2,750 1,450 750 250 Carnarvon has a port, whaling station, banana and bean industry, and is a pastoral outlet. That portion of Western Australia, north of the 26th parallel ("north of 26") which is usually referred to as the Nor-West has an area of 527, 000 square miles and a total population, exclud ing a few natives, of 8-9, 000. Cntil the blue asbestos industry commenced, Roebourne and Point Samson were gradually fading off the map. From their hey-day m the early mining days, notably including the Whim Creek copper mine, the population had dwindled from thousands in the early 1900 s to 126 people in 1945. Because of asbestos production, the numbers in Roebourne/Point Samson have increased steadily to 250 people. Of the total cargo amounting to 12, 800 tons passing over the wharf in 1953, 10, 000 tons were directly connected with the activities at Wittenoom and this picture still stands today. The continued existence of Roebourne and the nearby port Point Samson is the result of activities at Wittenoom. The town of Wittenoom now consists of: 178 houses for married employees built by the W. A. State Housing Commission. These are managed by the Company for the Commission. huts and barracks for 180 single men built by A.B.A. 29. hotel owned and operated by the company school catering for 140 pupils convent school retail store including a butchery and bakery police station modern post office shire council centre and town hall. cinema sponsored by the company hospital churches. The houses, barracks and huts in the compound have septic sewerage facilities and are supplied with running water and electricity supplies. The first houses cost on an average 1,600 each, but the 26 most recent houses, constructed of plaster slabs and generally on more generous lines have cost 3,300 each. To date the total cost to the Governments for works in the town has been approximately 600, 000 and the Company has spent 150,000. At present the eight-bed district hospital is being modernised and enlarged by the W.A. Medical Department at a cost of 113, 000. Also a new school has been approved for completion by early 1964 and is expected to cost 25,000. The Department of Civil Aviation is erecting a D.M.E. (Distance Measuring Equipment) station on "Drillers Range" at an estimated cost of about 40, 000 to serve the Darwin - Port Hedland to Perth air services. A radio telephone link with Port Hedland (and the rest of the world) is scheduled to be completed by November, 1963. The recently appointed Community Officer is a member of the mine staff and is responsible for the smooth running of the company's interests in the town and for the planning of its development. Currently a programme of beautification, partly by a campaign of painting and by the planting of trees and flowering shrubs is under way, and is showing striking results. Wittenoom is one of the principal tourist attractions in Western Australia, and large numbers of people, mainly sponsored C4272 ' 30. and organized by the W.A. Government Tourist Bureau regularly visit the area. Besides the amenities mentioned there is also a 9-hole golf course, tennis courts equipped for night play, and a rifle club. A synthetic bowling green surface is being laid at present, and plans are being considered tor a swimming pool and a soei&l club, both of which are needed. In addition there is a racecourse and sports oval, a basketball court and a children's playground. Other activities in the area Other activities, such as the construction of a major U.S. tracking station near Carnarvon, the establishment by the U.S. Navy of a major radar base at North-West Cape on Exmouth Gulf; the renewed activities of Ampol Exploration Company in the Exmouth Gulf area, and the activities and plans of the Civil Aviation Depart ment for the provision of the latest navigational aids and landing facilities, as alternatives for the Perth International Airport, all point very clearly to real and early advances in the development of the long neglected northern area. The most recent development is the imminent signing of an agreement between Western Mining Corporation Limited and un-named Japanese steel interests for the supply of 29 million worth of high grade iron ore from Tallering Peak to be shipped from the port of Geraldton at the rate of a half a million tons of ore per annum initially. Geraldton is south of what is regarded as the true north west, but the Western Mining Corporation position there is indicative of the potential of the iron ore deposits in the general area. As it stands, the extensive manganese deposits are too high in iron content; too difficult to beneficiate and too far from the coast to justify large scale capital spending on roads, railways and harbour and loading facilities in their own right, particularly in the face of the present world glut of manganese, but the activities of the major mining companies in relation to the development of this area should be closely watched, particularly, as to date Wittenoom and Australian Blue Asbestos Pty. Ltd. constitute the only established centre and base of organised full scale mining in the north-west. I Pi AST ER Slot i LEYATiOU- 2^-cr ^ 0 jo' 13' 9* 2i" is' 3" 2i- C 4274 <fc 4? 10' ti'' PLAN * io' i| ------- - 10'\. 8i* toof truss cEmts 1,. <l| I* CTIO N A - B fR 0 NT E L E Y A j ! 0N SIDE ELEVATION- C 4275 REAR. E LtVATION- PIASTER SLA - VttOf* WiTTENOOM rrCM T O Chapter 5 Leases Held by the company and others in the area. A. Leases and reserve held by the A. B.A. Company, and by Mr. L.G. Hancock B. General conditions pertaining to the Temporary Reserve C. Other mining interests in the area A. Leases and reserves held bv the A.B.A. Company and Mr. L.G. Hancock The mineral leases held by the company and its Temporary Reserve area are shown in the accompanying plan ( plan No. 9) at the end of this chapter. As far as is known at present, the current lease holdings are adequate for, at the least, ten years ahead, but this will be confirmed by the current exploratory drilling programme. The probable proven ore reserves at this date are to the order of 321, 992 square yards of payable ore at 18th June, 1963 {of grade above 2.6 ins.), equai to three to four years of ore supply at the present rate of production, based on mining the two seams. The Temporary Reserve is held for twelve months oniy and the company is obliged to do exploratory work and submit monthly reports with plans and drill logs of all holes bored. This Reserve can however be re-applied for inJanuary, 1964. Details of the Leases and Reserveheld are as follows: Mineral Claims Temporary Reserve Sub-total Residential leases Water rights Business areas Gardens Tailing leases Homestead Sub-total 16,784 acres 5.100 21,884 acres 90 " 23 " 5" 17 M 48 " 10 " 193 acres 21,884 193 Grand total 22. 077 acres The conditions associated with the granting of the Reserve are listed in the following schedule. C 4279 32. S. General conditions pertaining to the Temporary Reserve (i) That the occupants shall within 14 days of the date of approval of right of occupancy as appearing in the Government Gazette, mark at a corner of the boundary of the Temporary Reserve a landmark consisting of a post or cairn to serve as a com mencing or datum point and shall advise the Minister for Mines in writing the position of such point. (ii) That the occupants shall not use the land comprised in this reserve for any other purpose than that of prospecting for blue asbestos. (iii) That operations satisfactory to the Minister are undertaken during the right of occupancy to assess the value of blue asbestos deposits in the Reserve. (iv) That the right oi occupancy will not give any rights to the occupants to prospect for any mineral other than blue asbestos, and upon the discovery of payable mineral other than blue asbestos, the Minister for Mines, may by notice, require the occupants to surrender their right of occupancy and apply for mining tenements. (v) That the right of occupancy does not include any tailings or other mining materials iying on the land and the right is reserved to the Crown to grant licences in respect of such tailings or other mining materials, as provided under the Mining Act, 1904 - 1957 and Regulations thereunder. (vi) That the existing rights of any prospecting area, claim, lease or authorised holding, shall be pre served to the holder thereof and shall not be encroached on or interfered with by the occupant of this reserve. (vii) That the rights granted under this authority shall be no bar to any person desiring to acquire mining tenements for any mineral other than blue asbestos, in the said reserve or to any person desiring to acquire a holding under the Land Act, 1933, provided the land applied for does not include any of the occupants' workings which may in the discretion of the Minister for Mines be secured to the occupants of this reserve. (viii) That this authority to occupy may be cancelled or the area reduced by the Minister for Mines upon applica tion being made by any person for authority to prospect for any mineral other than blue asbestos, on any portion oi the reserve if prospecting thereon by the occupants is not carried on to the satisfaction of the Minister for Mines. The Minister for Mines reserves 42S0 33. :ne right to grant any raining tenement within the reserve upon being satisfied that the applicant for such mining tenement was already carrying out bona fide prospecting operations before the creation of the reserve. (ix) Any land alienated or in the course of alienation and any iand reserved and any land registered or to be acquired and held under the Mining Act, 1904*195? shall be excised from the said Authority to Occupy. (x) No transfer of this authority to occupy will be permitted without the approval of the Minister for Mines first obtained. (xi) To such further conditions as may in the opinion of the Minister for Mines from time to time be deemed necessary. (xii) That the Minister for Mines may cancel the right of occupancy upon being satisfied that the WHOLE or ANY of the conditions are not being or have not been fulfilled. (xiii) That the occupant of this reserve shall commence prospecting operations forthwith, and shall furnish the Minister for Mines with a MONTHLY REPORT applicable to operations being carried on within :he said reserve. (xiv) That upon surrender, expiry or abandonment of this reserve, the occupant shall furnish the Minister for Mines with a summary report of the economic results of 'he prospecting operations carried out on this ground, including the following information:- (ai Method of testing; (b) Number of penetrations or excavations; !c) Nature of material tested; and (d) Assay values. (xv) That the rights granted under this authority shall be subject to the provisions of the Forests Act, 1918 and the Regulations made thereunder, and also to the exclusion of all land alienated or in the course of alienation within the reserve. C. Other'mining interests in the area. In the years since World War II, the existence of very great deposits of iron and manganese ores in Western Australia have been announced. Leading Australian mining companies, such as The Broken Hill Pty. Co. Ltd. and Western Mining Corporation Limited as well as overseas. United Kingdom and principally U.S. mining groups, have mapped and pegged areas in the north and north-west areas oi Western .-uistraiia, for the iron ore :n particular. The activities oecame publicised wnen the Federal Govern ment lilted us emoargo on the export oi iron ore. With the development and active construction oi the Ora River Dam and irrigation Scneme, in addition to the activities oi these major mining groups oi companies, it is sure that the long awaited, active development oi the north-west oi the continent has at last reached an established threshold. The present complex activities m the north-west in the exploration and exploitation oi the iron ore deposits is the subject of a report (14th June, 1963, given verbatim belowj by Mr. P.C. Thomas, General superintendent oi Australian Blue Asbestos Pty. Ltd., Perth. it wiil be noted that more recent events have shown that in this very high capital, high tonnage, lew cost, low profit margin per ton business, that Western Mining Corporation Limited, who are very experienced in mining and in Western Australia in particular, have "stolen a march" cn the newcomers and any day now, will be in business. (ij Chrysotile Mr. Stuart Stubbs, an outstanding personality m mining in the north-west, based on the Comet Mine at Marble Bar. has apparently got access to 100, 000 oi capital tc mine several write asbestos - chrysotile - areas and to treat the ere at the Comet Mine treatment plant at Marble Bar. His pegged interests are aiso shown with the iron ere interests on the accompanying map. (ii) Major iron ore deposits of the north-west of Western Australia. {A report by Mr. P.C. Thomasi The following is a list, with some information, of the major prospecting companies operating througnout the north-west of Western Australia. The position oi mineral, claims relative to Wittenoom is shown on the maps at the end oi this chapter. C 4282 35. MT. GOLDSWORTHY CROUP. - Consolidated Goldfields (Aust. ) Pty. Ltd. . A.C.T., .-ustraiia. - Utah Construction i Mining Co., Delaware, U.5.A. - Cyprus Mining Corporation, Xew York, U. S. A. Head Office: 15 O'Conneil Street, Sydnev. W. A. Office: R. Belliveau, C. M. L. Building, St. George's Terrace, Perth. Sharenoiding: Equal percentage eacn companv. Area under Reserve: 2, 062 square miies. Location of Reserve: Port Hedlana - Goldsworthy West of Marble Bar. Roebourne - Pt. Samson area. Plan reference: Sheet 14 of the DeGrey area. Sheet 13 of the Onslow area. Anticipated town facilities Reported to be considering two settlements - <a) Mine lb) Port. Port facilities: Regard Depucn Island as most likeiv. Haulage: Rail from mine to port site probably 125 miles. Other information: Copy of newspaper cuttings regarding Export Licence. Copy of Iron Ore (Mt. Goldsworthy! Agreement. An agreement has been entered into between the Mt. Goldsworthy group and the State of Western Australia which provides 291,000 to be spent on geological exploration and investigation of townsites, port sites, rail line, overall economics, etc. This to be completed inside two years. If at the end of two years the group decides to continue they must build townships, construct a port and a railroad etc. Payments to Government are to be of f.o.b. price of ore as a royalty (min. 4/6 per ton), and 2/6 per ton or minimum 75, 000 per annum as charges for rental of land on which port facilities will be erected. c 4253 36. The present idea is a causeway tnree miles long from the mainland to Depucn Island, a port on the island tor 40, 000 ton ships and a railway from Mt. Coidsworthy to Depuch island. Capital cost is expected to be 23 million to 30 million. The group has been granted a licence to export a total of 64, 000, 000 tons of ore. Rate of export is hoped to be 4 5, 000, 000 tons per annum. b) HAMERSLEY IRON PTY. LTD. - Rio Tinto Southern Pty. Ltd. Kaiser Corporation, t'.S.A. - Conzmc Ltd. Head Office: W.A. Office: Shareholding: Area under Reserve: Location of Reserves: Plan reference: Anticioated town facilities: Port facilities: Haulage: Current activities: Conainc Rio Tinto (Aust. ) Pty. Ltd. 95 Collins Street, Melbourne. J. Hohnen, T. & G. Building, St. George's Terrace, Perth. Equal proportion each Company. 1,168 square miles. To west of Wittenoom, approximated60 miles. This is the nearest deposit to Wittenoom. Sheet 14 of the DeGrev area. Sheet 13 of the Onsiow area. Dependent upon location of port but currently investigating the availability of land in the Roebourne area. This is still the subject of conjecture and thorough investiga tion. Pt. Samson -Cossack area not discarded at this stage. Understood to be by rail. Intense surface drilling programme at Boolgeeda (area 60 miles West of Wittenoom). 100 men engaged in site. Negotiating Iron Ore Agreement with W.A. Government. Over 300, 000 has been spent to date on exploration etc. C) BROKEN HILL PROPRIETARY CO. Operating as a single company. Head Office: Melbourne Perth Office: Mr. Chessel, T. & G. Building, St. George's Terrace, Perth. Area under Reserve: 1,330 square miles. Location of Reserves: Deepdale area east of Onslow, Roy Hill. Plan reference: Sheet 14 of the DeGrev area. Sheet 13 of the Onslow area. Town and port facilities: Yet unknown but understand survey of coast line just completed. Probably aim to locate port with minimum haulage between mine and harbour. Current activity: Surface exploration and drilling. d) A. S. HILD1TCH & C.H. WARMAN. - Details of company formation unknown. Head Office: C / - Jackson McDonald & Co., 55 St. George's Terrace, Perth. Shareholding: Area under Reserve: Location of Reserve Unknown. 1,349 square miles. South of Roy Hill Station in the Ophthalmia Ranges. Plan reference: Sheet 14 of the DeGrev area. Other information: Unknown. e) BASIC MATERIALS CO, PTY. LTD. - Garrick Agnew pty. Ltd. Cleveland Cliffs of America. Head Office: 167 St. George's Terrace, Perth. Shareholding: Area under Reserve: Location of Reserves: Unknown. 246 square miles. East of Onslow and South of Roebourne. Plan reference: Other information: Sheet 13 of the Onslow area. Unknown. (iii) Other iron ore reserves granted throughout the State Bell Bros. Guildford, W. A. 100 sq. miles in the Kimberley Division A. McDonald South Perth, W.A. 49 sq. miles in the Yalgoo area. Hancock Prospecting - Victoria Avenue, Perth W. A Area not known dui located south of Onsiow. R. Batcheior - Claremont, W.A. 293 sq. miles m the Derby area. H. B. Moncrieffe - Mullewa, W.A. 1 sq.mile in the Yalgoo area. R. Svnott - Esperance, W.A. 4 sq. miles, Joyner's Find area. A. Acton - Ravensthorpe, W.A. 2 sq. miles, Ravensthorpe area. H. Youne - Wyndham, W.A. 50 sq. miles, Kimberley area. E. Rick Perth, W.A. 11 sq. miles, Marble Bar area. Metal Traders (Aust.) Ptv. Ltd. - Perth. W.A. 50 sq. miles, Hamersiey Range area (14th June, 1963). k r K in a o T ______________ I 4 <fi I o til j ZI <<I Ul I- t9 Z cC ui zx 2o| 5 < ' 0 1 000 1t :1 i <n I ul * _l s$ CD *z <4 u. 3 w Vfl Q* <ct - t/> o CO N U vfc Zb?* x>o --v!/-- m 300< 300 MC 275 300 MC274 3010a 300 MCI20^ MC 207** T f 2442 APPROX 5lOO<* MC 277** MC ltd" 300 o 200* 300* ________ _ MC 211' TEMPORARY MINISTERIAL RESERVE MC 270** MC 281** 300 MC ZtS? C 42 S 7 200 300* 30O --- -i-r. L. . 300. MC 27V MC 2*2 MC 2*3 MC 2 300. 300. 270 270 SP 104 WITTENOOM GORGE tttt `liu-- CALC: 2 MC 257 300 * MC 275 300a MC MC274 3C MC 206 MC 20^ mc no 300 300 300 a MC 108 3004 ' MCi20^* MC 207** MC 204^ MC 203** MC 202** MC 277** MC 28CF' 30O 200* 300* MC 274 MC 241 MC 2if 300 a 300 300 a 300 MC 21lT MC 21^ MC 2I7** MC 21tT 200a 300a , 3O0a 300' 300 300a 300 ... i. .f. . . . . L . | i -------- MC 279*' MC 282** MC 283** MC 2s/* MC 285** MC 286** MC 28: 300. 300. 370. 370 a 270 370 370< L 4i:88 *LftAftA G.f. 3CAU: 30 CNM4 TO I MCH m a WITTE NOOM !* tl GORGE MC 58 273 H 300 a 300 ------ 300* 1 , r. - ...... MC 56W 271" 300* MO 2I9W 300 a MC 220^ ! MC 225** 300a i 273a MC 2if* MC222 i 300* 130 a iT MC 224** MC 223** 273 273a 'T > MC 2861 300 a C 4289 J LEASES HELD BY | AUSTRALIAN BLUE ASBESTOS PTYLTD. AT JUNE 1963 j NOTE:- THE LEASES OUTLINED IN BED ARE THOSE ! HELP BY L. G. HANCOCK. -J- REFERENCE, BROKEN MILL PROPRIETARY C*.lrt HANCOCK * WIMT, RJO TINT CONSOLIDATED GOLDFIELDS BASIC MATERIALS C*. Ptt Lio. uD HILOITCH * WARMAH C.H,WARMAN A Ca. SYONCY fwl WHITE ASliSTOS ('S.H.STUSBS) (MARBLE BAR) E3 DSD MINISTERIAL. RISERVC MISCELLANEOUS C 42 9 0 N c o MAIN PROSPECTING AREAS FOR IRON ORE NORTHWESTERN WEST AUSTRALIA Chapter 6 Geology Geology of the blue asbestos deposits of the Hamerslev Ranges by K. J. Finucane, Consultant Geologist June, 1963 Introduction The Hamersley Ranges are located in the North- West Division of Western Australia and extend, approximately, between latitudes 21 30' to 23S and longitudes 117 to 120E. Their mean height above sea level is 2, 000 feet and they rise from 600 to 800 feet above the general level of the tableland extending south-east from the coastal town of Roebourne. Mt. Bruce, the highest peak, rises to 4, 024 feet above sea level. The ranges are intersected by numerous north-flowing streams, dry during the greater part of the year, which over the ages have carved deep gorges and it is in these that the principal deposits of crocidolite outcrop. The presence of the mineral had been known for many years, the first official record being in 1917, when reports of a strong market demand for crocidolite, in 1937-38, resulted in con siderable prospecting and mining activity, particularly in Yatnpire, Wittenoom and Dale* Gorges. It was further established that the blue asbestos belt extended from Willi Wolli Springs north-west to Millstream Station, i. e. over a length of 180 miles and a width of 20 to 30 miles. A numt er of attempts were made to develop and treat theYampire and Wittenoom Gorge occurrences from 1939 through to 1945 but for a variety of reasons none of these proved successful. Production by Australian Blue Asbestos commenced in 1944 and has continued since then. Operations have been concentrated in Wittenoom Gorge, initially in the Wittenoom Mine and since January, 1959, in the Colonial Mine, there being a transition period 4294 40. in the transfer of production from one mine to the other. Details of ore production are shown in Appendix 1 to this chapter. Previous investigations A number of scientific papers, geological and mining reports have been published on the crocidoiite deposits by State and Commonwealth Government officers and various investigations have been made by officials of Australian Blue Asbestos Ltd. The results of these are summarised below and, while the knowledge of the deposits is steadily accumulating, the total available only emphasises the need for a more thorough and complete study than has been undertaken previously. In 1929, a brief paper on the occurrence of blue asbestos in the Hamersley Ranges was presented before the Royal Society of W.A. by the late Dr. S.S. Simpson, who was then State Government Analyst and Mineralogist and had an extensive knowledge of Western Australian minerals. A report on crocidoiite occurrences in Yampire Gorge was made by Mr. F.G. Forman, then Government Geologist, in 1937 and is published in the Annual Report of the Geological Survey for that year . In the following year, Mr. J.S. Foxall examined the workings in Wittenoom Gorge and his description of the Upper and Lower Seams and the Knapping Seam and workings thereon are contained in the Annual Report of the Mines Department for 1938. A more detailed report was made on behalf of the Aerial, Geological and Geophysical Survey of Northern Australia by the writer, in 1938, and covered Yampire, Dalefs and Wittenoom Gorges. The primary object of this was to draw attention to the nature and extent of the deposits and their economic possibilities. Limited staff and time made it impossible to concentrate on other than the essential features. In 1942 the W.A. Geological Survey published Bulletin 100 in which Dr. Keith Miles dealt in considerable detail with the petrology, mineralogy and microscopic characteristics of the crocidoiite and associated rocks, while Mr. J.S. Foxall described Yampire, Dale's and Wittenoom Gorges and also the Marramamba area. In addition Mr. Foxall dealt with economic aspects of the deposits and drew attention to their size and the prospects of establishing an industry based on the production of blue asbestos. C 4295 41. Reports on the occurrences at Willi Wolli Springs, Marramamba and Yampire Gorge have been made also by technical officers of Australian Blue Asbestos Pty. Ltd. and detailed sampl ing plans are available of most of the Main Yampire workings and of part of the Intermediate Series. These form part of mine records. Geological work over the past three years has been con centrated in the area north and south of the Colonial and Wittenoom Mines and west beyond Bee Gorge with the object of delineating key marker horizons to aid the drilling programme and ultimately establish an accurate structure-contour plan of the area. A limited amount of broader reconnaissance work has been carried out in Yampire and Dale's Gorges and near Joffre Creek in order to consolidate the background and regional aspects of the geological investigation. The stratigraphy and sequence of beds over a thickness of 500 to 600 feet has been reasonably well established in the immediate host rocks of the crocidolite seams but it has not been possible to extend the scope of the work beyond the immediate mine environment or to delineate the detailed structural features of the Wittenoom Colonial Mine area; nor has it been possible to correlate the Wittenoom-Yampire-Dale's group with a view to delineation of favour able areas for exploratory drilling. Lack of time and the need to consolidate the Colonial Mine operation have precluded any major attempt to expand the scope of the work with the staff available. Geology Rock types throughout the ranges comprise an appreciable thickness of almost horizontally bedded ferruginous or hematite quartzites, quartzites, shales, calcareous shales, dolomites and bands of limestone, together with thin bands of riebeckite rock. These form part of the Nullagine Series, of Proterozoic age, and probably represent the upper portion of it. The crocidolite occurs as conformable seams of cross fibre and the immediate host rocks constitute a reasonably well defined horizon, possibly 400 to 450 feet thick with the principal bands of fibre concentrated in the lower section. Generally, it occurs in hematite quartzites in proximity to beds of dolomite or 42. calcareous shale or to thin beds of bluish coloured, fine grained riebeckite rock. Light coloured, thiniy bedded shales, with occasional limestone beds a few feet thick, occur below the fibre zone and these are well evidenced in road cuttings and in creek and talus exposures. They are softer and less resistant than the quartzites. Outcrops in the higher country, above the fibre zone, comprise quartzites with occasional beds of shale in which there is rather less iron than is characteristic of the rock types in closer proximity to the productive beds. In general the beds are horizontal or only gently dipping but there is a definable amount of warping in some areas, with short, restricted zones of buckling, folding and faulting. The average range of dips varies from horizontal up to 4 with maximum readings between 8 and 10. It is difficult to assess the extent to which warping and flexing may have influenced the formation of better grade fibre zones. The most widely accepted hypothesis regarding the genesis or origin of the deposits is that in some places the crocidolite was formed by growth of fibre in situ along the margins of beds having a similar chemical composition to that of the crystalline fibre, while, in others, the original beds contained iron and silica in similar relative proportions to those required in the formation of fibre, with soda and magnesia being introduced from adjacent beds. The heat and pressure necessary to effect the crystalline growth could have been produced by burial of the rocks-under other strata. As the presence of water or aqueous solutions would be an essential con dition of growth, it is probable that flexing of the beds would lead to greater volume and freedom of circulation and hence to greater deposition of crocidolite. The consistent association of fibre with a definite sequence of beds or rather with a particular group of rock types indicates that the Hamersley occurrences are probably restricted to a definite lithological group or stratigraphic horizon in the upper portion of the Nullagine Series. However, the precise conditions which govern the distribution of the better grade mine-able zones are not apparent, possibly they depend partly on the chemical composition of the host rocks and partly on structure. 4297 43. Systematic structural mapping is required to correlate the several deposits described below but their general associations are broadly comparable, though they vary in the actual detail of fibre width, vertical interval between seams and immediate or contiguous host rocks. The deposits Principal among the known deposits are those of Wittenoom, Yampire, Bee and Dale's Gorges. Fibre also occurs at Willi Wolli Springs near the known eastern limit and leases are held at Marramamba some seventy miles due west of Wittenoom. Their distribution is illustrated on the accompanying plan, Fig. 1 . (i) Wittenoom Gorge Examination of cliff faces and of the underground workings of the Colonial and Wittenoom Mines shows that the crocidolite occurs in three main seams or bands covering a vertical range of 42 to 46 feet. The Upper or No. 1 Seam comprises a band of hematite* quartzite from IS to 18 inches thick containing lenses and veins of fibre varying from a fraction of an inch up to 1.5 inches and aggre gating 3.0 to 3.5 inches. A foot below this and separated by barren quartzite there is a bed of calcareous shale, 9 to 12 inches thick, which persists throughout the gorge, but which fades north of the Colonial Mine. The Lower or No. 2 Seam occurs from 21 to 22 feet below the Upper, with quartzites intervening, and is almost identical except that the aggregate thickness of fibre is about 2. 6 inches. About three feet below the "Lower Seam" there is a bed of crystalline dolomite which grades gradually into black, calcareous or dolomitic shale, particularly in the northern workings of the Colonial Mine. This is succeeded by a 6 to 9 inch bed of quartzite below which there is a lenticular knapping seam showing from 0.5 to 1.5 inches of fibre and which, at times, may be totally absent. The Lowest or No. 3 Seam occurs from 42 to 44 feet below the top of the "Upper Seam" and consists of lenses and veins of fibre aggregating 1.5 to 2. 0 inches and extending over a thickness-of two feet; the intervening beds are quartzites. Thin veins of fibre occur between the three principal seams but these are of no economic significance. Narrow bands of calcareous rock, an inch or two thick, are interbedded with the quartzites C 4298 44. adjacent to the fibre bands. A typical section illustrating the relationship of the various seams and associated beds is shown in Fig. 2. The Colonial Mine workings cover a length of 2, 900 feet extending west from the cliff outcrop and an average width from north to south of about 2, 000 feet. They follow the dip of the bedding into the hillside at an average inclination of 4 west. Both the Upper and Lower, or No. 2 Seam have been mined extensively but No. 3 Seam is too low grade to be worked economically. The Wittenoom Mine is currently inoperative but the overall fibre relationships are similar to those of the Colonial Mine except that average fibre content of the Upper and Lower Seams is less; workings cover a length of about 2,000 feet from east to west and a width of 1, 000 feet. A wide zone of faulting and barren fibre occurs along the northern periphery of the Wittenoom workings and appears to extend northwards for some 2, 000 feet towards the Colonial Mine. The southern faces of the Wittenoom Mine have been check sampled. A number of key stratigraphic beds or markers have been established in the Wittenoom-Colonial area principal among these being:> Green quart2ite 9 in.- 12 in thick, above the Upper Seam at a depth of 460 ft. Grey quartzite breccia 12 in. plus or minus, above the Upper Seam, at a depth of 300 ft. Two shale bands of 12 in. and 6 in. from 15 ft. to 17$ ft. and 12 in to 18 in. thick at 75 ft. below the Upper Seam. These define the productive zone within close limits and materially assist in drilling. (ii) Bee Gorge Fibre occurs in Bee Gorge about three and a half miles north-west of the Colonial Mine and has been exposed along a series of east-west benches over a length of 240 feet. These show from 1 to' 2 inches of high grade crocidolite associated with bands of quartzite and riebeckite. Fourteen feet above there is a narrow seam, from 6 to 18 inches thick, containing three or four narrow veins of fibre aggregating 1.0 to 1.75 inches. A third seam is located 28 feet below the main benches but this rarely exceeds 0. 5 of an inch. The total vertical range is 42 feet, a number of bands C 4299 45. of riebeckite are associated with the fibre and the general occurrence is broadly comparable with that of the northern peripheral area of the Colonial Mine. However, the beds of calcareous shale and dolomite, so characteristic of both the Wittenoom and Colonial Mines, appear to be absent. Economically, Bee Gorge is not attractive on its present showing. Reconnaissance work to the south and west of it show outcrops of the grey quartzitic breccia mentioned above and, provided reasonable structural conditions can be established, exploratory drilling could be undertaken South of Bee Gorge and on the western prolongation of the Colonial Mine. (iii) Yampire Gorge This is located about twelve miles south-east of Wittenoom. Fibre has been mined from a series of shallow benches and scattered workings which extend over a distance of three miles. Three main horizons have been established, viz., the Main Yampire Series, an Intermediate Series and a Top Horizon which is from 150 to 200 feet stratigraphically above the main seam. The principal occurrences are at the southern end of the gorge where the Main Yampire Series outcrops over a length of 3, 000 to 4, 000 feet in a broad anticlinal structure. Here there is a total of 3. 5 to 5 inches of fibre in several seams of varying thick nesses over a vertical height of 8 to 9 feet. Bands of riebeckite rock are associated with the fibre. The beds dip gently to the north and pass below the surface but reappear with a change of dip towards the northern entrance of the gorge. Comparatively little work has been done on the Intermediate Series which showed promise in places but scattered workings on the Top Horizon over a length of several thousand feet give an average thickness of 2 inches of crocidolite over a vertical height of 2 to 4 feet. There is a consistent bed of riebeckite rock associated with the Top Horizon and a thick bed of dolomitic limestone occurs between the Main Yampire and the intermediate Series. Mr. J. Young's sampling of the Main Yampire Series gave an average of 4.59 inches of fibre over-a vertical height of 8'6" for an outcrop length of 4, 760 feet. The best exposures occur in the old workings on the eastern side of the gorge where 3,210 feet sampled 4300 46. averaged 4. 9 inches over 9 feet. The west wail gave 3. 67 inches over 8 to 9 feet for a sampled length of 1,550 feet. These results were checked by Mr. J. Shanahan. (iv) Dale's Gorge Located about 9 miles east of Yampire Gorge, the fibre occurrences in Dale's Gorge extend over a length of one and a half miles and present some contrasting features. Two definite dolomite beds, each from 6 to 10 inches thick, may be seen in the cliff faces. These are 20 feet apart and the following asbestos seams are associated with them:- ia) (b) (c ) ( d) The Top Seam, 10 feet above the upper dolomite bed and containing from 1.2 to 1.5 inches of fibre. Mahlberg's Seam 15 feet below the upper dolomite and containing from 0. 5 to 2.5 inches. The Main Bottom Seam, 10 feet below the lower dolomite, with 0.5 to 1.5 inches, and A small seam known as the "Stringer" 7.5 feet below the lower dolomite. All of these are mainly single seams which were benched by prospecting parties in a search for long fibre. Fig. 3 illustrates their occurrence. Their immediate importance is limited. (v) Marramamba These deposits are described by J. S. Foxall in W. A.G.S. Bulletin 100. Outcrops of fibre occur at intervals along a range of low hills, trending approximately east and west, and cover a total length of about 9.5 miles. At the western end,- the crocidolite formation is reported to be 7 feet thick with an aggregate of 6 inches of fibre in seams from 0.12 to 1.0 inches. It is lenticular in habit and the beds dip east into a hillside at 15. From four to six miles east of the above two horizons have been exposed of which the upper carries from 2 to 3 inches of fibre C 4301 47. and the iower about 2 inches in two seams. These are about 20 feet apart stratigraphicaily and dip north-east at 25. One mile further east there is a cliff face outcrop showing 9 to 10.5 inches over 8 to 8.5 feet, the dip being 10 north-east. About two miles south-east, on M.C. 201 H, fibre with an aggregate length of 4. 5 inches occurs in a formation three feet wide. The dip is east or north-east. Unfortunately little is known of the stratigraphic association at Marramamba. There has been no opportunity to examine the Marramamba leases or to make any assessment of their aggregate potential. Foxall's description of them presents an attractive picture as to width of fibre over a given vertical range in the exposures he examined. However, it is not known whether linear continuity can be established such as would be necessary for a continuous mining operation. The only course open at present is to map and check sample the various outcrops and workings and carry out such initial test work as may be necessary to establish continuity. Summary Summarising the overall position in relation to ore prospects, mill and townsite location, access facilities and in the light of current knowledge, I would place the priority of investigational work and drilling as under:- (i) (ii) (iii) Consolidation of the Wittenoom-Colonial area by extending geological mapping and drilling west of the Colonial Mine and south of the Wittenoom Mine. Structural mapping and some preliminary drilling of the Main Yampire Series, i. e. the lower fibre occurrences, and Investigation of the Marramamba area with a view to establishing structural continuity and layout of a preliminary test programme. A good deal of progress has been made with the geological programme, check sampling, preparation of assay plans and the establishment of the precise stratigraphic succession in the mine 02 48. environment but the demands of the drilling programme have limited the time available for detailed field mapping and the most pressing need at present is to try and establish by structure contour mapping, or other line of attack, the factors controlling distribution of the better grade fibre zones and to establish a technique for delineating them. References^ Finucone K J , 1939. The Slut Asbestos Deposits of the Hamerslcy Ranges. A.C.C. Survey of Northern Australia Report Wextern Australia No. 49. Holl, A. L., 1912. Ashesto u> the Union of South Africa. Ceol. Survey Union of South Africa Memoir 12. Miles K. R. and foxali I. S.. 1942. W.A. Ceol. Surv. Bulletin 100. The Blue Asbestos Bearing Banded Iron Formations of the Hamersley Ranges and The Blue Asbestos Deposia of the Hamersley Range and Their Economic Importance with appendices by F.C. Forman 11937) and J. S. Fozail < 19381. APPENDIX l (to Chapter 6) AUSTRALIAN BLUE ASBESTOS PTV. LTD, Fibre Production Year Fnrted tnn^fons Dee. 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 6,567 14.406 13,296 18.477 20.7S6 Note: Some band toraag 1948-19S0. Fibre therefrom lilts Torn 601.82 89S.10 759.07 993. 7S 1031.58 9.2 6.2 5.7 S. 4 5.0 Year Faded Dec. 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 June 1962 Shortens 42,015 97,076 130,805 126,374 89,610 124,611 184,906 212,896 277,180 262,400 295,878 1S2, 264 Fibre therefrom Short ?nn 1,398.98 3,133.34 4.253.97 4,248.92 4,845.67 8, 160.34 12,222.19 13,313.57 16,416.65 14,472.22 IS, 777.00 7,844.78 * 3.3 3.2 3.3 3.4 S.4 6.5 6.6 6.3 5.9 S.S 5.3 5,2 UPPER SEAM N*l. CALCAREOUS SHALE r.T I/.///.// LOWER SEAM N* CALC SHALE OUARTZJTES KNAPPING SCAM \z NS SEAM VERTICAL SECTION SHOWING OCCURRENCE OF CROCIDOLITE SEAMS WITTENOOM GORGE C 43D4 FIG. 2i -! CHART NjiA i TOP SEAM 10' />>??)}}?>}>>/>?>}?>/ UPPER DOLOMITE 4 *> MARKER id b- N IS' K a < d Of MAHLBERGS SEAM ttj 2 o }>>> H *> z o CL LOWER DOLOMITE MARKER STRINGER (STr) MAIN BOTTOM SEAM (m b s) SMALL SEAMS OVER IO' VERTICAL SECTION SHOWING OCCURRENCE OF CROCtPOLITE SEAMS DALEYS GORGE SCALE IN FEET. iO 0 10 2.0 C 4306 Chapter 7 Description of mining operations A. Introduction B. Description of the workings (i) Main adit (ii) Haulage levels (iii) Lower seam stopes (iv) Upper seam stopes C. M ine development method (i) Main adit (ii) Haulage levels and adits (iii) Rises D. Stope preparation system E. Ore breaking (i) Method (ii) Tools in use (iii) Ore transport (iv) Main ore conveyor belts (v) Waste removal F. Equipment and services (i) Main mining equipment G. Electrical services H. Underground staff and training (i) Underground staff (ii) Underground labour (iii) Training I. Ventilation J. Addendum (i) Development of the use of ammonium nitrate * carbon mixtures in place of conventional jellied ammonium nitrate explosives. (ii) Gauge of drill steel (iii) Long wall mining experiments A. Introduction Two seams of blue asbestos, each aggregating 2 in. to 3 in. of fibre, outcrop high on the side of the Colonial Gorge wall. The main mine development work is planned to enable both seams to be worked simultaneously where the grade of ore warrants this. The dip of the seams is in the order of 8 degrees and a main adit, 16 ft. wide, has been driven into the cliff face on the dip and under the lower seam. Twenty feet above the main adit, 9 ft. by 7 ft. haulage drives at right angles to the main adit. Access is gained to the haulage drives of levels one to five, from the main 4307 50. adit by means of an incline, "(turn-out)", and man-ways and ore chutes are cut between the haulage drives and the ore bodies. Stopes are opened up to be worked to approximately 400 ft. by 300 ft. On 6, 7 and 8 levels, however, access is by man-ways only from the incline or internal adits. The fibre occurs in a formation approximately 18 in. thick and consequently any barren rock broken in access of 18 in. adds to the dilution of the ore. However, the minimum practical stope height is controlled to 38" to 42". Because of the stratified nature of the formation, the cleavage, both on the fioor and back, is clean and smooth. Pillars amounting to 12 per cent, of the total area are left, at about 24 ft. centres and all other broken rock is taken to the treat ment plant as ore. No support, other than the pillars has been necessarv with the mining methods used so far. Handling of the ore to chutes is by scraper haulers, re cently assisted by small bulldozers, to the ore chutes to a train of Granby cars hauled by battery locomotives, which dump the ore into ore pockets, situated immediately over the main adit. "Ross" feeders control the flow of ore from the pockets onto a series of three 30 in. belt conveyors, which deliver the ore into a bin or ''Pocket" from which another belt conveys it to the mill. It is appropriate to record in this section that the original Wittenoom mine, about a mile away, after some fourteen years of operation entered a major fault area, in which "dead" or oxidised fibre was encountered and severely limited the number of working olaCftS from whi/*h snitohle fihre prtulH won. Outcrop assays and diamond drill results up to 1,000 ft. back from the cliff face had indicated that a richer zone of fibre existed in the Western section of Colonial Gorge and it was decided to develop the area to supplement ore taken from the Wittenoom mine. As values in the wittenoom mine deteriorated while those in the new Colonial Gorge development improved, a decision was taken to erect a new mill in Colonial Gorge. This was started up in June, 1958, using only one treatment line while the two crushing sections were designed and built to handle sufficient ore for three such treatment lines. The last deliveries of ere :rom the Wittenoom mine tc the old Wittenoom mill were made :n October, 1958. Colonial Gorge ore was delivered to Wittenoom until January, 1959, the ore being drawn by chute irom the 1, 500 ton ore bin and transported by lorry. The second treatment leg came into operation on Tth Jamiarv, 1959 at Colonial Mill and the third leg on 1st Juiv, 1959. The primary crushing section at Colonial Gorge com menced operations in June, 1958. Secondary crushing and one treatment ieg were commenced m July, 1958. A road cut into the cliff face gives access to the so-called Mine Bench at an elevation oi approximately 250 feet above the fleer of the Gorge, which provides a piatform on which are iocated the underground office, tne mine store, change rooms, ambulance room, transformer station and Mine Bench Workshop. It also pro vides entrance to the mine adit in the cliff face, an opening 16 it. wide and T ft. high, being the portal of a tunnel or adit or "drift sloping downgrade at approximately 1 ft. in 12 f:. or about 8, parallel to and underneatn tne two main fibre seams which them selves are parallel and about 21 it. apart. Straugrapnicaily, they are referred to as the 'Upper Seam ' and the Lower Seam '. B. Description of the workings The mine essentially consists oi four elevations (i) The main adit or incline (ii) The naulage ieveis (iii) The lower seam stopes (iv) The upper seam stopes. (This is illustrated in Sketch No. 1, "Generalised section through the main incline", showing the position of working levels. ; Note: all sketches referred to are at the end of the chapter. (i) The main adit This is the main artery of the operations and provides :or access to the workings; for the transport of broken ore and waste rock and for ail services to the various sections of the mine. This adit has been driven a total length of 3, 000 ft. and is approximately parallel to the "dip" of the ore-body and is positioned 4309 70 to 80 ft. below the Upper Seam nonzon. (Sketch No. 2 gives a Typical cross-section view c: the mam aait . ) ai) Hauiage levels These are spaced at 400 ft. centres aiong the main aait. (more or less at right angles to it). These hauiage-wavs are excavated 9 ft. -.vide x 7 ft. high and are driven aiong the contours of the bedding planes to provide an acceptable grade for the tram-iines and an adequate amount of neaa room for ore storage pockets" below the Upper and Lower Seams. The primary function of these levels is :cr access and :cr the transport of broken ore from the working places or "stopes :: the ore transfer pockets located over tne ore conveyor belt in the main incline. Access to the haulage-ways from the main adit is gained by 1 ft. in 10 ft. grade "turn-outs ' driven to the northern side of the Adit. 'Sketch No. 2A shows a "Typical cross section of a 9 ft. x 7 ft. hauiage level". ) There are turn-outs at levels 1 to 5. The general impression is seen m Sketch No. 1A. . tin) Lower seam stcoes Access is gained into the stopes by man-ways placed at 300 ft. centres aiong the haulage level. Broken ore m the stopes is won by scraper hoists to a chute or pocket positioned 15 feet from the man-way, which is also adjacent to the hauiage-way. (iv) Upper seam stopes Access and broken ore removal methods are the same as for the Lower Seam and utilise the same man-way and ore chute rises. (Sketch No. 3 depicts the "Plan and sections of sucn a typical man-way and ore chute".) C. Mine development svstem (i) Main adit From the full opening 16 ft. x 7 ft., a piiot drive 9 ft. wide x 7 ft. high is advanced 10 ft. ahead of a 7 ft. wide stripping face in the dip of the bedding planes as shown in Sketch No. 4: "Plan 53. j: main mcnne development method' . The equipment used in this work is: 2 Atlas BBC 23W(Lions) rockdriils using B.H.T. 51 airiegs and integral tungsten carbide tipped chisei bits. 1 - 35 h . p. Ingersoll Rand Double Drum Scraper Hoist and 4 ft. Box-type Scraper Hoe. Shifts worked: Day and night shifts. Number of men: 3. Length of round drilled: 5 ft. 3 ins. Type of drive cut: 9 hole burn. Advance per round including stripping: 3 ft. Advance per 4 weeks: 90 to 100 ft. No. of holes per round: 45 to 50. Explosives: AN/FO., A. N. 60^0 primers, No. 6 detonators and safety fuse plus slow 'Ignitercord". Consu, mrption of explosives: Mucking operations: 18 l,b. s. oer f.t.. ad, vance, Night shut. Scraping of broken muck by hauler unit over a ramp onto No. 3 underground conveyor belt. Mullock disposal is from the ore pocket at the commencement of day shift. Working cycle: Bore and fire on day shift and muck out operation on night shift. (ii) Haulage Levels and adits Adits are the inclined cross-cuts between haulage ievels. The normal size - 9 ft. x 7 ft. The equipment used is: 1 Atlas BBC 23W (Lion) rockdrill with B.H.T. 51 air- leg. Integral tungsten carbide steel chisel bits. Eimco 12B mechanical loader of 20c.ft. capacity, also side tipping trucks, and a 7 ton Mancha battery-operated Hercules locomotive. 54. The method oi operation ;s Shifts worked Day and afternoon shifts. Number of men 3 Number of miners 1 Bogging crew 2, consisting oi loco-ariver and a mechanical loader operator. Length of round drilled 5'3 ins. Type of cut 9 hole burn. Advance per . round 4'6 ins. Advance per 4 weens 75 to 90 ft. Number of holes per round Explosives 32 to 34. AN/FO., A.N. 60% primer, No. 6 detonators, safety fuse. ''slow Ignitercord". Consumption 12 lbs. per foot advance. Working cycle Bore and fire on one shift and muck out the next shift. iii> Rises Normal size Equipment 7 ft. X 5 ft. Atlas BBD 46 W.S.8 (Falcon' stoper. integral tungsten carbide steei chisei. bits. 8 in. x li m. staging and 4 in. x 4 :n bearers on bearer pins. Operation Shifts worked - Day or afternoon. Number of men per shift 1 Number of rock drills -1 Length of round drilled - Type of cut - 5 ft. 3 ins. 6 or 7 hole burn. Number of holes per round - 26 Feed advance per shift - 2 ft. 6 ins. Explosives - asfor haulage levels. Consumption - 9 lbs.per ft. oi advance. D. Stone preparation svstem Initially, two rises: i.e. a man-way and an ore chute, are excavated, 15 feet apart and a connecting drive, 6 ft. x 5 ft. is then advanced in the Upper Seam from the man-way, across to the chute. This connection is then stripped out to a height of 6 ft. and a width of 12 ft. around the chute to allow sufficient space ior the installation of a scraper-hauler unit. Stope preparations (or drives; are then commenced in eastward and westward directions towards adjacent haulage ieveis, in the piane of the seams. These stope preparation headings primarily serve a threefold purpose:- fi) Ventilation by inter-connection between stopes of adjacent ieveis. (ii) Evaluation of fibre content of a biock of ore. (iii) Drainage of drilling water from the stoping operations. Two systems of advancing preparation headings are used: (i) 6 ft. x 5 ft. drive for rapid advance. (ii) 24 ft. wide. 40 ins. high heading tor production purposes. (See Sketch No. 5: "Typical stope preparation layout". E. Ore breaking (i) Method Bord and pillar mining at an average stope height of 40 ins. is used for the extraction of the fibre seams. Both seams are stoped where the grade of ore warrants it. Commencing initially from the preparation headings 10 ft. x 10 ft. pillars, 24 ft. apart are left behind as 24 ft. "flitches" are advanced. Each miner works two or three "flitches" (approximately 100 ft. for three faces) depending on the individual ability and the working area available. Miners are so placed to avoid broken ore being thrown into areas in which the following shift miners are to work. (ii) Tools in use Equipment in use is 1 Holman "Silver Three ' rockdnll and air leg per miner, using integral tungsten carbide steel chisel bit C 4513 56. The broken ore is recovered by, 15 to 25 h.p. double drum, electric scraper hoists, the size depending on the distance the broken ore has to be scraped. The rope used is 1-5/8" circumference 6 x 9 x 9 x 1 preformed Langsiay hemp core wire rope. 36" or 48" box type hoes with replaceable manganese wear plates and 8" diameter sheave blocks are used. Drilling: Miners per rock drill Maximum number of miners per stope - 1 4 Maximum number of miners per shift per stope - o Shifts worked - day and afternoon shifts Nil Length of hole drilled Average holes drilled per shift - 5'3" or 5'li". 22 Average ore broken per hole - 0.57 sq. yds. Blasting: Explosives used: A N /F O. , No. 6 detonator, safety fuse. Consumption - 1.1 lbs. per 'on Working cycle Bore and fire cn day-shift or after noon shift, with :r. scraping operatic r on the opposite ?h: (Refer to sketch No. 6 for a "Typical layout of working faces" (four miners). (iii) Ore transport (a) From the face Broken ore at the face is initially mucked (hand shovelled* back and then hauled by the scraper units to the ore chute. One or two men can handle the production of two miners, but this is dependent on individual ability and the scraper distances involved at the time. (Sketch No. 7 is a line "Diagram of ore removal" from the face to the mill.) (b) Ore haulage Broken ore from the chutes is loaded into rakes of 5 66 cu. ft. or 100 cu. ft. bottom dumping Granby cars, hauled by C 4314 3i. either a 5 ton or ' ton storage battery locomotive :o the ore transfer pockets. The broken ore m the Granby cars is emptied bv an automatic tipping device positioned opposite the ievei transfer. (c) Grizzly Broken rock is spailed through 14 in. x 10 in. openings on a grid grizzly located over the ore transfer chute or pocket. The purpose of the grid grizzly is to control the size of the iarger rocks and thus reduce the extent of the subsequent damage and wear and tear of ore chutes and the ore conveyor beits. (iv) Main ore conveyor belts The broken ore is fed from the transfer pockets to the conveyor belts by means of steel chutes equipped with Ross Feeders. These feeders are essentially a siowiy rotating curtain of 1 j" or 2 ' stud link chains designed to control the rate of flow or "rill" of the ore onto the conveyor belt. There are three 30 in. conveyor beits in series and they deliver the ore to the main mine pocket which is located above a tunnel about 100 ft. long, which emerges at the cliff face above :ne treatment plant. Some details of the belts are: BELT LENGTH SPEEDS MOTORS No. 1 conveyor No. 2 conveyor No. 3 conveyor- 1, 100 feet 1, 300 feet ' 400 feet 300 ft. per min. 60 h.p. A.E.i. 420 ft. per min. 60 h.p. A.E.I. 420 ft. per min. 20 h.p. A.E.I. The belting is 30 in. wide,6 ply cotton nylon fibre CN50. Capacity: Maximum 240 tons per hour. (This is controlled by No. 1 conveyor, currently being operated with a relatively slow reduction gear). Ross Feeders: Chute width Height from belt Chain links Drum speed Angle of chute 24 inches 13 inches 12" x 6" x 1^" T r.p.m. 50 4315 53. (v) Waste removal Muck from development ends is hauied by locomotive and 20 cu. ft. capacity side tipping trucks to muilock passes, opposite the ore transfer pockets. The muck is transported by the main conveyors to the mine ore pocket which has been previously emptied, and conveyed by the mill No. 1 conveyor belt and discharged througn a by-pass chute for disposal by motor truck. F. Equipment and services (i) Main mining equipment: a) Rock drills Type Number in use Task Atlas SBC 23 W Atlas BBD 64 W.S.8. Atlas BBD 43 Holman Silver Three 11 5 2 45 Development Rising Stoping Stoping b) Drill steel CoromantC.L. 426 714-1633 CoromantC.L. 426 714-1833 Width of insert - 33 m. m. Average drill steel life- 240 feet. (5'3") Development and sloping. {5'11") Stoping c) Drill sharpening Grinders: 2 x Sandvik Coromant 1400. One - air driven reserve. One - electric - in use. Air motor - 3300 r.p.m. Electric motor - 2800 r.p.m. d) Grinding wheels for drill steel Type used: "Cup wheel" 37 - C46 -K.V.K. Average number of steel grinds per wheel - 35 Average number of steel sharpened daily - 220 e) Fans: Primary ventilation 1 Richardson 60 A.F. fan driven by a 50 h.p. motor at 720 r.p.m. It exhausts 72, 000 c. f. m. at 1.25 ins. water gauge. 1 Richardson 60 V.A.C. fan driven by a 50 h.p. motor at 960 r.p.m. It exhausts 74, 000 c. f. m. at 0.8 ins. water gauge. C 431 6 59. Seconaarv ventilation IT x Meco E.F. 4 fans. Output 2 x Meco E.F. 6 tans. 8 x Richardson 2D fans. 4 x Richardson 24 SDt'ans. 4 x Richardson 4 SD fans. " 4 x Richardson 3D fans. 5000 - 6000 c.:. m. 2000 - 13000 c.f.m. 1500 - 2000 c.f.m. 5000 - 6000 c. f. m. 7000 - 8000 c. j. m. 6000 c.m. Ventilation ducting 10 in. x 16 in. canvas ducting - in the stopes. 18 in. '' Visqueen ' and 16 in. canvas ducting - to development ends. :') Cars and trucks 3 - 100 cu. :t. (Bottom dump type) - Granby. 12 - 66 cu. it. ' * 28 - 20 cu. it. Side tipping trucks. g) Mechanical loaders 6 - Eimco 12 B. "Boggers" or loaders powered by 2 x 10 h.p. air motors. Bucket capacity is 3^ cu. r*t. h) Scraper hoist units 1. 14-Joy type N211. 25 h.p. double drum scraper haulers. Rope speed: 250 ft. per minute. Rope pull : 4.600 lbs. Drum capacity: 408 ft. 9/16" loose coiled rope. 2. 9-Joy type J211. IS h.p. double drum scraper haulers. Rope speed: 250 ft. per minute. Rope pull: 1,800 lbs. Drum capacity: 154 ft. 9/16" loose coiled rope. 3. 2-Joy type B2F 311. 30 h.p. triple drum scraper hoists. (Note: only two of the drums are operated) Adaptable for remote or manual control. Rope speed: 300 ft. per minute. 4. 4-Holman type SJ 23 /236. 25 h.p. double drum scraper haulers. Adaptable for remote or manual control. Rope speed: 190 - 360 ft. per minute. Rope pull: 3,840 lbs. Drum capacity: 280 ft. 9/16" loose coiled rope. 5. 1-Ingersoll Rand. 35 h.p. double drum scraper hauler. Capacity: 650 ft. 9/16" loose coiled rope. 6. Scraper hoes. 4 ft. wide box type. Capacity 15 cwi. 3 ft. wiae box type. Capacity 5-8 cwt. Both types of hoes are fitted with replaceable manganese wear plates. j) Tractor-dozers 2 x Eimco 630 bulldozers powered by 2 -12 h.p. and 1 -7*h.p. compressed air motors. Weight 7, 980 lbs. 1 x Aiimak Alirobot bulldozer powered by 1 - 8$ h.p. air motor. Weight 3, 850 lbs. (The use of these machines is being developed to simplify the scraping operations. Their function would be to push the broken ore to tne fixed lines aiong which the scrapers jperate). k) Scraper rope 1 -5.8" circumference 6 x 9 x 9 x 1 hemp core preformed Langslay wire rope. i) Pumps 2 x.Consolidated pneumatic type C.P. 41. Discharge: 100 gallons per minute against 40 ft. static head. Used for pumping drainage water from development ends and stope headings. 1 x Holman sludge pump. Static head 50 ft. Discharge: 35 gallons per minute. 1 x Worthington (type W.S. 1 m) Haulage-way tracks Rails are 24 ft. and 30 ft. lengths and 45 lbs. per yard. Sleepers are 4ft. - 6 ins. x 4 ins. muiga. G. Electrical services (i) Change rooms and cap lamp room There are 3 - 110V - 3 phase rectifiers for cap lamp racks. (ii) Cap lamps These are 4.5 volt Edison electric cap lamps. Model L. (iii) Underground belt conveyors Numbers 1 and 2 conveyor belts are driven by 60 h.p. 440V motors started by direct-on-line starters. Number 3 belt is driven by a 20 h.p. - 440V motor started by a star-delta starter. (iv) Ross feeders The feeders are controlled by D.O.L. starters and the three conveyors and the feeders are interlocked. These feeders have 3 h.p. 1440 r.p.m., - 440V motors driven through reduction gears. C 4318 61. The remaining feeders (at No. C ievei). have the same interlocking system with 3 h.p. ? 10 r.p.m. 440V motors transmitting through reduction gears. (v) Main exhaust fans These are driven by 50 h.p. motors controlled by auto-transiormer starters. (vi) Secondary ventilation This is provided by two main types of fans using various h.p. motors. (vii) Hauler units These are driven by 35 h. p., 25 h. p. and 15 h. p. 440V motors controlled by D.O.L. O.J. 50 starters. (viii) Richardson tans These are driven by 440V motors and range from 3 to 25 h.p. (ix) Meco fans These are driven by 5 and 10 h. p. motors ail D. O. L. started. Power at the Mine Bench is supplied through a 500 kVA transformer stepping down 11,000V to 440V. The supply is controlled by a 600 amp oii circuit breaker, for the bench supply and Nos. 1 and 2 underground con veyors and for N'os. 1 and 2 loco charging stations. (x) Underground supply An 11, 000V feed cable runs underground to a sub station at No. 5 level. From this position a 500 kVA transformer provides power at 440V to Nos. 5, 6, 7 and 8 levels. Nos. 5 and 6 levels are protected by a 600 amp oii circuit breaker with 300 amp H.R.C. fuses tor each level. Nos. 7 and 8 levels ere protected by a 400 amp oil circuit breaker with a 300 amp H.R.C. fuse for each level. (xi) Locomotives 3 x Mancha type Hercules M.B.l. Rating 7 tons. h.p. 30. 6 x Batteries boxes - battery type 48K. A. 33/2. Each box consists of 12 batteries of 4 cells each. Make: Exide lead acid Kathanode cells. Capacity 512 amp-hours. 1 x English Electric. Type 1A. 2 x Battery boxes - type 48KCL. 19/2. Capacity 378 amphours. Group - 6 batteries of 8 cells each to a box. 52. (xii) Charging Rectifiers: 3 x Westinghouse. Type B.V.J. 43/100 A. C. input 415V. No. of ceils 48. Charging rate:* Main starting current 103 amps, finishing current 21 amps, equalising at 14 amps. 1 x Lancashire D.C. Generator I10V, 120 amps driven by a 25 h. p. 3 Brook motor at 1460 r.p.m. 1 x English Electric D.C. Generator 110V, 7 2 amps. H. Underground staff and training (i) Underground staff underground manager mine foreman chiei surveyor mine surveyor geologist technical officer 6 underground shift bosses storeman/first aid officer. (ii) Underground labour slope miners development miners bogging crews loco crews belt crew gnzziv-men platelayers pipefitters survev assistants sampler underground clerk steel sharpeners ventilation magazine "toolie" hygiene cap lamp attendant timbermen welders fitters fitters' assistants electrical electrical apprentice 35 12 8 10 3 6 3 2 2 1 1 1 2 3 1 2 1 4 3 4 2 4 1 116 {iii) Training Experienced labour underground has always been difficult to obtain. This is accentuated when increases in production are required or sustained high production rates demanded. 63. Two methods of training are empioyea:- a) After a short familiarization period underground the new men attend a miner or scraperman school depending on where their aptitude lies. Safety, and the requirements of the Mines Regulation Act are especially emphasized. fc>) [n some instances selected recruits are put to ' *- -work-with trusted and experienced miners or scraper men. Good results have been obtained by applying both methods of training. r I. Ventilation The mine is ventilated by two large Richardson exhaust fans, which deliver all intake air down-cast through the main incline. The air is delivered.along the various haulage levels from the incline, through service rises and thence through the stopes and back to the exhaust fans, positioned on No. 4 level, exhausting to the cliff face, also up the rise to Colonial Gorge by an exhaust fan located at the southern end of No. 5 level. The total intake has been measured as 103, 000 c. f.m. and the exhaust at 146, 000 c. f. m., the difference being due to air leakages into the mine. Secondary ventilation for development and for the stopes is provided by electrically driven Meco fans of 12 in. or 16 in. diameter and by a variety of Richardson fans, depending on the requirements of the local area. The air is delivered to the working faces through plastic or canvas ducting of 10 in., 16 in. or 18 in. diameter. J. Addendum (i) Development of the use of ammonium nitrate - carbon mixtures in place of conventional jellied ammonium nitrate explosives. Traditionally jellied explosives, consisting of ammonium nitrate crystals in grease-proof paper wrapped cartridges, have been used in mining operations. C 4321 01. About seven years ago changes, initiated overseas, were experimented with in Australia. These changes were basically tr.e use of ammonium nitrate crystals, in powder and peiietised form, mixed with fuel oil, raw sugar or molasses. The resuit of exploding a low propagation rate explosive (A.X..F.O. for example) in contact with a relatively high explosive (such as a nitro-glycerine-ammonium nitrate explosive) is to pro duce a nett explosive effect or propagation rate quantitatively more relative to the small amount of "high" explosive than to the low raTe ammonium nitrate. The ammonium nitrate crystals are mixed with fuei oil or sugar or moiasses and delivered into the hole in contact with either detonating fuse and A. X. gelignite m quarries, or with ccmmerc-.ai gelignite in the case of short underground holes. The initial developments were made in "down'' holes, i. e., vertical or inclined vertical holes in quarries but quite recent de velopments have been made in charging horizontal or inclined upward holes bv the use of equipment such as "Analoaders ' which assist the explosive mixture or slurry into the more-difficult-to-cnarge hori zontal ana "upper" holes. The method used at present is to insert a standard piug or cartridge of A. X. 60 geiignite in the bottom of the hole and to use a Xo. 6 detonator connected through safety fuse, the hole being charged with the A.X./ F.O. mixture, in firing a face, the safety fuses are connected to a line of "Slow Ignitercord" to the end of which is connected a few feet of safety fuse. This is lit using a fuse igniter and the succession of holes in the face is detonated thereby with relatively short interval delays between holes. By using A.X. /F.O. instead of traditional commercial explosives annual savings are expected to be to the order of not less than 30, 000 per annum. {ii> Gauge of drill steel The introduction of A.X. /F.O. has led to a reduction m drill steel diameter from 33 m. m. to 28 ra. m. At this gauge, indicated increased rates of boring are up to 30 per centand it looks like an increase of 10 per cent, or minimum increase from 20 to 22 holes bored per miner shift in the stoping operations. 'lii) Long wail mining experiments The method oi wonting the mine for manv years past mav oe described as open sloping, leaving behind approximately ten per cent of the ore m the form of a symmetrical pattern of rock pillars to support the roof or "back". At the best, this means that only 90 per cent oi the ex tractable ore developed is won and the pillars present sizeaoie physical problems m the recovery of the ore broken because thev foul scraper rope iines and entail time and money m rigging taii sheaves and "snatch" blocks and cause severe wear on scraper ropes and the scraper noes. A method developed for the not dissimilar winning oi coai in a coai mine is the long wall system. Broadly, the pre tor coal) is attacked on a long face and the roof behind is either per manently supported by timber or allowed to collapse, under control and with safety. !n October, I960 a long face was developed between the Xos. 2 and 3 levels on the Lower Seam and artificial bauiks of old 30 lb. raiis were "pig stied" to support the back. This development looked promising but was terminated by the "cave-m" caused by the earth tremor. However, valuable lessons were learned from this experience and related to the earth tremor experience. Accordingly, the southern end of the No. 5 level was determined as the locaie of the next stage of development ana the assistance of people expert in long-wall techniques was enlisted, notably South Africans. Prior to this, investigation of retrievable steei hydraulic props m place of static irretrievable baulks of timber, or steel had been given preliminary consideration as a means of controlled roof collapse and this will be a mam feature of the present long wall project. The use of hydraulic retrievable props is a sophisticated technique of quite high engineering standard, from a practical point of view. Because it is a sophisticated technique it demands sound engineering thinking in any new location or application. (This problem of stresses in rocks has been attacked by the Snowy Mountains Authority on a really big scale, in the investigation of the techniques of roof-bolting in tunnels and underground power house excavations). 66. However, a layout :or the second stage experiment :r. long wall stoping is illustrated in the pian at the end of this cnacter. The general principle is to provide on eacn'ilank of an advancing stope, a development and servicing drive amply supported and root bolted, and a long wail of soiid rock or adequate artificial supports to act as a barrier to stop any maior roof collapse between stopes. This drive is kept only a few feet'in advance of the wonting face so that roof collapse control is kept more or less on straight lines behind and parallel to the working face. The general principle of."propping" is to set up 3 lines o: props, and in succession, as the face advances the rear row is retrieved to aiiow the roof to collapse and the retrieved row set up again in front of the foremost row as the face advance is made - a "leap frogging ` exercise. The technique wiil require continued close and highlyskilled full time study by some competent person. it will be costly initially for the necessary number of hvdrauiic props and such ancillary equipment as strain and pres sure gauges. The rewards couid be lOOpercent extraction of tne ore, reduction of the present stope preparation costs, and an im provement in face ventilation conditions. C 4323 . 'cerg'cunc :ss 5*'it ::ss .ncerg'curc s:~'i ;nnge -SI j-c :in-.f5 ~'<ne oencn --r>e worxsnoo jnmarv c-usning section crusnefl ore surge om secondary crusnmg section treatment oiam mui administrative diock mm office and laboratory A.BJVs blue asbestos mine at Wittenoom View looking back from above mill administrative block (see top photo). Underground operations C 4325 Ane-ioafling" holts with ammonium nitrate-fuel oil mix ture. The close pattern of holes in the centre is a feature of the burn cut" where the maximum explosive effort is applied. The surrounding holes are referred to as "easers"--they help to PretK the face cleanly to the required dimensions. H.J A a T HO t 5 ***** \ \\ l i t( i t t l i 1 l K e CHAivi NO I 6 Sketch Ho. 2 I co t *N i ro : "'T U Seal : Mot To SeaJ i TYPICAL CROSS scrTinu l CHAftT N, O | 7 Sketch Mo 24 ! ! ! 1 C H AR.T NO I 6 Sketck No. 3 A& MAN WAV ,e' f 1 CHUTt i f[ M AULA Gt , LEVEL -4 A Plan UPP(R SEAM 4330 Section on A-A Manway Section on 8 6 Chute S c a 1 : A . M ft. 1 m a wi a kin OrATIAMA ft C H 6k RT mo i Sketch No 4- C 4331 !"t (X R. N, o iO Sktek N. 5 I! Z| oj i fi I c 4332 MAN WAY ft ORIVg HOUTH ii 1 z` '04 l <cg i NAN WAY O RE CHUTE / ,\ i .x l1 ti 1| 1l 1| 1 ). i i. ORE CHUTE ii 11 l1 i| 12 1 CM in (2| 1 Scale A p* fc- - -L TYPICAL STOPE1 CHART MO 21 Sketch No. 6 CM A ftT NO 22 Slcetck No. 7 <lv C 4334 Scale n \. 0-5.1 H i R "I NO -- O Ske+cW No & CHART NS 24. LONG WALL - PROP & CAVING METHOD C 4336 W AV C 4337 Chapter 8 Treatment operation (The Mill) A. Introductory - Ore treatment and fibre recovery B. Crushing section C. Treatment section (i) Tailings treatment plant D. Dust collection (i) Primary crushing section (ii) Secondary crushing section (iii) Treatment section E. Sackmaking factory F. Wear steel G. Power consumption H. Staffing and Labour A. Introductory - Ore treatment and fibre recovery The blue asbestos ore is crushed in several stages. At suitable points the fibre is separated from the rock particles, by aspiration, and subsequently cleaned by trommelling. The general principle is to remove fibre as soon as it is in an open or fibreised form to reduce fibre damage. Fines are by-passed before each stage of crushing to reduce con tamination of fibre by dust. The treatment plant is disposed below the mine adit, with the primary and secondary crushing sections and surge bins occupying positions down the steep face of the Gorge, thereby making maximum use of gravity flow of the materials. The main treatment section is located below, on the floor of the Gorge, as are the mill office, changerooms, first aid centre and in a separate new block, the Mill Superintendent 's office and the testing laboratory. The Rotoclone dust collecting equipment is also located on this level, as well as the tailings treatment plant and the tailings disposal bin. B. Crushing section Ore from the mine is delivered by the underground Nos. 1, 2 and 3 series conveyor belts in series to a 100 ton capacity ore "pocket". From this pocket the ore is fed by a 0 433S 68. Ross chain feeder to the No. 1 conveyor of the treatment plant, ana his beit emerges from the face of the Gorge from a 100 ft. long tunnei. This conveyor is 163 ft. long, 30 in. wide and travels at 200 ft. per minute, ft discharges to a 3 ft. .* 3 ft. live roll grizzly fitted with four shafts, of which only two are operated at present. This is done to increase the proportion of rock passing tc the sorting belt. The grizzly apertures are approximately If in. diameter. The grizziy undersize material gravitates to a 24 in. wide belt and the oversize to a picking or sorting belt, 19 ft. long, 42 in. wide and travelling at 55 ft. per minute. Six men are employed as pickers on each shift, three on each side cf the belt and they inspect the ore visually and throw out as much waste rock as possible in the available time. The rejected rock falls down chutes to a motor truck below. (Raises grade to 8W*. based on 18?* picking and 2.7 in. grade). At present 18-19 per cent of the total feed is sorted as waste and is practically free of fibre. The rule is that no rock is rejected if it shows any fibre. Usually 14-16 truck loads,each of 10 ton's is carted away each shift, at a cost of 1 per load or 2/- per ton of reject or 5d. per ton of ore fed to the plant. (8/- per ton of fibre'. The rejected rock is dumped over the side of the access road to the mine bench within about a quarter of a mile of the piant and this serves a useful purpose in widening the narrow track to the bench. From the picking belt (No. 2 conveyor) the ore discharges to a 36 in. x 24 in. Kue Ken jaw crusher set to 4 in. and driven by a 50 h.p. motor. The crushed ore gravitates to No. 4 conveyor which is 34 ft. long, 24 in. wide and travels at 270 ft. per minute and thus joins the rolls grizzly undersize on this belt. (Note: there is no No. 3 conveyor - this number is reserved for possible extension of the picking system). No. 4 conveyor delivers the ore to a 70 in. x 40 in. Symons vibrating bar grizzly whicn has fixed bar apertures, 1 in. wide. The grizzly undersize gravitates to No. 5 conveyor 90 ft. long, and'24 in. wide running at 270 ft. per minute and the oversize to a 4^ ft. standard Symons crusher fitted with a coarse bowl normally set to l| in. and driven by a 175 h.p. synchronous motor. Bowl and mantle 59. The vibrating oar grizzly and the Symons crusner discharge gravitate to No. 5 conveyor 90 ft. long, 24 in. wide ana travelling at 270 ft. per minute, for delivery to an "air blast separator"' situated over a nominal 1,500 ton ore bin. The ore from No. 5 conveyor is transferred to No. 5X, a short transverse conveyor, installed to facilitate central loading of the bin. At the transfer point where me -.rushed ore stream flows from No. 5 belt to No. 5X belt, an air blast supplied bya 24s D Richardson fan, through two nozzles 6 in. apart vertically, creates two jets directed at the ore stream. Fines, containing free fibre, are blown over an adjustable blade and diverted through a chute to a 150 ton "fines " surge tin, situated at the iower, (secondary crusher) ievei. The heavier particies fail freely cn the near side cf the adjustable p;ate, into the main 1500 ton bin. The discharge of ore from the bin is regulated by 2 - 12 it. x 20 in. Perrot Vance apron feeders from four bin openings. The speed of the feeders can be regulated in the range 2 ft. - 11 ft. per minute by the use of a Reeves speed reducer. Both feeders discharge to No. 6 conveyor belt, 38 ft. long, 24 in. wide travelling at 164 it. per minute, which conveys the ore to a transfer point, to No. 8 conveyor 68 ft. long, 24 in. wide and 164 ft. per minute. At this transfer point a second air biast separator is located. The loose fibre and fines from the first air blast separator are fed from the 150 ton bin, using a small push plate feeder, to No. 7 conveyor belt, a 68 ft. long 18 in. belt running at 164 ft. per minute. The fines and fibre separated by the second air blast are also handled by this conveyor which delivers the mixture of locse. generally damp, fibre and fine rock particles (through ? in.; to the rotary drier. This drier is direct oil fired, parallel air/ore flow 4 ft. 9 in. diameter x 59 ft. long and operates at a slope of 2 at 6 r. p. m. It has 10 sets oi lifters arranged-staggered and the first section is 10 ft. long. This set is truly radial and the succeeding sets are bent. The burner, using diesel fuel at the rate of up to 16 gallons per hour, is a Major U16. C 4340 TO. Inlet gas temperatures run up to 800F the exit temperature maximum should be i60 F, ana the gas flow 4,000 c.f.m. The coarse ore traction separated at the second air blast is conveyed by No. 8 conveyor to a 4 ft. Symons short head crusher, fitted with a fine bowl, usually set to y in. and driven by a 200 h.p. motor. The 4 it. Symons is located over No. 9 conveyor beit 14 ft. long, 24 in. wide, 164 ft. per minute and discharges to it tor delivery to the first stage of screening. Also, the dried material from the drier is conveyed by a parallel (un-numbered) conveyor beit to this first stage of screening. By means of a splitting chute and a transverse conveyor, both the crushed and the dried products are fed to 2 12 ft. x 4 ft. Nordberg Symons screens, fitted with 3/8 in. aperture screen cloths. The screen undersize material is delivered by an 18 in. belt to a 4 ft. 6 in. x 14 ft. long cleaning trommel rotating at 9 r. p. m. The trommel screen apertures are 3/32 in. The trommel undersize, ("grit") is a reject and is conveyed, by a declined conveyor belt (18 in wide) to the main tailings conveyor (No. 17), which delivers tailings from the piant to the tailings bin. The oversize material from the Nordberg Symons screens gravitates to 2 - 3 ft. Symons short head crushers, fitted with fine bowls and usually set to 1/8 in. and driven by 75 h.p. motors. The discharge from both crushers is conveyed to the fine ore surge bin, (1,500 tons nominal capacity) 31 ft. diameter x 48 ft. high, by No. 10 conveyor, which is 66 ft. long and is 24 in. wide and travels at 264 ft. per minute. The oversize from the 4 ft. 6 in. x 14 ft. trommel is also discharged to, and conveyed by, this conveyor to the surge bin. To this stage, the ore has been reducedto generally less than 3/8 in. and is a mixture of rock and loosened fibre. Some particles of rock are still attached to the ends of crude lumps of fibre requiring further treatment. 454^ c. Treatment section From the 1,500 ton surge bin the ore is fed to three parallel and pracxicaily identical treatment iines or Tegs '. Each leg has a maximum capacity of 25 - 30 tons of ore per hour, the normai rate being 18 - 20 tons per hour and the total fibre production from ail three legs is from 3.2- 3. 5 tons of fibre per hour from average grade ore. (8wa). At 90 per cent operating time this is equivalent to 330 tons per 6 day continuous-operation-week ('approximately 20, 000 tons of fibre per annum). There are three conveyor beits, 13 in. -.vide, running at 214 ft. per minute, numbered 11A, 11B and 11C respectively and one Wiluna type gravity type feeder, located over each belt, regulates the feed of ore from the bin. To simplify the description of the flow sheet from this point, only one leg is described. For example, one of the No. 11 conveyors delivers to a Kubit mill, which is an impact mill, but in fact is used as a fibreiser and is driven by a 25 h.p. motor. In this mill, the rock-fibre mixture is subjected to impact by rotating manganese steel beaters flailing the material against manganese steel anvils. To some degree, further reduction of the rock particles is obtained, but the principal function is to detach and "open up" the crude lumps of fibre. Wear and tear on Dealers and anvils is extremely severe and replacement costs for wear parts very high. The Kubit mill discharges onto No. 12 conveyor which is 6 ft. 6 in. long, 24 in. wide and travels at 194 ft. per minute and this conveyor delivers the ore to the boot of a bucket elevator, fitted with 12 in. x 6 in. buckets. The speed of the elevator is 415 ft. per minute and it elevates the ore 14 ft. to 2 12 ft. x 4 ft. Nordberg Symons screens, fitted with 3/32in. aperture screen cloths. The undersize material from the 12 ft. x 4 ft. screens passes direct to tailings on the (No. IT) tailings conveyor. The screen oversize gravitates to a Hazemag fibreising mill, in which t_he most substantial part of the fibreisation is accomplished. The rotor of this unit is 34 in. diameter and is fitted with S manganese steel beaters ("blow bars"), each 26 in. wide, bolted to brackets c 4342 on the periphery or' the rotor. The cost oi replacement wear parts :n the Hazemag mill is extremely high. The material entering the miil is picked up by tne rotating beaters and impacted against the adjustable steel striking piates. slung from the roof of the casing, which encloses the rotor. These striking plates, being adjustable, can give varying degrees of fibreisation, as required. The Hazemag mill discharge is conveyed by a short conveyor, (No. 13) 8 ft. long, 24 in. wide, travelling at 194 ft. per minute to a second bucket elevator, identical to the one described earlier. From this elevator the ore discharges to 2 12 ft. x 4 ft. Xordberg Symons screens having 3; 32 in. mesh, wnich combine tne functions of separating grit and fibre and aspiration ior wuhdrawaii of fibre from the screen deck. This is accomplished by a suction hood located near the discharge end of the screen. This hood has a 30 in. x 9 in. pick up area, transversely across the screen, under suction to a S, 000 c. f. m. cyclone separator and assisted by a Venturi design incor porated between the pick up mouth and the 8 in. square ducting delivering to the cyclone. The cyclone fan is a Richardson 3 SD unit. The upper section of the cyclone is 4 ft. 9 in. D. x 4 ft. 5 in. high and the conicai bottom section is 4 ft. 9 in. D. x 9 ft. long. The cyclone separates a substantial part of the fine dus: from the fibre and the air flow transfers it to the mam dust collection system. Discharge of fibre from the apex of the cone is regulated by a Turner rotary air valve, to No. 18 conveyor 51 ft. long,24 in. wide, speed 214 ft. per minute, for transfer to the cleaning section. The 12 ft. x 4 ft. screen undersize and aspirated over size material gravitates to No. 14 conveyor, 24 ft. 9 in. long, 24 m. wide, speed 214 ft. per minute and transfers to Nos. 15 and 16 con veyors also 24 in. and 214 ft. per minute, to deliver the material to the tailings treatment p^ant. At this stage of the treatment practically the bulk of the fibre has been separated from the rock. Xo. 13 conveyor:eeds 2 - 12 ft. x3 it. Xoraoerg cleaning screens fitted with 1. 16 in. aperture screen cloths, for tr.e removal m further grit, and a second stage of aspiration, similar to the previous one. In this case the fibre is aspirated from the screens and passes to Prosser fibreisers and thence to a cvcione unit of 4000 c.f.m. capacity. It is 4 ft. 9 in. diameter and 11 ft. 6 in. overaii height. The discharge from the cvcione gees to a cleaning trommei 4 ft. 6 in. diameter x 14 ft. long operating at a slope of 3. The trommei cloth has 1 3 in.and 1 16 in. apertures and trommei the undersize is conveyed to tailings as a reiect. The Prosser fibreiser runs at 3000 r.p.m. and is essentially a 30 in. rotating disc i? in. wide. The periphery ana sides of the Prosser wail casing are fitted with renewable corrugated manganese steel wear plates which contribute to the process o: opening of the fibre. Hot air delivered by a 2 D fan from a wood fire is delivered to the outside of the trommel cloth which is sheathed m a metal casing for this purpose and so the fibre receives its final drying. At the Xo. 1 trommei discharge, the fibre is elevated to .Vo. 2 trommei by a bucket elevator, 24 ft. 6 in. high navmg a belt 16 in. wide fitted with 16 in. x 6 in. buckets and travelling at 41: ft. per minute. This is the final cleaning stage and this trommei is identical with the No. 1 trommel, except that the screen paneis are 1/4 in. and 3/8in. aperture and no hot air is employed. In both Nos. 1 and 2 trommels, a beater shaft with beater arms has been installed to pick up the fibre and beat :: against the trommel cloth, to liberate dust and grit. The cleaned fibre passes to the bag press for bagging, and the undersize material from the No. 2 trommei is fed to the "Cobra" mill circuit. The purpose oi .us circuit is to liberate further smaii pieces of rock which may still be attached to small "pencils" of fibre. The 1/4 in. - 3/8 in. mesh on the trommel No. 2 allows these small pencils to pass out of the system. The rock is separated from the pieces of fibre while passing through the Cobra mill c 4344 . 74. fibreiser. The treated material passes back to Nos, 2 and 3 treatment circuits at the beginning of the cleaning stage and re-cyciec. Bags are filled to 100 lbs. nett by a hydraulically operated press or baler. Fibre is delivered to a weigh hopper by a 36 in. conveyor and is automatically weighed and dropped through pneumat ically operated doors to the compression chamber. Castrolite 20-W20-30 Castrol oil is used in the hydraulic circuit, which operates Nos. 1 and 2 rams to form the plug of asbestos,and the No. 3 ram ejects the plug into the bags. A fourth pneumatically operated ram provides some re sistance to the piug as it is iorced into the bag and in this way the bag is .tightly tilled. Maximum press pressure is 1,300 p.s.i. or. the final ram. Bags are check-weighed after filling, and loaded onto pallets each holding 35 bags. . -..Palleted fibre is handled by fork lift truck, (Tew motor', having a 14 ft. lift and 5, 000 lb. load at 24 in. centre. A contractor hauls the bags of fibre to the shipping port at Point Samson using 28 ton loads, at a contract price of approx.mat's ly 4.10. 0. per ton, but some bagged fibre is transported by roaa :<. Perth as back-loading for the refrigerated road service van. (i) Tailings treatment plant This makes additional recovery of fibre as follows: All material, ore plus a small quantity of fibre, passing over Nos. 3 and 4 screens of the treatment section, after aspiration on all three treatment circuits, is retreated in this plant. The material is elevated in a bucket elevator, 25 ft. higr. fitted with a 16 in. belt. 4 ft. 6 in. diameter and 12 in. buckets travelling at 415 ft. per minute and delivering to a rotating trcmmei, 14 ft. long. The undersize passes through 1/8 in. mesh to a 10 ft. x 4 ft. vibrating screen and the fibre is aspirated to No. 2 cyclone c: -r.e first treatment circuit. The oversize passes to a Hazemag fibreiser in which some of the crude lumps are fibreised, and delivered to a standard 12 ft. x 4 ft. Nordberg Symons screen. From this screen aspirated fibre passes to No. 1 cyclone of No. 1 treatment leg. 0. AU of the remaining material passes to Xo. 17 {tailings .onveyor for disposal to waste. Tailing is trucked to dumps at convenient piaces in the Gorge by a contractor at the rate of 1 ,'l^d. per ton up to 12. 000 tons per 2 weeks; above 12, 000 tons a flat rate of 1 / - per ton. The same contractor handles the mullock and bagged fibre to the c<fe. - D. D collection (i) .% 'Primary crushing section The Warman "field" type collection unit is being replaced by the first unit of the new ''Amerjet" system. (ii) Secondary crusning section At this point there is a 28N Rotocione wet collection unit powered by a 150 h.p. motor. A new Amerjet unit is being installed to collect dust from selected points in this area, i. e. the 4 ft. and 2 : Symons crushers, the vibrating screens, the cleaning trommel and X 10 conveyor. (iii) Treatment section One 48N Rotocione wet collection unit is connected to each treatment circuit to provide aspiration and to collect dust. The capacity of the three units is about 150,000c.i.m. and there is a 200 h.p. motor on each unit. Power consumption is a little more than 50% of the total h.p. consumed in the whole milling operation. E. Sackmaking factory All sacks used at Wittenoom are made at the mine. The work force consists of four women, two sewing, one cutting and one branding. Hessian is passed across a cutting table three bags m length and a "Lightning" rotary cutter, electrically operated, is used to cut bags to correct length for sewing. Two "Union" special sewing machines are used to sew the bottom and one side. Each machinist is capable of 1,000 sacks per working day. All bags are stencilled through a stencilling machine, the colour being coded to suit the particular grade of fibre. All work is carried out on a contract basis of l|d. per sack or at the basic wage, whichever is greater. Life of Wear Parts. The most severe wear occurs in the fibreising units. Ha2emag Impact Mill. {Three units in operation) Manganese steel beaters - life is 48 hours at a throughput rate of 20 tons per hour equivalent to approximately 1,000 tons of ore. Each unit has six beaters and the weekly usage is 18 costing 8 each. Kubit Impact Mill. Beater life is 96 hours at a throughput rate of 20 tons per hour equivalent to 2,000 tons of ore. Four cutting edges are provided in this design. The beaters cost 8 each. Prosser Fibreiser. (Two units in operation) Beater life is T2 hours (fibre handling only). There are four beaters in each mill but the cost is only 1 each. Crushing Units. Kue Ken Jaw Crusher. Both the swing jaw and the fixed jaw are for a single liner, each valued at 243. The liner life is approximately six months and handles about 150, 000 tons of ore. 4j ft. Symons Crusher. Four sets of mantles and bowl liners used per year. The life of each liner is about three months equivalent to approximately 75, 000 tons of ore. Cost of the bowl liner is 304 and the mantle 216. 4 ft. Svmons Crusher. * Twelve sets of mantles and bowl liners used per year. Each set lasts about one month equivalent to approximately 25, 000 tons. Cost of the bowl liner is 240 and the mantle 224. 3 ft. Symons Crushers. (Two operating) Fourteen sets of mantles and bowl liners used per year and the life is about 26 days equivalent to approximately 10, 000 tons crushed. The liners cost 110 each. Leu die coanog* by.paxted by the gmliei which would be in excel* of 30% of the cniihis9 Jtaaon throughput. G. Power consummion The totai power consumption in the mill is as roilows: primary crushing section secondary treatment section dust collection and aspiration tailings treatment bagging plant 4. 1% 15. 0% 20.7% 51.5% $.5% i. 2% 100% Of the totai power generated in the power house for tr.e whole of the mine and the town, the milling operations consume about 60%. Some power consumption details are tabulated on the following page, showing the range of kWh per ton of fibre, at varying rates of throughput, together with the percentage of total power generated. Fibre production per week Kilowatt hours per ton fibre (Mill) % Totai power generated m Power House 450 400 350 340 400 450 54% 60% 68% H. Staffing and Labour The breakdown of mill staff and labour based on normal operations of three shifts per day is : Staff: Total 1 mill superintendent 1 mill foreman 1 quality control officer 3 shift bosses. * 6 men 434ft 73. Labour: (a) Dav work Total 1 clerk 1 quaiity control officer's asst. 1 greaser 1 hygiene man 1 fitter 1 welder 1 sheet metal worker 2 fibre loading * fibreiser maintenance crew. * 13 men (Semi-skilled men who receive operators rate of pay). (b) Shift work Primary crushing: 2 shifts only (day and afternoon shifts) 8 men per shift as follows: 1 leading hand I Ross chain feeder hand 6 pickers Total = 2 shifts 16 men Secondary crushing: 3 shifts 3 men per shift 1 leading hand I leading hand's asst. 1 cleaner Total s 3 shifts 9 men Treatment section: 3 shifts 10 men per shift 3 circuit operators 3 bag press (includes 1 fork-lift truck dr:\eri 1 Rotoclone operator 2 cleaners 1 quality sampler Total = 2 shifts 30 men Total labour is 68 men Total staff is 6 men (Labour: 60% Italian, 25% Australian, 15% other nationalities/. Treatment and bagging operations Prossar Fibreiser and cyeiona unit. Hydraulic baler. enack weign seal* and sawing maeflina. Sacks are loaded on to a fork-litt truck Ballot. f That is a view of tne oortai or tne mam aoit snowing a cattery ocomotive snunting, a rase or empty true** out on to tne mine oencn. The fan ano ducting aoove the portal taxes oust from tne mine oocxet wnere tne ore is trans ferred "om unaergrouno to tne mm. The timoer m tne foreground as for support of the root unaergrouno m areas affected oy the recent fail. c 4350 exploratory drilling: one of tne Schramm drill rigs drilling Hole No. 34 on "Drillers' Range." M ILLIN G FLOW SHFP LU N G FLOW SHEE Chapter 9 Engineering department A. Responsibilities B. Power and Air Supply (i) Power House (ii) Air compressors C. Workshops D. Transport E. Water Supply A. Responsibilities The engineering department generally is responsible tor the maintenance of all plant and machinery in the mine, mill, power house and garage, and all buildings in the settlement and town. It is also responsible for all internal road, water supplies, drainage and sewerage, the generation and distribution of power and the supply of compressed air for underground operations. It is required to plan for future development; undertake all alterations, improvements and installations, except anything on a major scaie, wnich is usuailv done on contract, but is still supervises cv the Chief Engineer. Each engineering department has a staff foreman who is responsible to the Chief Engineer for the running of his own depart ment. The engineering staff and personnel strength is usually around 120. Trade groups represented are; fitters and turners, electrical trades, welders, carpenters, painters, oiumbers, engine drivers. The Engineering Department is responsible for the generation and distribution of power and for the supply of compressed air for r'r.z 43 56 35. MT. GOLDSWORTHY GROUP. - Consolidated Goldfields (Aust.) Pty. Ltd. . A.C.T., .-.ustraiia. - Utah Construction i: Mining Co., Delaware, L'.S.A. - Cyprus Mining Corporation, N'ew York, L'.S.A. Head Office: 15 O'Conneil Street, 5ydnev. W. A. Office: R. Belliveau, C. M. L. Building, St. George's Terrace, Perth. Sharenoiding: Equai percentage each company. Area under Reserve: 2,062 square miies. Location of Reserve: Port Hedlana - Goldsworthy West of Marble Bar. Roebourne - Pt. Samson area. Plan reference: Sheet 14 of the DeGrev area. Sheet 13 of the Onslow area. Anticipated town facilities Reported to be considering two settlements - (a) Mine fb) Port. Fort facilities: Regard Depucn Island as most likeiv. Haulage: Rail from mine to port site probably 125 miies. Other information: Copy of newspaper cuttings regarair. Export Licence. Copy of Iron Ore {Mt. Goldsworthy' Agreement. An agreement has been entered into between the Mt. Goldsworthy group and the State of Western Australia which provides 291,000 to be spent on geological exploration and investigation of townsites, port sites, rail line, overall economics, etc. This to be completed inside two years. If at the end of two years the group decides to continue they must build townships, construct a port and a railroad etc. Payments to Government are to be "i9* of o.b. price of ore as a royalty (min. 4/6 per ton), and 2/6 per ton or minimum 75, 000 per annum as charges for rental of land on which port facilities wiil be erected. 435? 36. The present idea is a causeway three miles tong irom the mainland to Depucn Island, a port on the island for 40, 000 ton ships and a railway from Mt. Goldsworthy to Depuch Island. Capital cost is expected to be 23 million to 30 million. The group has been granted a licence to export a total of 64, 000, 000 tons of ore. Rate of export is hoped to be 4 5, 000, 000 tons per annum. b) HAMERSLEY IRON PTY. LTD. - Rio Tinto Southern Pty. Ltd. - Kaiser Corporation, U.S.A. - Conzinc Ltd. Head Office: W.A. Office: Shareholding: Area under Reserve: Location of Reserves: Plan reference: Anticipated town facilities: Port facilities: Haulage: Current activities: Conzinc Rio Tinto (Aust.) Pty. Ltd. 95 Collins Street, Melbourne. J. Hohnen, T. k G. Building, St. George's Terrace, Perth. Equal proportion each Company. 1,168 square miles- To west of Wittenoom, approximate 60 miles. This is the nearest deposit to Wittenoom. Sheet 14 of the DeGrey area. Sheet 13 of the Onsiow area. Dependent upon location of port but currently investigating the availability of land m the Roebourne area. This is still the subject of conjecture and thorough investiga tion. Pt. Samson -Cossack area not discarded at this stage. Understood to be by rail. Intense surface drilling programme at Boolgeeda (area 60 miles West of Wittenoom). 100 men engaged in site. Negotiating Iron Ore Agreement with W.A. Government. Over 300, 000 has been spent to date on exploration etc. c) 3R0KEN HILL PROPRIETARY CO. Operating as a single company. Head Office: Melbourne Perth Office: Mr. Chessel, T. & G. Building, St. George's Terrace, Perth. Area under Reserve: 1, 330 square miles. Location of Reserves: Deepdale area east of Onslow, Roy Hill. Plan reference: Sheet 14 of the DeGrey area. Sheet 13 of the Onslow area. Town and port facilities: Yet unknown but understand survey of coast line just completed. Probably aim to locate port with minimum haulage between mine and harbour. Current .activity; Surface exploration and drilling. d) A. S. HILDITCH &. C.H. WARMAN. - Details of company formation unknown. Head Office: C/- Jackson McDonald & Co., 55 St. George's Terrace, Perth. Shareholding: Unknown. Area under Reserve: 1, 349 square miles. Location of Reserve South of Roy Hill Station in the Ophthalmia Ranges, Plan reference: Sheet 14 of the DeGrey area. Other information: Unknown. e) BASIC MATERIALS CO. PTY, LTD. - Garrick Agnew Pty. Ltd. - Cleveland Cliffs of America. Head Office: 167 St. George's Terrace, Perth. Shareholding: Unknown. Area under Reserve: 246 square miles. Location of Reserves: East of Onslow and Southof Roebourne. 38. Plan reference: Other information: Sheet 13 of the Onsiow area. Unknown. iii) Other iron ore reserves granted throughout the State. Bell Bros. - Guildford, W.A. 100 sq. miles in the Kimberiey Division A. McDonald - South Perth, W.A. 49 sq. miles in the Yalgoo area. Hancock Prospecting - Victoria Avenue, Perth W.A. Area not known but iocated south or Onsiow. R. Batchelor - Claremont, W.A. 293 sq. miles in the Derby area. H. B. Moncrieffe - Mullewa, W.A. 1 sq.mile in the Yalgoo area. R, Svnott - Esperance, W.A; 4 sq. miles, Joyner's Find area. A. Acton - Ravensthorpe, W.A. 2 sq. miles, Ravensthorpe area. H. Young - Wyndham, W.A. 50 sq. miies, Kimberley area. E. Rick - Perth. W.A. 11 sq.miles, Marble Bar area. Metal Traders (Aust.) Ptv. Ltd. - Perth. W.A. 50 sq. miles, Hamersiey Range area. (14th June, 1963). _________________ i r o ul z </> << ui o c z<9 4 Ul X </> MULGA DOWNS ro *c zbi* iO --xl/ -- hi H T f 2442 APPROX. 5 lOOa mc zri"'MC 2tef* 300 200 _________ 300 MC 2 If TEMPORARY MINISTERIAL RESERVE MC 278w ' Mc 28^ 300 MC 21^* C 4361 200< 300* -i-,. L 300* 300 MC 279 MC 282 MC 2S3 MC 2 300. 300. i 270 270 BEE GORGE -- y,-- \ MC 25^ \ MC 24<f* \ MC 256 ---- 300 a MC 257 300 MC 275 300* 29 \ 2*3 MCtM** \ 11 1 , MCzin MC 2li* I* MC|255 JOfO* 300. l MC 2l/* 300a IOO* MC 109** MC 15^. -4I MC 107 300 300. MC ziT MC 206 MC274 30ba 300 MC 20^"* MC lid" 300a 300 MC 108 300* MCI ZCwP* MC 207** MC 204** MC 203** MC 202?** MC 277*^ MC zscT 300 a 200 a 300 MC 2tr MC 278 MC 281 300 300 a 300. MC Z\JT MC 21^* MC 2I71 300 MC 200a 300* 300* 300 300. 300. 300. ... .A..f ..L . i 11 MC 279** MC 282** MC 283** MC Ze/* MC 285** MC 286** MC 28 300. C 4362 300. 270 270 270 a 270 270 WITTE NOOM v zof* MC Z\cF 300 * _ 300* J* ......... . MC 21^ MC 220** 230* `T MC 56** 271** MC 221^ m MC 222 300 MC 225*r 300a ISO a ii i MC 224W MC Z23W 300* ;r MC 2M 300. C 4363 300* 273 a 273 a t 273 a . J t PACPC UCI n AY AUSTRALIAN BLUE ASBESTOS PTY. LTD. AT JUNE 1963 NOTE:- THE LEASES OUTLINED IN RED ARE THOSE REFERENCE. . #.W` BROKEN HILL PROPRIETARY C.tM HANCOCK A WtlOHT, RIO tINTO comsouGated solohelds BASIC MATERIALS C*. Pty. Lxo. HIIOITCH A WARMAM C.tt.WARNAH A C*. SYONEY fw~| CD WHITE AStESTOS (S.H.STU8B3) (MARBLE BAR) MINISTERIAL RESERVE GD MISCELLANEOUS C 4364 r u rn N oc i m t 436b MAIN PROSPECTING AREAS FOR IRON ORE NORTHWESTERN WEST AUSTRALIA Chapter 6 Geology Geology of the blue asbestos deposits of the Hamerslev Ranges by K. J. Finucane, Consultant Geologist June, 1963 Introduction The Hamersley Ranges are located in the North- West Division of Western Australia and extend, approximately, between latitudes 21 30' to 23S and longitudes 117 to 120E. Their mean height above sea level is 2, 000 feet and they rise from 600 to 800 feet above the general level of the tableland extending south-east from the coastal town of Roebourne. Mt. Bruce, the highest peak, rises to 4, 024 feet above sea level. The ranges are intersected by numerous north-flowing streams, dry during the greater part of the year, which over the ages have carved deep gorges and it is in these that the principal deposits of crocidolite outcrop. The presence of the mineral had been known for many years, the first official record being in 1917, when reports of a strong market demand for crocidolite, in 1937-38, resulted in con siderable prospecting and mining activity, particularly in Yampire, Wittenoom and Dale's Gorges. It was further established that the blue asbestos belt extended from Willi Wolli Springs north-west to Millstream Station, i. e. over a length of 180 miles and a width of 20 to 30 miles. A number of attempts were made to develop and treat the Yampire and Wittenoom Gorge occurrences from 1939 through to 1945 but for a variety of reasons none of these proved successful. Production by Australian Blue Asbestos commenced in 1944 and has continued since then. Operations have been concentrated in Wittenoom Gorge, initially in the Wittenoom Mine and since January, 1959, in the Colonial Mine, there being a transition period 40. in the transfer of production from one mine to the other. Details of ore production are shown in Appendix 1 to this chapter. Previous investigations A number of scientific papers, geological and mining reports have been published on the crocidolite deposits by State and Commonwealth Government officers and various investigations have been made by officials of Australian Blue Asbestos Ltd. The results of these are summarised below and, while the knowledge of the deposits is steadily accumulating, the total available only emphasises the need for a more thorough and complete study than has been undertaken previously. In 1929, a brief paper on the occurrence of blue asbestos in the Hamersley Ranges was presented before the Royal Society of W.A. by the late Dr. E.S. Simpson, who was then State Government Analyst and Mineralogist and had an extensive knowledge of Western Australian minerals. A report on crocidolite occurrences in Yampire Gorge was made by Mr. F.G. Forman, then Government Geologist, in 1937 and is published in the Annual Report of the Geological Survey for that year . In the following year, Mr. J.S. Foxail examined the workings in Wittenoom Gorge and his description of the Upper and Lower Seams and the Knapping Seam and workings thereon are contained in the Annual Report of the Mines Department for 1938. A more detailed report was made on behalf of the Aerial, Geological and Geophysical Survey of Northern Australia by the writer, in 1938, and covered Yampire, Dale's and Wittenoom Gorges. The primary object of this was to draw attention to the nature and extent of the deposits and their economic possibilities. Limited staff and time made it impossible to concentrate on other than the essential features. In 1942 the W.A. Geological Survey published Bulletin 100 in which Dr. Keith Miles dealt in considerable detail with the petrology, mineralogy and microscopic characteristics of the crocidolite and associated rocks, while Mr. J.S. Foxail described Yampire, Dale's and Wittenoom Gorges and also the Marramamba area. In addition Mr. Foxail dealt with economic aspects of the deposits and drew attention to their size and the prospects of establishing an industry based on the production of blue asbestos. C 4369 41. Reports on the occurrences at Willi Wolli Springs, Marramamba and Yampire Gorge have been made also by technical officers of Australian Blue Asbestos Pty. Ltd. and detailed sampl ing plans are available of most of the Main Yampire workings and of part of the Intermediate Series. These form part of mine records. Geological work over the past three years has been con centrated in the area north and south of the Colonial and Wittenoom Mines and west beyond Bee Gorge with the object of delineating key marker horizons to aid the drilling programme and ultimately establish an accurate structure-contour plan of the area. A limited amount of broader reconnaissance work has been carried out in Yampire and Dale's Gorges and near Joffre Creek in order to consolidate the background and regional aspects of the geological investigation. The stratigraphy and sequence of beds over a thickness of 500 to 600 feet has been reasonably well established in the immediate host rocks of the crocidolite seams but it has not been possible to extend the scope of the work beyond the immediate mine environment or to delineate the detailed structural features of the Wittenoom Colonial Mine area; nor has it been possible to correlate the Wittenoom-Yampire-Dale's group with a view to delineation of favour able areas for exploratory drilling. Lack of time and the need to consolidate the Colonial Mine operation have precluded any major attempt to expand the scope of the work with the staff available. Qeology Rock types throughout the ranges comprise an appreciable thickness of almost horizontally bedded ferruginous or hematite quartzites, quartzites, shales, calcareous shales, dolomites and bands of limestone, together with thin bands of riebeckite rock. These form part of the Nullagine Series, of Proterozoic age, and probably represent the upper portion of it. The crocidolite occurs as conformable seams of cross fibre and the immediate host rocks constitute a reasonably well defined horizon, possibly 400 to 450 feet thick with the principal bands of fibre concentrated in the lower section. Generally, it occurs in hematite quartzites in proximity to beds of dolomite or 42. calcareous shale or to thin beds of bluish coloured, fine grained riebeckite rock. Light coloured, thinly bedded shales, with occasional limestone beds a few feet thick, occur below the fibre zone and these are well evidenced in road cuttings and in creek and talus exposures. They are softer and less resistant than the quartzites. Outcrops in the higher country, above the fibre zone, comprise quartzites with occasional beds of shale in which there is rather less iron than is characteristic of the rock types in closer proximity to the productive beds. In general the beds are horizontal or only gently dipping but there is a definable amount of warping in some areas, with shcrt, restricted zones of buckling, folding and faulting. The average range of dips varies from horizontal up to 4 with maximum readings between 8 arid 10. It is difficult to assess the extent to which warping and flexing may have influenced the formation of better grade fibre zones. The most widely accepted hypothesis regarding the genesis or origin of the deposits is that m some places the crocidolite was formed by growth of fibre in situ along the margins of beds having a similar chemical composition to that of the crystalline fibre, while, in others, the original beds contained iron and silica m similar relative proportions to those required in the formation of fibre, with soda and magnesia being introduced from adjacent beds. The heat and pressure necessary to effect the crystalline growth could have been produced by burial of the rocks-under other strata. As the presence of water or aqueous solutions would be an essential con dition of growth, it is probable that flexing of the beds would lead to greater volume and freedom of circulation and hence to greater deposition of crocidolite. The consistent association of fibre with a definite sequence of beds or rather with a particular group of rock types indicates that the Hamersley occurrences are probably restricted to a definite lithological group or stratigraphic horizon in the upper portion of the Nullagine Series. However, the precise conditions which govern the distribution of the better grade mine-able zones are not apparent, possibly they depend partly on the chemical composition of the host rocks and partly on structure. 43. Systematic structural mapping is required to correlate the several deposits described below but their general associations are broadly comparable, though they vary in the actual detail of fibre width, vertical interval between seams and immediate or contiguous host rocks. The deposits Principal among the known deposits are those of Wittencom, Yampire, Bee and Dale's Gorges. Fibre also occurs at Willi Woili Springs near the known eastern limit and leases are held at Marramamba some seventy miles due west of Wittenoom. Their distribution is illustrated on the accompanying plan. Fig. 1 . (i) Wittenoom Gorge Examination of cliff faces and of the underground workings of the Colonial and Wittenoom Mines shows that the crocidolite occurs in three main seams or bands covering a vertical range of 42 to 46 feet. The Upper or No. 1 Seam comprises a band of hematitequartzite from 15 to IS inches thick containing lenses and veins of fibre varying from a fraction of an inch up to 1.5 inches and aggre gating 3.0 to 3.5 inches. A foot below this and separated by barren quartzite there is a bed of calcareous shale, 9 to 12 inches thick, which persists throughout the gorge, but which fades north of the Colonial Mine. The Lower or No. 2 Seam occurs from 21 to 22 feet below the Upper, with quartzites intervening, and is almost identical except that the aggregate thickness of fibre is about 2.6 inches. About three feet below the "Lower Seam" there is a bed of crystalline dolomite which grades gradually into black, calcareous or dolomitic shale, particularly in the northern workings of the Colonial Mine. This is succeeded by a 6 to 9 inch bed of quartzite below which there is a lenticular knapping seam showing from 0.S to 1.5 inches of fibre and which, at times, may be totally absent. The Lowest or No. 3 Seam occurs from 42 to 44 feet below the top of the "Upper Seam" and consists of lenses and veins of fibre aggregating 1.5 to 2.0 inches and extending over a thickness>f two feet; the intervening beds are quartzites. Thin veins of fibre occur between the three principal seams but these are of no economic significance. Narrow bands of calcareous rock, an inch or two thick, are interbedded with the quartzites 44. adjacent to the fibre bands. A typical section illustrating the relationship of the various seams and associated beds is shown in Fig. 2. The Colonial Mine workings cover a length of 2, 900 feet extending west from the cliff outcrop and an average width from north to south of about 2, 000 feet. They follow the dip of the bedding into the hillside at an average inclination of 4 west. Both the Upper and Lower, or No. 2 Seam have been mined extensively but No. 3 Seam is too low grade to be worked economically. The Wittenoom Mine is currently inoperative but the overall fibre relationships are similar to those of the Colonial Mine except that average fibre content of the Upper and Lower Seams is less; workings cover a length of about 2, 000 feet from east to west and a width of 1, 000 feet. A wide zone of faulting and barren fibre occurs along the northern periphery of the Wittenoom workings and appears to extend northwards for some 2, 000 feet towards the Colonial Mine. The southern faces of the Wittenoom Mine have been check sampled. A number of key stratigraphic beds or markers have been established in the Wittenoom-Colonial area principal among these being: - Green quartzite 9 in.- 12 in. thick, above the Upper Seam, at a depth of 460 ft. Grey quartzite breccia 12 in. plus or minus, above the Upper Seam, at a depth of 300 ft. Two shale bands of 12 in. and 6 in. from 15 ft. to 17-^ ft. and 12iato 18 in. thick at 75 ft. below the Upper Seam. These define the productive zone within close limits and materially assist in drilling. (ii) Bee Gorge Fibre occurs in Bee Gorge about three and a half miles north-west of the Colonial Mine and has been exposed along a series of east-west benches over a length of 240 feet. These show from 1 to 2 inches of high grade crocidolite associated with bands of quartzite and riebeckite. Fourteen feet above there is a narrow seam, from 6 to 18 inches thick, containing three or four narrow veins of fibre aggregating 1. 0 to 1.75 inches. A third seam is located 28 feet below the main benches but this rarely exceeds 0.5 of an inch. The total vertical range is 42 feet, a number of bands 45. of riebeckite are associated with the fibre and the general occurrence is broadly comparable with that of the northern peripheral area of the Colonial Mine. However, the beds of calcareous shale and dolomite, so characteristic of both the Wittenoom and Colonial Mines, appear to be absent. Economically, Bee Gorge is not attractive on its present showing. Reconnaissance work to the south and west of it show outcrops of the grey quartzitic breccia mentioned above and, provided reasonable structural conditions can be established, exploratory drilling could be undertaken south of Bee Gorge and on the western prolongation of the Colonial Mine. (iii) Yampire Gorge This is located about twelve miles south-east of Wittenoom. Fibre has been mined from a series of shallow benches and scattered workings which extend over a distance of three miles. Three main horizons have been established, viz., the Main Yampire Series, an Intermediate Series and a Top Horizon which is from 150 to 200 feet stratigraphic ally above the main seam. The principal occurrences are at the southern end of the gorge where the Main Yampire Series outcrops over a length of 3, 000 to 4, 000 feet in a broad anticlinal structure. Here there is a total of 3.5 to 5 inches of fibre in several seams of varying thick nesses over a vertical height of 8 to 9 feet. Bands of riebeckite rock are associated with the fibre. The beds dip gently to the north and pass below the surface but reappear with a change of dip towards the northern entrance of the gorge. Comparatively little work has been done on the Intermediate Series which showed promise in places but scattered workings on the Top Horizon over a length of several thousand feet give an average thickness of 2 inches of crocidolite over a vertical height of 2 to 4 feet. There is a consistent bed of riebeckite rock associated with the Top Horizon and a thick bed of dolomitic limestone occurs between the Main Yampire and the intermediate Series. Mr. J. Young's sampling of the Main Yampire Series gave an average of 4.59 inches of fibre over-a vertical height of 8'6" for an outcrop length of 4,760 feet. The best exposures occur in the old workings on the eastern side of the gorge where 3,210 feet sampled 46. averaged 4. 9 inches over 9 feet. The west wail gave 3. 67 inches over 8 to 9 feet for a sampled length of 1,550 feet. These results were checked by Mr. J. Shanahan. (iv) Dale's Gorge Located about 9 miles east of Yampire Gorge, the fibre occurrences in Dale's Gorge extend over a length of one and a half miles and present some contrasting features. Two definite dolomite beds, each from 6 to 10 inches thick, may be seen in the cliff faces. These are 20 feet apart and the following asbestos seams are associated with them:- (a) (b) (c ) ( d) The Top Seam, 10 feet above the upper dolomite bed and containing from 1.2 to 1.5 inches of fibre. Mahlberg's Seam 15 feet below the upper dolomite and containing from 0.5 to 2. 5 inches. The Main Bottom Seam, 10 feet below the lower dolomite, with 0.5 to 1.5 inches, and A small seam known as the "Stringer" 7.5 feet below the lower dolomite. All of these are mainly single seams which were benched by prospecting parties in a search for long fibre. Fig. 3 illustrates their occurrence. Their immediate importance is limited. (v) Marramamba These deposits are described by J.S. Foxall in W.A.G.S. Bulletin 100. Outcrops of fibre occur at intervals along a range of low hills, trending approximately east and west, and cover a total length of about 9.5 miles. At the western end, the crocidolite formation is reported to be 7 feet thick with an aggregate of 6 inches of fibre in seams from 0.12 to 1.0 inches. It is lenticular in habit and the beds dip east into a hillside at 15. From four to six miles east of the above two horizons have been exnoned of which the uooer carries from 2 to 3 inches of fibre 47. and the lower about 2 inches in two seams. These are about 20 feet apart stratigraphicaily and dip north-east at 25. One mile further east there is a cliff face outcrop showing 9 to 10.5 inches over 8 to 8.5 feet, the dip being 10 north-east. About two miles south-east, on M.C. 201 H, fibre with an aggregate length of 4. 5 inches occurs in a formation three feet. wide. The dip is east or north-east. Unfortunately little is known of the stratigraphic association at Marramamba. There has been no opportunity to examine the Marramamba leases or to make any assessment of their aggregate potential. Foxall's description of them presents an attractive picture as to width of fibre over a given vertical range in the exposures he examined. However, it is not known whether linear continuity can be established such as would be necessary for a continuous mining operation. The only course open at present is to map and check sample the various outcrops and workings and carry out such initial test work as may be necessary to establish continuity. Summary Summarising the overall position in relation to ore prospects, mill and townsite location, access facilities and in the light of current knowledge, i would place the priority of investigational work and drilling as under:- (i) (ii) (iii) Consolidation of the Wittenoom-Colonial area by extending geological mapping and drilling west of the Colonial Mine and south of the Wittenoom Mine. Structural mapping and some preliminary drilling of the Main Yampire Series, i. e. the lower fibre occurrences, and Investigation of the Marramamba area with a view to establishing structural continuity and layout of a preliminary test programme. A good deal of progress has been made with the geological programme, check sampling, preparation of assay plans and the establishment of the precise stratigraphic succession in the mine 48. environment but the demands of the driiling programme have limited the time available for detailed field mapping and the most pressing need at present is to try and establish by structure contour mapping, or other line of attack, the factors controlling distribution of the better grade fibre zones and to establish a technique for delineating them. References: Finucane K.J , 1939. The Blue Asbestos Oepostts of tie Homenley Ranges. A.C.C. Survey of Northern Australia Report Western AusSaiia No. 49. Hall, A.L., 1912. Asbestos is the Union of South Africa. Ceol. Survey Union of South Africa Memoir 12. Miles K.R. and Foxall J. S., 1942. W.A. Ceol. Susy. Bulletin 100. The Blue Ashestoe Bearing Banded Iron formations of the Homeniey Ranges and The Blue Asbestos Deposits of the Range and Their Economic Importance with appendices by F.C. Forman (1937) and J. S. Foxall (1938). APPENDIX 1 (to Chapter 6) AUSTRALIAN BLUE ASBESTOS PTY. E.TD. Fibre Production Yenr Ended Oft T A** Tnni Fibre therefrom Lona Tons Dec. 1946 1947 1948 1949 19S0 6, S67 14,406 13.296 18.477 20.7S6 Note: Some hand sorting 1948-1950. 601.82 895.10 7S9.07 993.75 1031.58 9.2 6.2 5. 7 S. 4 i.O Yen? Ended Dec. 19S1 19S2 1953 1954 19S5 19S6 1957 19S8 1959 I960 1961 ijune 1962 Or*. Short Tons 42.01S 97,076 130,805 126, 374 89,610 124,611 184,906 212,896 277.180 262,400 295, 878 152, 264 Fibre therefrom Short Tons 1.398.98 3,133. 34 4.2S3.97 4,248.92 4, 845.67 3,160.34 12. 222.19 13.313.S7 16.416.6S 14,472.22 15,777.00 7, 844.78 3.3 3.2 3.3 3.4 5.4 6. S 6.6 6.3 5.9 S.S 5.3 5.2 CHART KTf UPPER SEAM N*l. CALCAREOUS SHALE Vv.on'.i'..iuJ1 LOWER SEAM N*2 CALC SHALE QUARTZITES KNAPPfNQ SEAM 12 N3 SEAM VERTICAL SECTION SHOWING OCCURRENCE OF CROCIDOLiTE. SEAMS W1TTENOOM GORGE SCALE IN FEET IR O N STO N E Q U A R TZITE S CHART M (4 15' U) TOP SEAM UPPER DOLOMITE MARKER mahlbergs seam LOWER DOLOMITE MARKER STRINGER (STr) MAIN BOTTOM SEAM (m bs) SMALL SEAMS OVER lo' 4379 VERTICAL SECTION SHOWING OCCURRENCE OF CROCIDOLITE SEAM5 DALE*5 GORGE. SCALE IN FEET, 10 O 10 ZO Chapter 7 Description of mining ooerations A. Introduction B. Description of the workings (i) Main adit (ii) Haulage levels (iii) Lower seam stopes (iv) Upper seam stopes C. Mine development method fi) Main adit (ii) Haulage levels and adits (iii) Rises D. Stope preparation system E. Ore breaking (i) Method (ii) Tools in use (iii) Ore transport .(iv) Main ore conveyor belts (v) .Waste removal F. Equipment and services (i) Main mining equipment G. Electrical services H. Underground staff and training (i) Underground staff (ii) Underground labour (iii) Training I. Ventilation J. Addendum (i) Development of the use of ammonium nitrate - carbon mixtures in place of conventional jellied ammonium nitrate explosives. (ii) Gauge of drill steel (iii) Long wall mining experiments A. Introduction Two seams of blue asbestos, each aggregating 2 in. to 3 in. of fibre, outcrop high on the side of the Colonial Gorge wall. The main mine development work is planned to enable both seams to be worked simultaneously where the grade of ore warrants this. The dip of the seams is in the order of 8 degrees and a main adit, 16 ft. wide, has been driven into the cliff face on the dip and under the lower seam. Twenty feet above the main adit, 80 9 ft. by 7 ft. haulage drives at right angles to the main adit. Access is gained to the haulage drives of levels one to five, from the main 50. adit by means of an incline, '{turn-out)", and man-ways and ore chutes are cut between the haulage drives and the ore bodies. Stopes are opened up to be worked to approximately^ 400 ft. by 300 ft. On 6, 7 and 8 levels, however, access is by man-ways oniy from the incline or internal adits. The fibre occurs in a formation approximately 18 in. thick and consequently any barren rock broken in access of 18 in. adds to the dilution of the ore. However, the minimum practical stope height is controlled to 38" to 42". Because of the stratified nature of the formation, the cleavage, both on the floor and back, is clean and smooth. Pillars amounting to 12 per cent, of the total area are left, at about 24 ft. centres and all other broken rock is taken to the treat ment plant as ore. .Vo support, other than the pillars has been necessar with the mining methods used so far. Handling of the ore to chutes is by scraper haulers, re cently assisted by small bulldozers, to the ore chutes to a train of Granby cars hauled by battery locomotives, which dump the ore into ore pockets, situated immediately over the main adit. "Ross" feeders control the flow of ore from the pockets onto a series of three 30 in. belt conveyors, which deliver the ore into a bin or "Pocket" from which another belt conveys it to the mill. [t is appropriate to record in this section that the original Wittenoom mine, about a mile away, after some fourteen years of operation entered a major fault area, in which "dead" or oxidised fibre was encountered and severely limited the number of working Olar.ftS from whirh cnitaHlp fihrp ronlri hp won Outcrop assays and diamond drill results up to 1,000 ft. back from the cliff face had indicated that a richer zone of fibre existed in the Western section of Colonial Gorge and it was decided to develop the area to supplement ore taken from the Wittenoom mine. As values in the Wittenoom mine deteriorated while those in the new Colonial Gorge development improved, a decision was taken to erect a new mill in Colonial Gorge. This was started up in June, 1958, using only one treatment line while the two crushing sections were designed and built to handle sufficient ore for three such treatment lines. +m-. The last deliveries of ore irom the Wittenoom mine to the old Wittenoom miii were made in October, 1958. Coioniai Gorge ore was delivered to Wittenoom until January, 1959, the ore being drawn by chute from the 1,500 ton ore bin and transported by iorrv. The second treatment ieg came into operation on 7th January, 1959 at Colonial Mill and the third leg on 1st July, 1959. The primary crushing section at Coioniai Gorge com menced operations in June, 1958. Secondary crushing and one treatment ieg were commenced :n July, 1958. A road cut into the cliff face gives access to the so-called Mine Bench at an elevation of approximately 250 feet above the fleer of the Gorge, which provides a platform on which are located the underground office, ;ne mine store, change rooms, ambulance room, transformer station and Mine Bench Workshop. It also pro vides entrance to the mine adit in the cliff face, an opening 16 it. wide and 7 ft. high, being the portal of a tunnei or adit or drift" sloping downgrade at approximately l ft. in 12 ft . or about 8, parallel to and underneath tne two main fibre seams which them selves are parallel and about 21 ft. apart. Stratigraphicaily, they are referred to as the "Upper Seam" and the "Lower Seam '. 3. Description of the workings The mine essentially consists of four elevations : (i) The mam adit or inciine (ii) The naulage ieveis (iii) The lower seam stopes (iv) The upper seam stopes. (This is illustrated m Sketch No. 1, "Generalised section through the main incline", showing the position of working Ieveis. , Note: ail sketches referred to are at the end of the chapter. (i) The main adit This is the mam artery of the operations and provides :cr access to the workings; for the transport of broken ore and waste rock and for ail services to the various sections of the mine. This adit has been driven a total length of 3, 000 ft. and is approximately parallel to the "dip" of the ore-body and is positioned TO to 80 ft. beiow the Upper Seam horizon. (Sketch No. ' gives a Typical cross-section view c: the main adit .) iii) Hauiage ieveis These are spaced at 400 ft. centres along the main aait. (more or less at right angles to it). These haulage-ways are excavated 9 ft. wide x T ft. high and are driven along the contours of the bedding planes to provide an acceptable grade for the tram-lines and an adequate amount of heaa room for ore storage pockets ' below the Upper and Lower Seams. The primary function of these ieveis is for access and fcr the transport of broken ore from the working places or "stopes; the ore transfer pockets located over me ore conveyor belt in the main incline. Access to the haulage-ways from the main adit is gained by 1 ft. in 10 ft. grade "turn-outs:i driven to the northern side of the Adit. (Sketch Xo. 2A shows a "Typical cross section of a 9 ft. x T ft. hauiage level".) There are turn-outs at ieveis 1 to 5. (The general impression is seen in Sketch Xo. 1A. , ;ui) Lower seam stopes Access is gained into the stopes by man-ways placed a: 300 ft. centres aiong the haulage level. Broken ore in the stopes is won by scraper hoists to a chute or pocket positioned 15 feet from the man-way, which is also adjacent to the haulage.wav. fiv) Upper seam stopes Access and broken ore removal methods are the same as for the Lower Seam and utilise the same man-way and ore chute rises. (Sketch No. 3 depicts the "Plan and sections of sucn a typical man-way and ore chute".) C. Mine development svstem (i) Main adit From the full opening 16 ft. x 7 ft., a pilot drive 9 :t. wide x T ft. high is advanced 10 ft. ahead of a T it. wide stripping face in the dip of the bedding planes as shown in Sketch No. 4: Plan o: main incline development method . The equipment used in this work is: 2 Atlas BBC 23W(Lions) rockdnlls using B.H.T. jl ai and integral tungsten carbide tipped chisei bits. 1 - 35 h.p. Ingersoll Rand Double Drum Scraper Hoist and 4 ft. Box-type Scraper Hoe. Shifts worked: Day and night shifts. Number of men: 3. Length of round drilled: 5 ft. 3 ins. Type of drive cut: 9 hole burn. Advance per round including stripping: 5 ft. Advance per 4 weeks: 90 to 100 ft. N'o. of holes per round: 45 to 50. Explosives: AN'/FO., A. N. 60% primers. No. 6 detonators and safety fuse plus slow "Ignitercord". Consumption of explosives: 13 lbs. per ft. advance. Mucking operations: Night shift. Scraping ot broken muck by hauler unit over a ramp onto N'o. 3 underground conveyor belt. Mullock disposal is from the ore pocket at the commencement of day shift. Working cycle: Bore and fire on day shift and muck out operation on night shift. (ii) Haulage Levels and adits Adits are the inclined cross-cuzs between haulage ieveis The normal size - 9 ft. x 7 ft. The equipment used is: 1 Atlas BBC 23W (Lion) rockdrill with B.H.T. 51 air- leg. Integral tungsten carbide steel chisel bits. Eimco 12B mechanical loader of 20c.ft. capacity, a..so side tipping trucks, and a 7 ton Mancha battery-operated Hercules locomotive. C 4385 31. (iii) The method of ooeration is: Shifts worked Day and afternoon shifts. Number of men 3 Number of miners l Bogging crew 2, consisting of loco-driver and a mechanical loader operator. Length of round drilled Type of cut 5'3 ins. 9 hole burn. Advance per round 4'6 ins. Advance per 4 weeks . o to 90 ft. Number of holes per round 32 to 34. Explosives AN/FO., A.N. 50% primer. No. 6 detonators, safety fuse, "slow ignitercord". Consumption 12 lbs. per foot advance. Working cycle Bore and fire on one shift and muck out the next shift. Rises Normal size Equipment T ft. x 5 ft. Atlas BBD 46 W.S.3 (Falccn' stoper integral tungsten carbide steel chise bits. 8 in. x 14 in. staging and 4 in. x 4 :: bearers on bearer pins. Operation Shifts worked Day or afternoon. Number of men per shift 1 Number of rock drills 1 Length of round drilled Type of cut 5 ft. 3 ins. 6 or 7 hole burn. Number of holes per round 26 Feed advance per shift 2 ft. 6 ins. Explosives as for hauiage levels. Consumption 9 lbs. per ft. o: advance. 4306 00. D- Stooe preparation svsiem Initially, two rises: i. e. a man-wav and an ore chute, are excavated, 15 feet apart and a connecting drive, 6 ft. x 5 ft. :s then advanced in the Upper Seam from the man-way, across to the chute. This connection is then stripped out to a height of 6 ft. and a width of 12 ft. around the chute to allow sufficient space for the installation of a scraper-hauler unit. Stope preparations for drivesare then commenced in eastward and westward directions towards adjacent haulage ieveis, in the plane of the seams. These stope preparation headings primarily serve a threefold purpose:- (i) Ventilation by inter-connection between stopes of adjacent ieveis. (ii) Evaluation of fibre content of a block of ore. (iii) Drainage of drilling water from the stoping operations. Two systems of advancing preparation headings are used: (i) 6 ft. x 5 ft. drive for rapid advance. (ii) 24 ft. wide. 40 ins. high heading for production purposes. (See Sketch N'o. 5: "Typical stope preparation iayout". E. Ore breaking (i) Method Bord and pillar mining at an average stope height of 40 ins. is used for the extraction of the fibre seams. Toth seams are stoped where the grade of ore warrants it. Commencing initially from the preparation headings 10 ft. x 10 ft. pillars, 24 ft. apart are left behind as 24 ft. "flitches ' are advanced. Each miner works two or three "flitches" (approximately 100 ft. for three faces) depending on the individual ability and the working area available. Miners are so placed to avoid broken ore being thrown into areas in which the following shift miners are to work. (ii) Tools in use Equipment in use is 1 Holman "Silver Three" rockdnil and air leg per miner, using integral tungsten carbide steel chisei bit C 4387 56. The broken ore is recovered by, 15 to 25 h.p. double- drum, electric scraper hoists, the size depending on the distance the broken ore has to be scraped. The rope used is 1-5/8" circumference 6 x 9 x 9 x 1 preformed Langslay hemp core wire rope. 36" or 48" box type hoes with replaceable manganese wear plates and 8" diameter sheave blocks are used. Drilling: Miners per rock drill - 1 Maximum number of miners per stope ^ Maximum number of miners per shift per stope - 2 Shifts worked - day and afternoon shifts ^ Length of hole drilled 5'3" or S'll". Average holes drilled per shift 22 Average ore broken per hole 0.57 sq. yds. Blasting: Explosives used: A.N /F O., A.N. 60% primer. No. 6 detonator, safety iuse. Consumption - 1.1 lbs. per -on Working cycie - Bore and fire on dayshift or after noon shift, with :h scraping operaucr. on the opposite ~h: (Refer to sketch No. 6 for a "Typical layout of working faces" (four miners). (iii) Ore transport (a) From the face Broken ore at the face is initially mucked (hand shovelled) back and then hauled by the scraper units to the ore chute. One or two men can handle the production of two miners, but this is dependent on individual ability and the scraper distances involved at the time. (Sketch No. 7 is a line "Diagram of ore removal" from the face to the mill.) (b) Ore haulage Broken ore from the chutes is loaded into rakes of 0,. either a 5 ion or 7 :on storage battery locomotive to the ore transfer pockets. The broken ore m the Granby cars is emptied by an automatic tipping device positioned opposite the level transfer. (c) Grizzly Broken rock is spalled through 14 in. x 10 in. openings on a grid grizzly located over the ore transfer chute or pocket. The purpose of the grid grizzly is to control the size of the larger rocks and thus reduce the extent of the subsequent damage and wear and tear of ore chutes and the ore conveyor beits. (iv) Main ore conveyor belts The broken ore is fed from the transfer pockets to the conveyor belts by means of steel chutes equipped with Ross Feeders. These feeders are essentially a siowiy rotating curtain of If" or 2'' stud link chains designed to control the rate of flow or `rill" of the ore onto the conveyor belt. There are three 30 in. conveyor belts in series and they deliver the ore to the main mine pocket which is iocated above a tunnel about 100 ft. long, which emerges at the cliff face above the treatment plant. Some details of the beits are: BELT LENGTH SPEEDS MOTORS No. 1 conveyor No. 2 conveyor No. 3 conveyor' L, 100 feet l, 300 feet 400 feet 300 ft. per min. 60h.p. A.E.l. 420 ft. per min. 60 h. p. A. E. I. 420 ft. per min. 20 h. p. A. E. I. The belting is 30 in. wide,6 ply cotton nylon fibre C\'50. Capacity. Maximum 240 tons per hour. (This is controlled by No. 1 conveyor, currently being operated with a relatively siow reduction gear). Ross Feeders: Chute width Height from belt Chain iinks Drum speed Angle of chute 24 inches 13 inches 12" x 6" x l|" 7 r. p. m. 53. (v) Waste removal Muck from development ends is hauied by locomotive and 20 cu. ft. capacity side tipping trucks to muilock passes, opposite the ore transfer pockets. The muck is transported by the main conveyors to the mine ore pocket which has been previously emptied, and conveyed by the mill No. 1 conveyor belt and discharged througr. a by-pass chute for disposal by motor truck. F. Equipment and services (i) Main mining equipment: a) Rock drills Type Number in use Task Atlas BBC 23 W Atlas BBD 64 W.S.8. Atlas BBD 43 Holman Silver Three 11 5 2 45 Development Rising Stoping Stoping b) Drill steel CoromantC.L. 426 714-1633 (5'3")Development and stoping. CoromantC.L. 426 714-1833 {o'll") Stoping Width of insert - 33 m.m. Average drill steei life- 240 feet. c) Drill sharpening Grinders: 2 x Sandvik Coromant 1400. One - air driven reserve. One - electric - in use. Air motor - 3300 r. d. m. Electric motor - 2800 r.p.m. d) Grinding wheels for driil steei Type used: "Cup wheel" 37 - C46 -K.V.K. Average number of steei grinds per wheel - 35 Average number of steel sharpened daily - 220 e) Fans: Primary ventilation 1 Richardson 60 A. F. fan driven by a 50 h.p. motor at 720 r. p. m. It exhausts 72, 000 c.:. m. at 1. 25 ;r.s. water gauge. 1 Richardson 60 V. A. C. fan driven by a 50 h. d. motor at $R0 r.n.m. It pxhausts 74. 000 c.f.m. at 0.8 :ns. 59. Secondary ventilation 17 x Meco E.F. 4 fans. Output 2 x Meco E.F. 6 fans. 8 x Richardson 2D fans. 4 x Richardson 2^ SDfans. 4 x Richardson 4 SD fans. 4 x Richardson 3D fans. 5000 - 6000 c.m. 12000 - 13000 c.i.m. 1500 - 2000 c.i.m. 5000 - 6000 c.i.m. 7000 - 3000 c.i.m. 6000 c.i.m. Ventilation ducting 10 in. x 16 in. canvas ducting - in the stopes. 18 in. " Visqueen" and 16 in. canvas ducting - to deveiooment ends. i) Cars and trucks 3 - 100 cu. it. (Bottom dump type) - Granby. 12 - 66 cu. it. ' '' 28 - 20 cu. it. Side tipping trucks. g) Mechanical loaders 6 - Eimco 12 B. "Boggers" or loaders powered by 2 x 10 h.p. air motors. Bucket capacity is 3t cu. it. h) Scraper hoist units 1. 14-Joy type N'211. 25 h.p. double drum scraper haulers. Rope speed: 250 ft. per minute. Rope pull : 4, 600 lbs. Drum capacity: 408 ft. 9/16" loose coiled rope. 2. 9-Joy type J211. 15 h.p. double drum scraper haulers. Rope speed: 250 ft. per minute. Rope puil: 1,800 lbs. Drum capacity: 154 ft. 9/16" loose coiled rope. 3. 2 -Joy type B2F 311. 30 h.p. triple drum scraper hoists. (Note: only two of the drums are operated) Adaptable for remote or manual control. Rope speed: 300 ft. per minute. 4. 4-Holman type SJ 23 /236. 25 h.p. double drum scraper haulers. Adaptable for remote or manual control. Rope speed: 190 - 360 ft. per minute. Rope pull: 3, 840 lbs. Drum capacity: 280 ft. 9/16" loose coiled rope. 5. 1 -Ingersoll Rand. 40. 6. Scraper hoes. 4 ft. wide box type. Capacity 15 cwt. 3 ft. wide box type. Capacity 6-8 cwt. Both types of hoes are fitted with replaceable manganese wear plates. j) Tractor-dozers 2 x Eimco 630 bulldozers powered by 2 -12 h.p. and 1 -7* h.p. compressed air motors. Weight 7, 980 lbs. 1 x Alimak Alirobot bulldozer powered by 1 - 8$ h. p. air motor. Weight 3,850 lbs. (The use of these machines is being developed to simplify the scraping operations. Their function would be to push the oroken ore to tne fixed lines along which the scrapers operate). k) Scraper rope 1-5/3" circumference 6 x 9 x 9 x 1 hemp core preformed Langslay wire rope. 1} Pumps 2 x Consolidated pneumatic type C.P. 41. Discharge: 100 gallons per minute against 40 ft. static head. Used for pumping drainage water from development ends and stope headings. 1 x Holman sludge pump. Static head 50 ft. Discharge: 35 gallons per minute. 1 x Worthington (type W.S.) m) Hauiage-wav tracks Rails are 24 it. and 30 ft. lengths and 45 lbs. per yard. Sleepers are 4ft. - 6 ins. x 4 ms. muiga. G. Electrical services (i) Change rooms and cap lamp room There are 3 - 110V - 3 phase rectifiers for cap lamp racks. (ii) Cap lamps These are 4.5 volt Edison electric cap lamps. Model L. (iii) Underground belt conveyors Numbers l and 2 conveyor belts are driven by 60 h.p. 440V motors started by direct-on-line starters. Number 3 belt is driven by a 20 h. p. * 440V motor started by a star-delta starter. (iv) Ross feeders The feeders are controlled by D.O.L. starters and the tht-oa /'nnupvnre and the feeders are interlocked. These 61. The remaining feeders (at No. 0 leve.il, have the same interlocking system with 3 h.p. 710 r.p.m. 440V motors transmitting tnrough reduction gears. (v) Main exhaust fans These are driven by 50 h.p. motors controiled bv auto-transformer starters. (vi) Secondary ventilation This is provided .by two main types of fans using various h.p. motors. (vii) Hauler units These are driven by 35 h. p., 25 h. p. and 15 n. p. 440V motors controiled by D.O.L. O.J. 50 starters. (viii) Richardson fans These are driven by 440V motors and range from 3 to 25 h.p. (ix) Meco fans These are driven by 5 and 10 h.p. motors all D.O.L. started. Power at the Mine Bench is supplied through a 500 kVA transformer stepping down 11,000V to 440V. The supply is controlled by a 600 amp oil circuit breaker, for the bench suppiv and Nos. 1 and 2 underground con veyors and for Nos. 1 and 2 loco charging stations. (x) Underground supply An 11,000V feed cable runs underground to a sub station at No. 5 level. From this position a 500 kVA transformer provides power at 440V to Nos. 5, 6, 7 and 8 levels. Nos. 5 and 6 levels are protected by a 600 amp oil circuit breaker with 300 amp H.R.C. fuses for each levei. Nos. " and 8 levels are protected by a 400 amp oil circuit breaker with a 300 amp H.R.C. fuse for each level. (xi) Locomotives 3 x Mancha type Hercules M.B.l. Rating 7 tons. h.p. 30. 6 x Batteries boxes - battery type 48K.A. 33/2. Each box consists of 12 batteries of 4 cells each. Make-. Exide lead acid Kathanode ceils. Capacity 512 amp-hours 1 x English Electric. Type 1A. 2 x Battery boxes - type 48KCL. 19/2. Capacity 378 amphours. Group - 6 batteries of 8 cells each to a box. (xii) Charging Rectifiers: 3 x Wesunghouse. Type B.V.J. 43/100 A.C. input 415V. Xo. of ceils 48. Charging rate:- Main starting current 103 amps, finishing current 21 amps, equalising at 14 amps. 1 x Lancashire D.C. Generator I10V, 120 amps driven by a 25 h.p. 3 Brook motor at 1460 r. p. m. 1 x English Electric D.C. Generator 110V, T2 amps. H. Underground staff and training (i) Underground staff underground manager mine foreman chief surveyor mine surveyor geologist technical officer 6 underground shift bosses storeman/first aid officer. (ii) Underground labour stope miners development miners bogging crews loco crews belt crew grizzlv-men platelayers pipefitters survey assistants sampler underground clerk steel sharpeners ventilation magazine "toolie" hygiene cap lamp attendant timbermen welders fitters fitters' assistants electrical eiectncal apprentice 35 12 8 10 3 6 3 2 2 1 1 2 3 1 2 1 4 3 4 2 4 1 116 (iii) Training Experienced labour underground has always been difficult to obtain. This is accentuated when increases in production are 63. Two methods of training are emoioyed:a) After a short familiarization period underground the new men attend a miner or scraperman school depending on where their aptitude lies. Safety, and the requirements oi the Mines Regulation Act are especially emphasized. b) In some instances selected recruits are put to work with trusted and experienced miners or scraper men. Good results have been obtained by applying both methods of training. I. Ventilation The mine is ventilated by two large Richardson exhaust fans, which deliver all intake air down-cast through the main incline. The air is delivered along the various hauiage ieveis from the incline, through service rises and thence through the stopes and back to the exhaust fans, positioned on No. 4 level, exhausting to the cliff face, also up the rise to Colonial Gorge by an exhaust fan located at the southern end of No. 5 level. The total intake has been measured as 103, 000 c.m. and the exhaust at 146, 000 c.m., the difference being due to air leakages into the mine. Secondary ventilation for development and for the stopes is provided by electrically driven Meco fans of 12 in. or 16 in. diameter and by a variety of Richardson fans, depending on the requirements of the local area. The air is delivered to the working faces through plastic or canvas ducting of 10 in., 16 in. or 18 m. diameter. J. Addendum (i) Development of the use oi ammonium nitrate - carbon mixtures in place of conventional jellied ammonium nitrate explosives. Traditionally jellied explosives, consisting of ammonium nitrate crystals in grease-proof paper wrapped cartridges, have been used in mining operations. About seven years ago changes, initiated overseas, were experimented with in Australia. These changes were basically :r.e use of ammonium nitrate crystals, in powder and pelletised form, mixed with fuel oil, raw sugar or moiasses. The result of exploding a low propagation rate explosive (A.N./F.O. for example) in contact with a relatively high explosive (such as a nitro-glycerine-ammoniura nitrate explosive) is to pro duce a nett explosive effect or propagation rate quantitatively more relative to the small amount of "high" explosive than to the low rare ammonium nitrate. The ammonium nitrate crystals are mixed with fuel c;i or sugar or moiasses and delivered into the hole in contact with either detonating fuse and A.X. gelignite in quarries, or with commercial gelignite m the case of short underground holes. The initial developments were made in "down" holes, i. e., vertical or inclined vertical holes in quarries but quite recent de velopments have been made in charging horizontal or inclined upward holes by the use of equipment such as "Analoaders" which assist the explosive mixture or slurry into the more-difficuit-to-cnarge hori zontal and "upper" holes. The method used at present is to insert a standard piug or cartridge of A.X.60 gelignite in the bottom of the hole and to use a No. 6 detonator connected through safety fuse, the hole being charged with the A.X'.. F.O. mixture. In firing a face, the safetv fuses are connected to a iine of "Slow Igmtercord" to the end of which is connected a few feet of safety fuse. This is lit using a fuse igniter and the succession of holes in the face is oetonated thereby with relatively short interval delays between holes. By using A.X. ;F.O. instead of traditional commercial explosives annual savings are expected to be to the order of not less than 30, 000 per annum. (ii) Gauge of drill steel The introduction of A.X. , F.O. has led to a reduction in drill steel diameter from 33 m.m. to 28 m.m. At this gauge, indicated increased rates of boring are up to 30 per cent and it Iooks like an increase of 10 per cent, or minimum increase from 20 to 22 holes bored per miner shift in the stoping operations. 30. underground operations. !t :s aiso responsible :'or the maintenance o: ail mac.nines, equipment, venicles, buildings etc. and for ail construction work. S. Power and air supply (i) Power House This is situated at the junction of Eastern Creek and the main Wittencom Gorge. The site is above flood level, bur access to the power house can be denied when the Gorge is in flood. (As a matter of interest, emergency rations are maintained in the power nouse during the wet season, so that the driver and greaser on shift do not suffer undue hardship in maintaining power and air supplies:. The sue was chosen as the most suitable, m the vicinity o: the old Wittenoom mine but the fact that it is now somewhat remote from the Colonial Mine is not disadvantageous, except that the com pressed air delivery line is much longer than usual (10,250 ft. ) and is of larger diameter 10 in., in order to avoid undue loss of air pressure in transit. The diesel alternator sets and diesel compressor sets are housed m a building 227 ft. long x 45 ft. wide, with a iean-to structure at the front, to accommodate the switchboard and a similar structure at the rear housing the blowers and cooiing water pumps. The six alternators occupy the northern end cf the mair. building and the eight compressors the remainder of the building. The total installed generating capacity is 3, 225 kVA site rated. The following is a description of the alternator sets: Nos. 1 and 2 sets: Ruston 6 V.L.B.X. 4-stroke diesel engines supercharged by Napier turbo-biowers, sizeT.S. 300, typeT.S. 3004, direct-coupled to Lancashire Dynamo and Crypto alternators and running at 375 r.p.m. Site rating 910 kVA. No. 3 set: Crossiev 2-stroke diesel, supercharged by "Rootes" tvpe biower size 3, motor driven through vee-belts. The engine is direct-coupled to a Brush alternator and the speed is 500 r.p.m. Site rating is 330 kVA. Crossiey H.S.L. 6 - 2 - stroke diesel engine, supercr.arge as No. 3 set. direct-couoied to a Brush alternator running C 4397 31. No. 5 set: Crosslev H. S. L. 6 diesei engine, supercharged, identical with Nos. 3 and 4 sets. Direct-coupied to a Brush alternator. Speed 500 r.p.m. Site rating 375 kVA. No. 6 set: 6 V.E.B.X. Euston engine, supercharged by BrownBoveri turbo-blower, size and type V. T. R. 200/55. Direct-coupled to a Lancashire and Crypto alternator. Speed 500 r.p.m. Site rating 250 kVA. Ail alternators generate at 440 V, 3 phase, 50 cycles. Power is controlled and distributed from the mam switch board, to a bank of transformers adjacent to the power house ana stepped up to 11,000 volts tor transmission through overhead steelaluminium conductors to the treatment plant, the mine and to the town. At these distribution centres, the power is transformed down to 440 volts with subsequent steps - down to 250 volts and 32 voits, where required. (ii) Air compressors Total installed compressor capacity is 7,850 c.f.m. (approximately 7, 000 c.:. m. site rated). No. 1 set: Atlas Copco E. R. 3, rated capacity 2,250 c.m., driven by a Ruston 4-stroke diesei engine, 6 V. E. B. X., running at 500 r. p. m., direct-coupied. Engine supercharged by a Napier turbo-blower, size and type T.S. 100/5. Nos. 2, 3 and 4 sets: Ailey-McLellan "Sentinel" 45B, rated capacity 1,000 c.f.m. Each driven by Crosslev 2-stroke diesel engine, HSL 3, running at 430 r. p. m., direct-coupled. These engines, are not supercharged in the true sense, but are fitted with a built-in reciprocating compressor, which supplies scavenging and combustion air. No. 5 set: Alley-McLellan "Sentinel" 23B, rated capacity 800 c.f.m driven by a Crossley 4-stroke diesel engine, SVD 3, running at 374 r. p. m., direct-coupled. 4398 32. Nos. 6, 7 and 8 sets-. 3rowett and Linalev, rated capacity 600 c.f. m. each, vee beit driven by electric motors, 120; 123 and 130 h. p. respectively. All compressors are 2 stage double-acting, with intercoolers, but no after-coolers. There are two air-starting compressors, one a "Sonneraaie 14 c.f.m. and the other a "Broomwade" 20 c.i.m. These pump into i ceivers which are maintained at 275 lbs., per sq. m. The compressors deliver air into a 230 cu. ft. receiver which is situated alongside the power house. The receiver is con nected to a 10" steei, ail weided air main, the operating pressure being 100 p. s. i. This air main is 10,250 ft. long, and delivers the air :o the mine bench. At this point the pipeline is reduced to 6" and is carried down the incline (adit) approximately 3,000 feet, to a i45 cu. ft. air receiver at No. 7 ore pocket. Underground reticulation is by 4" distribution pipes, from which 2" lines are branched oi: as required. The engines driving the alternators and compressors run on diesei :uel of S.G. 0.87, the consumption being 0.0S25 gallons per kWh. The fuel oii at present costs 2. - per gallon, .anded at WLttenoom. This fuel is supplied by ship co the sea port, Point Samson, where it is pumped from the snip to a 3, 000 ton (approximately 773, 000 gallons), storage tank. The fuel is delivered from this tank and carted by returning empty fibre trucks m 1,200 gallon steei underslung tanks, by road to Wittenocm. Here tne fuel is gravitated to two storage tanks which are situated adjacent to the power house. One tank has a capacity of 400 tons (103,000 gallons), and the otr.er 200 tons (51,500 gallons). When required, the fuel is transferred by pump to two settling tanks, each of 6, 000 gallons capacity. From the settling tanks the fuel is pumped to the engine supply tanks, (one for eacn engine), through a large Vokes filter. Twin Vokes filters are fitted in each engine fuel line; and' the fuel is metered separately to each engine. Lubricating oil is supplied in 44 gallon drums, and all engine sumps use Vacuum D. T. E. S. 240. "Velocite" Is used :or all 4-stroke valve stems, and D. T. E. 103 is used for the compressors 33. One Sharpies centrifuge, is used for clarifying the Rubricating oii in Nos. i it 2 alternator engines. Two troiley mounted De Laval centrifuges serve the other alternator sets. Due to lack of equipment, no centrifuging is done on the compressor engine lubricating oil, and this oil is changed every 1,000 running hours. Frequent samples of centrifuged oil are sent to Perth for check analysis. The water used for the engines and compressor cooiing system is treated by the "Permutit'1 process, and there are two systems of suppiv. The cooling pond, 50, 000 gallon capacity, is divided into a hot and coid side, and is located behind the power r.cuse on an elevated sue, about 36 feet above the power house floor. Water from the cooi side of the pond is used for the com pressors and oil coolers, the engines using the water from the "hot" side. All water from the compressors and engines is returned to tne pond by pump, through elevated sprays set in a slatted tower, situated above the pond, except for a small quantity which is by passed to the "hot'' side, to maintain the engine cooling water at a temperature of 110 F. The sprays help to maintain the "coid" side o: the pond at a reasonably lew temperature. The power house is staffed by an engine driver and greaser on each shift, with a staff foreman, 5 fitters, stand-by driver and greaser and one cleaner on day shift. Power is generated at a cost of approximately 2. 9d. per kWh and is distributed to the mine department at cost. Power is' supplied for domestic purposes at 6d. per uni: for the first 75 units and at 1..'- for each subsequent unit. Companv employees are granted a concession of the first 100 units per 4 weeks free. Business rates in the town vary from 6d. to 8d. per unit. Until recently, air was not metered, so that the cost per cu. it. is not known. However, the cost to produce air per tor. of QQ ore broken is known, and for the past 18 months has averaged 0. 144 per ton. 4400 34. C. Workshops The Engineering Workshop is situated in Colonial Gorge, about 300 yards north of the miil, and is a new building 165 ft. long by 39 ft. wide. Nine bays are occupied by the mechanical workshop and the remaining two by the electrical workshop. The mechanical section is served by an overhead 10 ton hand-operated gantry crane and the workshop equipment is as follows: l 3i" Nutall lathe 1 18" shaper 1 14" pedestal grinder 1 200 ton hand operated hydraulic press 1 shearing machine 1 j" plate bending roll, hand operated 3 electric welders 5 oxy-acetylene sets 1 Lincoln portable petrol-driven welder 1 9/16" post drill 1 electric vulcanising plant 1 smail electrically driven, direct-coupled air compressor. More adequate equipment is being installed now. There is no installed equipment in the electrical work shop except for a few hand tools. Near the workshop is another new building 120 ft. by 25 ft., which houses the Assistant Manager, theChief Engineer, the drawing office,change-house and shower rooms as well as a "crib ' room. D. Transport The Transport Department is situated at the southern end of the Wittenoom township. The transport fleet consists of: 2 cars 2 vans 1 25-cwt. flat iOD truck 1 5-ton tipping truck 1 74-ton tipping truck 2 Landrovers 1 5-ton mobile crane 44qi 35. Total 1 Ferguson wheel tractor L D.6Cat. ouildozer 1 D.8 Cat. bulldozer 1 Ford bus 5 Leyland buses 2 Schramm diamond drilling rigs 1 fork lift truck 1 V.W. - Kombi Van 23 vehicles e,. Water supply The water supply is drawn from rock poois and a natural spring in Colonial Gorge which are kept fresh all the year round, by inflow from underground streams. The mill and mine are supplied by water from the spring, and this supply is augmented, as required, by water pumped from the rock pool at the ''market garden". (Approximately mile north of the mill). The power house is supplied by water pumped from the rock pool in the main gorge, opposite the old mill (approx. 1 mile south of the power house). The staff settlement supply is pumped from an open well, known as the "Windmill Well", situated in the main gorge, approximately ^ mile north of the power house. The water is pumped to an elevated storage tank on the hillside, and is gravity fed to the settlement through a 4'' main. This supply can be augmented from a rock pool, about r.ai: a mile further north and in case of emergency, the power house, settlement and mill water supply pipes can be inter-connected. The Witteno<.m township water supply is administered and controlled by the Public Works Department but the town was formerly supplied by water piped from the spring at Colonial Gorge. With the growth of the town, this supply became inadequate, and 4 bores were sunk by the Department, approximately 4 miles north of the town. During the 1961 cyclone, the pipeline from the spring to the town was washed away, and the town is now entirely supplied by water from the bores pumped into a collector tank. From there the water is transferred to a 150,000 gallon head tank, situated on the hill behind the A. B. A. garage, by a 5 stage centrifugal 36. pump against a total head of 350 ft. , at a rate of 10, 000 gallons per hour. The present reticulation is by gravity througn a 4" main, but it is proposed that this wiil be replaced by a 6" main m the near future. C 4402 Chapter 10 Industrial and safety A. General conditions of employment B. Payments to employees (i) Basic wage and district allowance (ii) Unions concerned (Hi) Contract rates and earnings generally (iv) Comment C. Safety 0. Health aspects . Attachments (i) Conditions of employment (ii) Accident statistics A. General conditions of employment The following are the general conditions affecting employ ment and living at Wittenoom: (i) Where applicable the air fares, Perth to Wittenoom, for employees are advanced by the company and repaid by the employee at the rate of 3 per pay. The amount repaid by the employee in respect of his fare is refunded to him upon completion of a half-year's continuous service. Fares for the families of employees may be advanced if approved by the Manager at Wittenoom. These fares are repaid by the employee at a rate not exceeding 4 per $iy, inclusive of repayment of his own fare. Xo refund is made in respect of the fares of families. (ii) (iii) (iv) Taxation zone allowance is 270 per annum ana 150% of the dependants' usual allowance. The di-Tict allowance is 2.5. 0. per weex. Transport to and from work is covered by a bus service at a low fortnightly charge to the employe Housing is provided for married employees. Houses have a living room, kitchen, bathroom, sleeDout, two bedrooms, with verandahs on three 4404 33. sides, designed :or :he area and constructea ov the State Housing Commission, a: a rentai, at present, of 65/- per week (but the race is 64 per week tor the more recent piaster houses). Ail houses have their own dry well septic system and running water. The town supply oi water comes under the jurisdiction oi the Public Works Depart ment. (48, 000 gallons per calendar year iree c: cost to the householder. Excess is charged at 2/Sd. per 1,000 gallons). Xo charge is made ior eiectnc power up to 100 units per tour weeks. {250 V. oOcycleA.C.L Refrigerators and basic furniture may be pur chased on an easy payment scheme. Single men s board and lodging is 5.10. 0. per week at present. Bedding, etc. is available at reasonable prices. Furnished houses are now available at- 1.10. 0. extra per week and include ail basic needs pius refrigerator and stove. (v) The Company-owned store provides good coverage oi all lines oi groceries, meat, aerated waters, bread, clothing etc. Prices are based cn gazetted prices. Greens and iruit are available a: the store. There is a weekly reirigerated van delivery from Perth by road. (vi) There is a modern state school, a hotel, caie, (vii) post office and a convent school. There is a modern hospital and a resident doctor, (viii) Organisations include: C.W.A., Parents and Citizens, R.S. L., R.A.O.B., Boy Scouts, (ix) pre-school kindergarten, A.W.U. Social Fund anc Masonic Lodge. Picture Gardens: 35mm. programmes are screened three times weekly. The charge is 5 (x) Sports include swimming in the natural pools. For tennis there are three floodlit courts available. There is an Annual Racing Round each Septemoer. C 4405 39. For golfers there Is a nine hole course with sand greens. A synthetic bowling green is being prepared and plans for a country ciub are being considered. A basketball court and ciub is in operation also. A good small bore rifle ciub and pistol shooting range is also available. B. Payments to emoiovees (i) Basic wage and district allowance: Basic wage: 14.14.4. per week plus district allowance: 2.5.0. per week, fii) Unions concerned: Austraiian Workers' Union Amalgamated Engineering Union Electrical Trades Union Federated Engine Drivers &. Firemen's Union Amalgamated Society of Carpenters & Joiners Operative Painters & Decorators industrial Union W.A. Barmaids' and Barmen's Union of Workers Hotel, Club, Caterers, Tea Room Restaurant Employee (lii) Contract rates and earnings generally: Miners 10.10.0. per shift (average) Scrapers 9. 0.0. per shift (average) Tradesmen 4. 6.9. per shift (award) Trades Assts. 3.15.6. per shift (award) (iv) Comment: In mining generally and in the outback (and with the A.W.U. in mind in particular), there is a relative iack of "industrta sophistication" and it is still relatively easy to deal with unions and with union matters, in a very direct way. Spontaneous issues, which can cause major strikes m the capital cities are settled in a few minutes by plain "down-to- earth" direct, on-the-job talks in places like Wittenoom. Kalgooriie has a virtually strike free record and Wittenoom, literally has no record of a strike. There are no major national issues at stake if gold or asbestos production stops. The big unions have nothing to gain in 4406 90. C. Safetv The lost time accident frequency rate (number of lost time accidents per million man-hours worked) is set out below on a veariv basis, since the collection of statistics in 1957. Each figure is the average rate for the 12 month periods. (All lost time accidents recorded in the average rates are industrial injuries). 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 to date 229 279 255 42 75 121 i '>'> ended Mav, 1963) The collection of accident statistics on a C.S.R. Company organised basis commenced at Wittenoom during 1956, when this was commenced throughout the C.S.R. generally. At the same time, A.B.A. management was given direction m lines of safety control and recording. In 1959 a visit was made by a Sydney based C.S.R. personnel officer to project an organised safety campaign and to commence a scheme of training supervisors in safety supervision. At the same time, a Safety/Personnei Officer was appointed at the mine, and a safety committee set up. The Safety/Personnei Officer was given practical training in Sydney in the personnel officer and safety officer functions. He attended a Work Simplification Course and also visited the Zinc Corporation Plant at Broken Hill and resumed his new duties at Wittenoom in October, 1959. 1960 showed a very big reduction in accident frequency rate. A new appointee to the position of Safety/Personnei Officer has completed a five weeks' training course in Sydney, organised and directed by the Industrial Department of the C.S.R. Company and assumed duties on a full time basis in July at Wittenoom. This should ensure that a company-trained and cap able officer will be giving his close attention to personnel and principal safety matters at Wittenoom from now on. 4407 D Health aspects One ot the principal hazards in hard rock mining, .'usual!.' metalliferous mining ) is the development by the miners, of the socalled "miners complaint" or silicosis which may lead to tuberculosis and, in the past, to a high mortality rate. However, under modern conditions of effective ventilation, dust suppression and hygiene, silicosis has been reduced to acceptable terms within the mining industry. At Wittenoom, as well as a high silica content of the rocks there is an additional pulmonary hazard in the asbestos fibre causing a disease known as asbestosis. The dangers of asbestos came to light suddenly in 1900, m England, when attention was focussed on an asbestos carding factory in which ten men had died of lung disease, all at about the age of 30. Broadly speaking, the length of time which may elapse between initial exposure to the dust and the development of recognized radiological symptons is said to be considerably less than that for silicosis. Already, Wittenoom has compiled an impressive record of confirmed silicosis - asbestosis cases, mainly in people who worked in the oid Wittenoom mine and mill which was extremely dusty, and partiv, people who had worked underground elsewhere in metalliferous mines before going to Wittenoom. Working in close concert with the West Australian Department of Mines and the W. A. Department of Health, every effort is made to provide safe conditions underground and in the mill by very close attention to adequate ventilation and by regular dust particle counts, which are checked frequently by the Depart ment of Mines. Currently, the first stage of a 5 stage plan to replace the present dust collection system (" Rotoclone") is being con structed. The estimated cost of the complete scheme is at least 100, 000. The first stage costing 15, 000 is being installed at the drier level to handle the dust from the secondary crushing station before proceeding with the main installation at the treatment plant. C 4408 hart No. 27 STANDARD FORM CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT 1. to serve your Company at the Company's present ana future asbestos mines in the Hametsley Range*. My engagement shall be on the terms of the award from time to time covering the Blue Asbestos Industry and subject also to the following conditions:- 1. Your Company shail advance to me the sum of Wittenoom to enable me to take up my engagement. to cover my fere by air from Perth to 2. I authorise the Company to deduct the sum of at least 1.10.0. per week from my wages until the advance made for my fare bos been paid. 3. !f my employment is terminated from any cause whatever prior to my refunding the total fare advanced the outstanding balance shall be deducted in a lump sum from the final payment due to me by the Company 4. If such final payment is insufficient to discharge the outstanding balance the amount still unpaid shall be payable bv me on demand after termination of my services and be recoveraole by you. 5. The sum to be repaid by me in respect of such advance shall not exceed unless 1 fail to travel on the day specified, causing the Company to pay an additional fare for my transport to Wittenoom, when the amount shall cover the two fares incurred. 6. If I complete six caiendnr continuous service with the Company, the Company shall refund to me the sum recovered for the fare, such refund not to exceed PROVIDED FURTHER AND IT IS HEREBY EXPRESSLY AGREED that 130 continuous ordinary time shifts worked by me shall be equal co and can be read for and in place of the words "six calendar months conanuaus service" credit being given by the Company for time lost by me due to sickness recognised by the Company, work caused accidents and such paid holidays for which l will be entitled to payment during the term of this agreement but for no other cause. 7 1 further authorise the Company to deduct from my wages 9d. per pay and to pay such deductions as subscriptions by me for benefia under the Flying Doctor Ambulance Fund. 8. I further authorise the Company to deduct from my wages per pay and co pay such deductions as subscriptions by me co The Hospitals Benefit Fund of Westers Australia. 9. Four hours' travelling time oniv will be paid irrespective of mode and time of aansport and further more this will oniv be paid if and when I complete six calendar months' continuous service with the Company. 10. If I fail to take up my engagement the fare at fares advanced to me shall be payable by me on demona and be recoverable by you. 11. Whilst employed by the Company! agree to wear footwear and clothing of a style and partem co be approved by the management. I hereby expressly agree that i will wear miner's safety boots and safeev helmet whilst employed underground and that whenever 1 am working for the Company, at no time will I wear sandals ot sandshoes during working hours. 12. If on completion of my six months' continuous service I elect to leave the Company's service i shall not as of right be entitled to re-engagement such entitlement only accruing pursuant to the relaove clauses appertaining to Annual Leave of the award currently in force between the Company and the respecove union applicable to my trade or calling. 13. I undertake to become a member of the AustralianWorkers' Union within one month of my employ ment with Australian Blue Asbestos Pty, Limited. Dated the day of 196 Signature of Worker Confirmed for Australian Blue Asbestos Pty. Limited. a> C 4409 I ia SHZ I j3 I -a Oi4n No. 29 \ i i C 4410 441 1 Chapter 11 Exploratory drilling A. Previous drilling B. Present practice C. The prospect A. Previous drilling !r. 1950, an attempt was made to explore ahead o: the mine workings to confirm the quality of the fibre and to define the best direction in which tne mine should develop. Five holes were drilled with Light diamond drill equipmer. a Mindnll FD20, comparatively close to the cliff face at Colonial Gorge using "AX" and "EX" equipment. However, although sub sequent mining confirmed closely the assessment from these holes, at the time, the results were uncertain, due to imperfect core recovery, losses of diamonds were almost prohibitive and the cos's of drilling extremely high. However, five hoies were drilled in the vicinity of Nos. 3 and 4 levels with the following reported results-. - Hole No. Upper Seam DeDth Assav Lower Seam DeDth Assav 1007 1010 1016 1002 1021 418 389 392 321 324 3.40" 4. 25" 2.75" 2.50" 2. 71" . 410 413 342 345 No Record 2. 20" 3.45" 2.30" 2.42" The expidraTory drilling at Wittenoom is a most difficu:' undertaking for the following reasons:- fi) The terrain is precipitous and very rugged and getting drilling equipment *o the drill sites is rather hazardous and results in an unusual coscomponent in the total drilling costs. 4412 93. (ii) (iiU (ivi Water is not available on the "plateau", 600 ft. above the floor of the gorge and until recently dry drilling with its attendant disadvantages had to be accepted. The quartzite-ironstone formations drilled are probably the hardest fine grained rocks likeiy to be encountered anywhere. The existence of joints and "vugs" (or small caves), presents the problems of casing and cementing the holes to avoid Loss of circulation of the drilling fluid, accompanied by the ever present risk of lamming bits and other equip ment down the hole and resuiting m the ioss of costly equipment, or costly recovery operations, in any case. Two years ago (1961), the decision was made to purchase a pneumatic tyred tractor dnil unit to make a fresh attack cn the exploratory drilling task. This was the American, Schramm "Rota-drill" Xo. 123 equipped with a 4-cylinder International diesel engine, direct-ccupied to a 250 c.i.m. air compressor and having power take-off to a hydraulic system from which control is secured cf the drill drive head; of positioning the drill mast and winch for raising and lowering the drill siring; the "break-out" tools and the levelling jacks icr tr.e rig. This rig started work January, 1961. Initially, the technique and procedure adopted was to use a Mission, "down-the-hole" percussion hammer and to change over to "XX" diamond drill bits, when the geological examination of the drill cuttings indicated ciose proximity to the upper fibre seam. Both the percussion and diamond drilling was done dry and the hole was "air swept"; that is, air supplied by the compressor, through the bit, lifted the cuttings of rock to the surface to allow *r.e bit to drill ahead. Due to this dry method and lack of experience of most c: the drillers and the very slow rotation rate o. the Schramm anil for diamond drilling purposes, progress was painfully slow and extremely costiv and holes were abandoned incomplete and equipment damaged and lost. At the time, a 4 m. drill stem was asea counted to a 4r" B37 - 2 020 Mission hammer drill. B. Present practice Early this year, the drilling was re-orgamsed under the enthusiastic direction of a new drilling superintendent, who had previous considerable contract drilling experience at Mount Isa and elsewhere. The present highly successful technique employed is as follows: 'i) The hole is spudded in using a "Tri-Co,.e" bit :o penetrate to soiid roctc. (ii) The hoie is then cased with a retrievable casing. (iii) The collar is cemented in with a concrete block, approximately 2ft. x 2ft. and 3 ft. deep. tiv) Drilling is resumed by dry percussion drilling, using "X" rods and an ASS-100-4in. Halco percussion hammer drill and the hole is drilled ahead to within a few feet of the fibre seams, the horizon of which can be accurately predicted by interpretation of the drill core log. '/i Diamond drilling then takes over and "XX" casing is run and sealed with an "XX" casing snce bit. (vii Drilling proceeds using circulating water ana an "X" rod string and "XX" stationary cere carrel. (vii) Bits are made up to a special diamond setting of 3 10 carats, each being 80-110 "Hardcore" stones (viii) per carat. A s; luble oil "Dromus B" in the proportion of 1 gallon to 80 -100 galls, of water is added to maxe up the circulating water and the circulating water is pumped through the bit to the surface by a 750-1200 "Mindrill" pump. Diamond drill core is recovered in either a 10 i: or a 20 ft. barrel and is logged by the geologist and stored in core trays for future reference. For holes up to 450 ft. the heavier Mission gear is still used, optionally, followed by diamond drilling as described :cr the 4414 95. The soiuble oil has been the principal reason tor dramatical increased performance, overcoming the problem of drilling extremely hard rock at very slow driil speeds - (80 r.p.m.). Other observed effects, attributable to the use of the oil are:- (i) Considerably reduced rod vibration. (ii) Reduction of water pressure. (iii) Improved scouring of drill cuttings. (iv) Reduced wear on the pump. Other equipment used in the drilling operation is: A Land Rover and trailer for servicing the driil. One 4 wheel drive, 3.ton truck with a removable 500 gall, tank plus storage tanks at drill site and a 10, 000 candlepower Tilley flood light for night operations. As a result of the development of this successful technique, a second Schramm drill-rig was hired and subsequently purchased to press on with the exploration programme, which included a "wild cat'' programme in the area, as well as the investigation of the area immediately ahead of the present mine workings. So far, seventeen holes have been drilled with the Schramm rigs. Initially, these proved that there was economic fibre ahead of the main adit but that there was dead fibre to the north and south o: the mine. Several holes were put in to prove that the dead zone to the south was in fact a fault zone and would act as a southern barrier to the mine. It was also shown that this fault zone is the same as that encountered in the northern workings of the Wittenoom mine. Drilling on the northern area was held up because at the time the technique of deep drilling with these rigs had not been developed. Drilling then was concentrated on proving the value of the fibre ahead of the main adit. Good upper seam values were proved going in a westerly direction (see holes 15, 30 and 20). Holes 2? and 29 were sunk to delineate this ore to the north and did show marked deterioration. It is possible that the economic values may be bifurcated from 6 level, with one westerly limb and another to the north-west and hole 34 is currently being sunk to test this hypothesis. The second Schramm rig has been put into service un areas remote from the Colonial Mine. The areas of particular interest are: The possible western extension of the Wittencom mine. i'ii'1 Values in the area adjacent to the Bee Gorge outcrops. (iii; Values in the temporary reserve area some five miles west of the Coiomai and Wittenoom mines. . :v> Values in the Yampire Gorge area. C. The prospect As it stands at present, there appears to be no reai evidence to cause concern about future fibre grades, nor,in fact.tha the direction of pitch of the ore body will change.as far as mining operations are concerned. The present hole, Xo. 34, is a critical one in this consideration. Broadly, it ccuid be said that on the extension of the axis of the main adit of the mine, there is an area which may be 3, 000 to 5,000 ft. in length and has a width o: prooabiy 2, 000 ft. . in which a certain amount of drilling has been done, but until further drilling is carried out, it is impossible to assess the long term picture with any certainty. CHART N2 30. 0 ISO 360 2 0 20 O' 360 40 - 60 *" 220 r E 240 400 r 420 SO 260 440 Upper Seam K* 1O0 I 20 140 r. 1 6 o' ' >60 280 r 300 320 r 340 ft V 360 4 60 Lo WE R Seam U GEN D B. I Q Green Quartzite Shale Dolomite RlE SECK.1TE Crocidolite C 4416 Seale .* // i 9rs Con^c e e +* 4 w a i,i Chapter 12 Markets The marketing of asbestos (blue or white) follows a pattern different from other commodities and minerals. Each year between October and December most users contract for their requirements for the following year and very little tonnage is bought or sold during the year, other than the main contracts abovementioned. To achieve saies, it is necessary to contact all users, individually towards the end of the year to discuss their requirements, the fibre quality and prices etc. Consequently buyers have become very selective and as price is still the main consideration the market is extremely competitive. The main use for blue fibre is in the manufacture of asbestos cement pressure pipes and to a much lesser degree in asbestos cement sheets, corrugates and moulded products. Until a few years ago, although flat sheets and corrugates were made in most parts of the world, pressure pipe manufacture was confined to comparatively few countries, the main producers being the IT. S. A, several European countries, Australia and Japan. In recent years there has been a tremendous increase in the number of pipe manufacturing plants and there are now few countries in the world which do nothaveapipemakingindustryin operation or planned. Because of this spread of manufacturing activity the job of selling fibre and keeping in contact with the users has grown in importance and magnitude in order to maintain sales in the face of keen com petition from South African producers. Asbestos cement factories in many cases lack good technical assistance, and fibre formulations have developed in accordance with someone's fancy or what is most easily used rather than on good technical foundations. Consequently it is rather difficult to convince a buyer that any particular grade of fibre has advantages over any other grade. This condition is changing, however, and standards are being introduced and more attention is being given to C 4420 98. close attention to fibre quality is necessary and producers must be prepared to meet a customer's requirements regarding iength oi fibre and degree oi tibreisation, lithe maximum market is to be secured. Current market for blue fibre has been adversely affected bv:- (i) Depressed conditions in the asbestos cement business in Japan.- (ii) Some slowing down m Europe as a result of the severe winter this year. (iii) Over-production and price cutting by the South African producers. Improvement in the market position for blue fibre can reasonably be expected because of:- (i) The comparatively rapid lift in the standard of living in Eastern countries and in South America. This will call for a vast amount of water supply and sewerage work involving the use of asbestos cement pipes and building materials. fii) Many high pressure pipe plants have been established in recent years most of which are working part time. This condition will not be allowed to continue and sales of finished products will increase with pro portional increase in fibre consumption. A feature of the market could be a slackening off in pro duction from the old established pipe plants due to loss of export market and a rapid increase in output from the new plants. Because of this local manufacture in many countries the main fibre market could move from Europe to countries in Asia. The Middle East and South America. 4421 Chapter 13 Company organisation A. Board of Directors 8. Mine staff organisation C. Staff organisation chart D. Previous senior staff appointments A. Board of Directors Australian Blue Asbestos Ptv. Ltd. 1963 Chairman and Managing Director K. O. Brown Directors M. G. King C.H. Broadhurst A.C. Higgs A.R. Johnston Alternate Directors H.R. Brennan ior A.C. Higgs A. Mackintosh for C.H. Broadhurst Secretary J. Notley B. Mine staff organisation Senior staff organisation as at October 1963 is: General Superintendent Manager Assistant Manager P.C. Thomas O.A. Allan H. Stevenson 4422 100. D. Previous senior staff appointments GENERAL SUPERINTENDENTS (PERTH) C.H. Broadhurst P.C. Thomas ( General Superintendent and Resident Director ) ( General Superintendent ) 1956 - 1958 1959 to date MANAGERS L.G. Hancock C.H. Broadhurst D. Humphries A.VV. Morgan P.H. Reagan R.P. Luke C.H. Broadhurst P.C. Thomas O.A. Allan ( called Superintendent ) 1943 1944 - 1947 1948 1949 1950 - i952 1952 1953 - 1955 1956 - 1958 1958 to date UNDERGROUND MANAGERS H. Marks D. Humphries P. C. Thomas K.J. Carter J.P. Shanahan 1945 1947 - 1948 1950 - 1957 1960 - 1962 1962 to date MILL SUPERINTENDENTS (Note from 1943 to 1950 the Chief Engineer was also the Mill Superintendent). O.A. Allan N. Whitford D.W. Ebert W.L. Gordon 1950 - 1958 1959 - 1960 1960 - 1961 i 961 to date CHIEF ENGINEERS G.P. Wallace H.H. Cross E.G. Moriand 1943 - 1944 1945 - 1947 1948 . 1951 101. SECRETARIES J.L. Tucker G. West , Resident ) :n ; Perth Secretary A.R. Johnston ) F. Millington ) At ) ) Wittenoom W.M. Beith ) J.S. Xotlev ) > ACCOUNTANTS J. L. Tucker A.R. Johnston F. Millington W.M. Beith J.S. Xotlev 1943 - 1 9-48 1948 - 1049 1950 1953 1953 - 1958 1958 1952 1962 to date 1943 - 1945 1945 - 1953 1953 - 1958 1958 1962 1962 to date 4423 <flj & Zl 0 | yl 1* u O' c *S- l c 3 0 h- < I U *5o. 3 c V> _T* V o "L y - CZ S *O C u. V *c i CL 3wo rt h- o 81 2 V> i-- c <t 0 $ m *n) U 20 O ct TT O iN sr ^r if < . i-- cn O' c o* LU O' * C i2 T> z '5 * jl _ v ? o 01 3'- 2 iZ <C a o 'I filN E STAFF O 6 A N I A T I O N CHART jr\ ~a. U3 Z VJ o >^ u Z 3 . ."o. 04 3 <o 0 CL Vi S 2 C 5 H2 wV 3 o .3 0 a* c ct* - <r* c ._1 w <-r> o ,1 J3 8 . 5 r> ? * oS . 2 il QO LD CM ^r TT ?r 0 a- c z 3 lb -- > a _ t at a c 2 -X t0t 0 X ifl a) * T > V 3 in r 0Q* w L 0 0 "a.a lu J. a c 3 C 4426 .% Confidential t THE A.B.A. STORY Volume 2 Statistical and Financial Section I General statistics II Mining monthly control report and mining costs III Milling, engineering power house reports and costs IV Monthly operation reports V Mining and milling comparative figures VI Appendices A) Note on taxation position B) Graph - sales, cost of sales - profit and loss C) Graph - distribution of sales D) Graph - costs per ton fibre - fibre yields SECTION I GENERAL STATISTICS Payroll tax paid . 151,600 - Production is recent years: tee. Year 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 Ton* 16,416 14,474 15,777 417, 301 AAA -* Valued at *. 1,540,000 1,404,000 1,531,000 1,627,000 1,196,000 Grade of athenee mined: 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 3.6" 3.4" 2.9" 2.7" 2.7" Tonnage* exported: 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 Ton* 11,832 9,631 8,248 9,937 9r6 S--V Valued at . 1,150,000 930,940 801,400 929, 270 949 4>A freight rate* Wictaaoen to Fremantle per too - 13.12.0. Year 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1963 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 :.J PirtrlbutioB Markeo Australia 783 748 758 707 1,593 628 200 387 363 1,014 3,207 4,650 5,252 7, 464 6.233 - Short cone atbeita* fibre Europe Atia 10 . 90 258 820 290 264 4,069 3,643 3,635 2,411 1,547 3,555 1,809 747 . . 20 2 . . . 60 929 1,300 1,254 2,252 3,483 2,768 1 Z.SZ-* :a i - HZ America 50 200 274 292 2*2 2,043 1,522 3,542 3,801 6,720 5,991 9,031 3,824 2,956 6,422 -7 Total 843 948 1,122 1,277 2,687 2,961 1,986 7,998 7,867 12,298 12.909 16,482 14,883 15,712 16,170 iSi' * C 4428 Annual Development: 194$) ) 1949) 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1955 1957 1955 1959 1950 1961 1962 -2- Old memod (development and raping combined). Feet 2,730 6,722 9,346 3.365 2,918 2,209 2,076 3,772 4,741 5,495 4,304 4.365 5, 373 On Reselves Large ana* remain s be tested, but it is estimated dtat the on reserve coeaune not less Aon 3,000,000 tons of ncovemble (ibre. Production: 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 I960 1961 1962 Tons on mined Short mss asbestos fibn 13,000 18,000 21,000 42,536 98,972 133,269 128,181 90,987 125,487 182,923 214,405 281,434 258,064 296,107 349,551 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 850.16 1107.26 1155.59 1566,86 3290.73 4253.97 4248.92 4845.67 8160. 34 12222.19 13313 16416 c 4429 -3- Wpget end tolarli po>d together with payroll tox commianeag and labour xpai ovtthtod percentage* Overhead include* holiday pay, travelling am*, tick pay, air (ant, worker*' cocap*mottos inrutaace, cor of mcnirq end aeeoaunedadaa, advtrtting and recruiting of labour, welfare, bu***rrice, medical teroce* etc. Year 1948 1949 19S0 1991 1992 1993 1994 1999 1996 1997 1998 1999 1960 1961 1962 Freight* paid: Year 1990 1951 1952 1993 1994 1995 1996 1937 1998 1959 1960 1961 1962 Wage* 6t talari** paid 79,802 196,698 191,394 299,196 362,038 390,217 349,612 276,837 360,992 901,909 949,408 623,473 637,963 790,461 867,928 Payroll tax 1,998 3,163 4,244 9,143 8,689 8,968 8,928 6,834 8,824 12,214 13,246 19,083 19,309 18,124 20,911 Coca oveAaade labour exp. 16,078 28,900 27,474 38.011 46,747 47,194 48,198 46,728 94,120 74,179 62,349 71,491 79,939 91,646 109,330 OvcAcad percentage on wager paid 28. 81 23. 75 17.91 14.96 16.41 14.38 16.61 19.49 17.71 17.16 13.10 13.19 14.36 13.87 14.26 Inward* cargo** 96,423 60,077 96,118 47,810 48,462 48,894 $9,691 90,026 107,191 93,578 89,240 117,849 112,196 Outward fibr* Ctt^OU 3,839 9,676 16,321 27,782 23,532 29,723 43,175 64,908 95,880 93,816 87,799 101,017 109,138 Total 60,258 65,753 72,439 79,592 72,994 71,577 102,866 194,934 203,071 187,394 173,039 218,862 221,294 4430 -4- Millinq: Period Half-year to December, 1961 Half-year to June, 1962 Half-year to December, 1962 Summary of the milling account Ore treated Cost per ton Fibre bagged JO. 59/. 23.17 36.84/- 28.89 37.50/- 29.26 Total milling costs 235,204 226,336 276,672 F ibrt Produced] Half-year to December, 1961 Halfmywar to June, 1962 Half-year to December, 1962 10,150 tans 7,843 toot 9,456 tons 392 tons per week 300 tont pot week 360 tens per week C Pit of wear steel: The following is a breakdown of costs for Ac major wear pans in Ae crushmg section ond Ae aeaaacnt section. Fibreisers for Ae si* monA period ending December, 1962. All para ore of monganesestseL Crushing section; Kue Ken Jaws 4$' Symons bowl lines 4i' Symons mantis lissrs 4' Symons bowl liners 4' Symons mantle lines 3 ' Symons bowl lines 3 1 Symons mantle lines 500 608 432 1,440 1,344 1,980 1,980 8,284 Treaonent section: Harnmag fibreiser beams Hammag fibreiter oAer wear pars Kubit mill fibreiser beaten Kubit mill flbrsiseroAerwearpara 5,440 2,856 4,800 4,314 17,410 Total crusher end fibreiter pans - Manganese steel wear parts only. 25,694 A companion of crusberand flbtalser costs from Ae abwe shows Aat:i iii rmr ffbreiiias miinmeet weor narts is double Aat of crusher wear arts. Major cost items include: Labour - operating Labour maintenance Stores maintenance Power 5.4 perton fibre bagged 3. 3 perton fibre baggea 6.0 perton fibre bagged 5. 25 per ton fibre baggea 4431 443 SECTION U MINING MONTHLY CONTROL REPORT THIS PERIOD 4 weeks ended 4/6/63 , HAIf YEAR TO-DATE ( 24 WEEKS) 8GT. ACTUAL / t / Ex. *q. yd. rq. yd. Varioac* 3. 167 .507 .463 3. 185 .521 . 192 19399 3171 1168 - 108 - 83 plus 1652 .407 . 422 2572 - 93 .376 595 3622 -1726 .971 971 5912 - 2 548 .463 572 .448 3491 2728 - 153 - 92 DIRECT EXPS. labour Labour exes. Stores OPTC. Steel Explosives Repaisdc Meet. Power Compiened air 8GT. ACTUAL / / Ex. jq. yd. q. yd. pease 3.167 . 507 3.234 .525 116685 18943 VanOBCS 2406 649 .463 . 407 .878 .971 .$48 . 46 .272 .451 .775 .937 .548 .457 9814 16277 27973 33800 19777 16484 6893 .1591 *3709 *1237 .3 * 223 7.404 6.906 42063 -3035 - 7.404 . 775 4.629 - .636 42063 3870 6. 270 38193 - 3035 - 530 2505 .007 .403 .071 . 117 .203 .013 .370 .067 . Ill .672 30 2256 406 677 4090 . 40 5 . - 7.930 7.503 45702 -2460 21907 67609 21164 - 743 46445 1727 Ita Mine develop. Increase develop, lusp. INDIRECT'EXES. 7.404 7.199 259753 -7413 -- - 7.404 .775 6.629 .480 6. 719 259753 17297 42456 *7413 -9603 2190 Labour Salaries Labourdt soles en. Motor vehicles Depreciation .007 . 403 .071 . 117 .703 012 .391 .071 . 113 .680 Total cost mining 7.930 7.986 43 14093 2563 4062 4540 38152 . 193 . 66 - 2449 STOCK ADJUSTMENT Opening ore stock Closing ore stock 16894 305046 21164 *4273 Total cart ore milled 283882 *1821 6091 101. J Square yards lifted 36.084 ?Btdgec 103.17 This budget is based os 1500 sq. yds. pet week, 250 toss fibre per week and 145 ft. development pet week. 4433 COSTS . MINING ACCOUNT H.Y.E. 31-12-62. LAST HALF YEAR 55.923 175.849 161,363 152, 464 7,844. 78 . 1403 4. 847 4.461 44.380 LAST HAU YEAR $q. Yds. or* lifted Ton* rack mined Ton* or* broken Tout on to mill Toss fibre bogged (after deducting bog might od)uranent) Toss fibn bogged per tq- yd. lifted ft Fibn to or* broke* ft Fibr* to rock broke* Cost per to* rock mined 64403 203911 187688 181879 9456.33 .1468 S. 038 4.637 45. 703 COST PER TON ORE BROKEN LASTH.* THIS H. Y. SHHUNGS . t. d. 184,799 15,664 32,636 31,116 25,014 45,507 19,537 12,645 23,047 3,333 21,675 - 414,973 . 414,973 800 3. 394 419,167 1,200 17,910 400,097 9,891 390,206 Labour operating Labour maiataseac* Labour expemes Scons operating Scons maintenance Explosives Mining steel Power Compressed air Working expenses motor vehicles Salaries A travelling expenses Engineering deperanent 22.83 1.94 4.03 3.84 3.09 5.62 2. 42 1.56 2.39 .41 2.68 - Provision far replacement 51.27 Add value of on et start 3iz* 600 tons 2 U/C 12793 ton 1.4 Less value of on at sad Sins 800 tone <@>2 U/G 10924 ton 1.4 49.43 Less transfemd to account No. 11 To cost of production account 48.21 21.27 1.71 3.38 3.35 2.90 5.37 2.64 1.72 3.27 .49 1.88 .57 199,634. 0. 0. 16,031. 0. 0. 31,674. 17. 3. 31,465. 0. 0. 27,208. 2. 4. 50,408. 0. 0. 24,743. 0. 0. 16,178. 0. 0. 30,687. 0. 0. 4,581. 0. 0. 17,669. 9. 0. 5,368. 0. 0. 48.55 455,643. 8. 7 25,232. 0. 0. 480,875. 8. 7. 1,200. 0. 0. 17,910. 0. 0. 499,989. 8. 7. 51.48 49.65 1,600. 0. 0. 15,293. 0. 0. 483,092. 8. 7. 17,123. 17. 0. 465,968.11. 7. Nett: 7000 tea* of broken on lost la min* cave.in and now written out el U/G stock*. WITTENOOM GORGE, 8& February, 1963. 4434 -3- ACCOUNT NO. 5 DETAILS MINtNC COSTS H.Y.E. 31-12-62 Cost pet con ore broken (shillings) List This H.Y. H. Y. OPF.RAT1NC - 3reaiung (S) 3reakmg (0) Shovelling mecnantcai Shovelling scraper Locomotives Explosives Mining steel U/C Convevor Platelaving Pipelining Veoulaoon Electrical Chute conscructton teeden Surveying 0 sampling Health and safety Electric cap lamps Drill sharpening Scorekeeping Mine water supply Rock drills C tools Indirect overhead office Ore Bucks Salvage Technical school 0 language classes Timbering mam adit Timbering levels 7.09 2. 18 .09 7.72 S3 5. S3 2.64 1.32 43 36 54 .02 .41 32 34 12 . 3S 10 .01 . 21 . 22 .00 .04 .01 .08 47 TOTA L OPERATING 54.71 32.63 Pibte bagged (poinds) Last H.Y. This H.Y. 3S.81 7.03 2.16 .09 7.66 1. 31 S. 49 2.62 1.31 .43 . 50 .53 .02 .41 32 . 33 . 12 . 3S . 10 .01 . 21 . 22 .00 .05 .01 .08 .47 32. 38 Labour Stores 64. S72 18.483 593 63.046 16.826 1,477 u.sso 3,648 5, 726 1,973 131 3, 382 2, 319 25 744 1, 31S 909 - 2, 062 . 410 El. 949 1, 992 232 9. 38S 314 SO. 408 24,743 792 387 1,520 5,065 44 504 217 3. 138 398 1, 516 4 92 l, 9S2 9 30 32 til 267 1,065 529 3. 364 199.634 106.616 Total E66.S21 20.47S 325 72.431 17. 140 $1. 885 24. 743 12.342 4,035 5,246 5,038 175 3. 886 3,036 3,163 1, 142 3, 331 913 92 1.9S2 2,071 30 442 111 796 4,429 306.2S0 MAINTENANCE Sreakmg - development Breaking - stoping Shovelling mechanical Shovelling scraper U/C Conveyor Platelaying Pipefitting Chute construction feeders Surveying & sampling Electric cap lamp* Drill sharpening Rock drills & tools Mine buildings Health 6 safety TOTAL MAINTENANG 01 .02 11 .98 .68 .47 .04 .08 . 10 .46 .23 .00 .26 .00 .06 38 . 14 .06 .01 5.03 4.61 Total maintenance 34.71 32.63 5.03 4.61 SUB TOTAt Engineering dept. Compressed air Motoe vehicles Labour expense Silanes expense Salaries 6 trav. exp. Provision for emplacement 39. 74 . 1.S6 2.85 .41 4.03 . 2.68 - 37.24 .57 1.72 3.27 .49 3.38 .23 1.60 2.69 TOTAL MINING COST II 27 51. 24 5.19 .01 03 . 11 .97 .67 .47 .04 .08 . 10 . 4S .23 .00 .26 .00 .06 .38 . 14 .06 .01 4.57 68 3. 104 2, 361 420 1SS 2,030 906 14 149 2, 091 49 376 26 134 692 6.085 2.042 637 2, 248 t, 234 34 10 6, 174 1, 294 21 16.031 27, 208 4,403 4,278 2,140 34 4, *94 43, 239 35.81 S. 19 32. 38 4.57 199,634 106,616 16,031 27, 208 41.00 - 1.61 2.94 .43 4.16 2. 76 - 36.9S . S7 1.71 3.25 .48 3.3S .23 t.S9 2.67 2IS, 665 133, 824 52.90 so. as To A/C No. 4 306.2S0 43,239 349.489 S, 368 16,178 30,687 31, 67S i480. 87$ 3 : --V I *5i s5o5 11( 427. 67,739 Ju>997 459,417 .147 3 00 0 dojd 2on2N3H3 21 wZ >. 21?< 009999 doodad 16 2a "OiniAvas S3 ** ooooo ooo U4 b d d o o' *i O dm < K A o' w 2 u z ln c (c i : m ine Jeve lopm enl lu p c o x acccunl Balance brought forw ard SECTION m MtM.lNC MONTHLY CONTROL REPORT THIS PERIOD 4 weeks ended 4/6/03 HALF YEAR TO-DATE (24 WEEKS! BUDCET Shgs. Ton ore milled 6 30 t. 17 98 IS 7. 30 11. 91 3.30 1.49 32.60 1.48 .26 .92 7.42 10.08 42.68 ACTUAL Shgs. Ton ore millec Ex. oensc 6.73 4971 Vansuet 320 1.30 956 92 1.43 1057 334 14 7.95 102 * 3 5369 481 3.95 6606 *2185 4.06 1.51 32.07 2999 563 1112 12 23672 391 1.48 1095 0.26 0.92 7. 43 192 677 5488 10.09 7452 42.16 31124 * 391 DIRECT EXPS. Labour Labour exes. BUDGET Shgs. Too orv milled 6. 30 1. 17 ACTUAL Shgs. Ton on milled 7.69 Exoeott Varione* 31153 -5619 l. 40 5691 . 949 Operanag notes .98 Lubrieona Power . IS 7. 30 Repina 4 Mtce. 11.91 Sack* 3.30 Tailing* disposal Total direct exes. INDIRECT EXPS. Salaries Salaries exes. Motor vehicles 1.49 32.60 1.48 .26 .92 Depreciation 7. 42 Total iaditectexes . 10.08 Total milling cost 42.68 90 IS 3. 42 11.05 3.68 l.SO 34.79 1.63 28 1.00 3. 12 11.03 45.82 3678 * 293 S96 * U 34109 -4524 44766 *3503 14920 -1546 6088 - 49 141001 -8880 6556 1148 4062 32928 44694 185695 -8880 Ton 14763 13610* 152.05 1000.95 9.35 BUDGET Rati Expense Variance 2.11 31124 Cost on milled Tons 31057 Rate 2.29 Ej^ense Variance 185695 - Tailia^s to dumps* or* 74407 fibre 916. 30 31.09 31124 *1427 FIbn bagged 5731 70 32.39 185695 *3517 Bag weight variation Nett fibre ACTUAL PERCENTAGE 36.54 5697.16 BUDGET ACTUAL PERCENTAGE 2.7 2.62 87 86.8 15252 14763 1000 1000.95 150 3348 152.05 3260 97.0 99.8 96.8 100.1 101.4 97.4 Assay Mill recovery Tons milled FIbn produced Laa of fibm Rock discarded 2.7 87 38472 5800 367 19428 2.7 36.2 91057 5733.70 916.30 18623 100.0 99.1 91.6 98.8 105.7 95.8 -a ... 276.672. 8.10. 2 9 .2 6 2 8 .8S <m viirs a >0 m I ssi; Qoeewsoe < 00r-o d o' o 6 -- d 6 6 1 dodo " * "* " * - -- rt Jrt '^00* r o? OO do ON X2 o 2% H vo > / * 3P = o j3. Hto>" 2s S-*Oq(-NN 1 SO -- rv .*3 SK -- ^ *-N -4*40NNfa~0N-- lAMf* * \A NM * ' -- -- a |=5" O 1_ 2s 'O -- *-f t NNOO IIA -xN fN IN NV l<AAN0tO* 0 C* 9 <M <A GO <6 ` S 1 z'Z-0 421 v a<a V 535 23 Ji ml!! i'H.lll! sisijs fail!? I- 3 53 ;2s s8S ?a 3 II I-s IH. 3-S - fa3= *2s>i<0/s *33.2-gU-Tt?l ills a ^n1MfaSiSJo3w^Auaio.JU.9fX2>u--9ir^Ji3u9i J 7 .S 0 COST OK M ILLIN G -IX ) COST PRODUCTION A /c 3 6 .W >l<Q*A kc*e*5(0 S2 is v* * -tsJKSi SvVit9Oi<AANONnNMOn^ofiAN i> a 2 o" d -- dd*-7<C*d" ar N - t -- > "To* -- .: jO*L.) Vw<> *8 a.* <si 226, 336 i<? -12. DETAILS MULING COSTS ACCOUNT NO. 7 H.Y.E. 31. 12.62. COST PER TON ORE TREATED (SHILLINGS LAST THIS H.Y. H.Y. PORE BAGCED LABOUR (POUNDS') LAST THIS H.Y. H.Y. Primary picking Supervision Secondary crushing Treoanent 'Vest* disposal Creasing C leaning Sampling Sagging Resentment Oust collecting Storage & loading Health ft saiety 1st Grade fibre Mill buiUlsgs Tailings treatment Electric plant lighting Sachs 1.93 . 18 1.10 1.00 .00 .25 .67 .40 .96 .28 .41 . 26 .04 .08 .26 .00 2.89 1.19 . 14 .36 .78 .00 .20 . 52 .31 .79 .22 . 32 20 .03 .06 .20 .00 2.26 10,501 1,271 9,899 6,009 22 694 4,823 2,799 6,366 1,933 2,985 42 282 482 1,883 - TOTAL OPERATINC 11.89 10.31 9.28 8.04 45,991 STORES 738 41 2,196 1,384 . . 1, 148 120 158' 702 . 119 47 1,886 12 39 . 16 21,339 30,045 TOTAL 11,289 1.312 3,095 7,393 22 1,842 4,943 2,957 7,068 2,052 3.032 1,928 294 571 1,883 16 21,339 76,036 Picking Primary crushing Secondary crushing Treoanent Waste disposal Creasing C leaning Bagging Retmaenent Oust collecting Storage ft Health ft safety 1st Grade Fibre Mill buildinge Tailings treatment Elecsie plant lighting Mill water supply TOTAL MAINTENANCE 11.72 .02 .62 2.06 9. 31 .01 .01 09 CO . 25 .00 .55 .01 .01 .02 .n . 15 .34 .01 .02 . 48 1.61 4.14 01 .01 .04 .00 20 .00 .43 .00 .01 .01 .09 . 12 .27 .00 9.53 9.19 7.44 78 597 2,849 5,719 4 84 316 6 309 1,579 22 . . 411 216 170 11 12,371 73 3.969 12.336 33,462 71 - 60 23 1.562 28 2,478 8 60 132 434 885 2,348 39 57,973 151 4.S66 15,185 39,181 75 84 376 34 1,871 28 4,057 30 60 132 845 1,101 2,518 so 70,344 SUB TOTAL Tailings direosal Engineering dept. Power Motor vehicles Labour expenses Compressed air Salaries ft Sab. Exp. Depreciation 23.57 1.46 7. 34 .99 1.92 . 12 1.98 - 19.84 18.47 15.48 1.90 1.14 1.17 2.60 . 2.03 5.86 5.91 4.57 .62 .42 .48 1. 16 1.50 .90 - . 10 1. 16 1.31 .91 4. 76 - 3.72 58.362 38.018 146,380 11,031 19,156 43,246 4, 581 3,535 3,611 35,132 TOTAL MILLING COSTS 36.84 37.50 28.85 29.26 276,672 -;3- AUSTRALIAN BLUE ASBESTOS PTV. LTD. ENGINEERING MONTHLY CONTROL REPORT THIS PERIOD BUDGET ACTUAL EXPENSE VARIANCE WORKSHOP 4 week* enoed 4/6/63 HALF YEAR TO-DATE (24 weeks) SUDCET ACTUAL EXPENSE VARIANCE 2524 398 T6 320 144 5462 2644 310 151 "3 130 *208 120 112 - :s - 453 - 14 - 746 Labour IS 144 Labour exes. 2388 Scores 456 Repo in it mice 1920 Power 364 Total workshop exes. 20772 16200 2738 735 2202 395 22770 1056 - 3S0 279 282 - 31 - 1998 1040 162 3 52 1272 S64 146 1 111 1122 - 176 - 16 - . 49 * ISO ELECTRICAL Labour Labour exes. Stans Repous 4 mate. Total elect, exes. 6240 972 48 372 7632 5631 392 S 321 6849 - 609 - 30 - 43 - 51 * 783 30 520 104 62 42 308 3542 SS42 $ 520 92 62 42 722 6052 S264 - 788 . S94 INDIRECT EXES. 74 - - 12 . 86 - 510 - 278 788 S94 Labour Salaries Labourdc sals. exes. Moor vehicles Depreciation 480 3120 624 372 252 Total indirect exes. 4848 Total engin. exes. Recovery of charges 33252 33252 Under () or Over () Recovery Allocation to prod. 67 3120 358 372 252 4269 33988 31697 * 413 - - 66 - - 479 - 736 - 1555 2291 -1712 - 2291 - 1712 4439 C 444t3 LAST H.Y. - - - . - . . - AUSTRALIAN BLUE ASBESTOS PTY. LTD. ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT ACCOUNT No 14 H. Y.E. 2L 12.62. H.Y.E. 31. 12.62 YORK SHOP Labour operating Labour expense Power Scores - ope racing Stores maintenance SUB TOTAL 19,860. 0. 0. 2,902. 0. 0. 1,056. 0. 0. 928. 0. 0. 1.694. 0. 0. 26.440 . 0. 0. ELECTRICAL Labour operating Labour expense Stores - operaeng Stores maintenance SUBTOTAL 7.602. 0. 0. 1,114. 0. 0. 70. 0. 0. 286. 0. 0. 9,072 0. 0. Salaries Salaries expense Depreciation SUB TOTAL Ot O O 4,359.13. 3. 777. 0. 0. i 5,403.13. 3. TOTAL COST ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT ALLOCATION Mining Milling W.E.M.V. Town Recoverable! Power House - power Capital - air Warehouse Sackznaking Settlement Mine admin. C.C. Management WITTENOOM GORGE, Silt February, 1963. 40,915.13. 3. 5,368. 0. 0. 19,156. 0. 0. 59. 0. 0. 1,782. 0. 0. 2,309. 0. 0. 1,72.. 0. 0. 1,180. 0. 0. 7,736 . 0. 0. 39. 0. 0. 169. 0. 0. 675. 0. 0. 610.13. 3. m. o. o. 40,915.13. 3. POWER HOUSE MONTHLY CONTROL REPORT THIS PERIOD SUDGET ACTUAL per i per iX 100 KWH 100 KWH peases 4 weeio ended 4. 4.63. HALF YEAR TO-DATE (24 week*) SUDGET ACTUAL Var* :ance per DIRECT EXES. 100 KWH L per 100 KWH tx* ptnttt v. IQDC* 1331 3379 1940 . 3770 1. 2620 .0991 . 0267 1393 .3035 1.1186 . 0239 .0051 .0059 2879 .0265 .0047 .0054 .2638 . 3278 1.5898 1. S898 .3004 1.4190 1. S898 . >79 183 1297 5505 *664 - 370 Labour operating . 1S31 . 77 Labour expense 0379 - 32 Repous & met. - 504 Fuel 6clubt. 1940 .8770 - 983 Total direct l. 2620 182 32 37 1307 INDIRECT EXES. Salanc* .0289 - Solaris* exe*. .0051 - Motor vehicle* .0059 - Depreciation .2879 2058 9722 10892 1170 1084 . Total indireco .3278 983 Totolpowercoet 1.5898 - 187 Recovery otebrgi- 1.S898 Under (-) or over 1170 (-) recovery . 1034 Alloc, to prod. . . 1103 .0263 1955 7818 1.1139 4387 1046 7780 31106 44319 - 1705 - 462 61 - 3788 - $894 .0274 .0048 .0056 .2725 . 3103 1.4242 I.SS98 1092 192 222 10842 - - 12348 36667 63254 - $894 <- 693 . - 6587 > 6$87 . - 5711 - 5711 E/1000 E/1000 Cu. it. Cu. ft. 732550 685139 KWH PRODUCED 4390210 KWH DISTRIBUTED 3978776 COMPRESSED AIR /1000 Cu.it U 1000 Cu. it 75 46 56 766 1056 9 720 2728 2728 - - 35 Labour - Saloria* 3 Labour & tcbexer. - 214 Repair*dt mice. - 213 Fuel4 lute. - Motor vehicle* eoreciation - 26 Total Comp. Air . 26 Recovery oi chtg*. Ui^er (-) or over - () recovery 473 276 451 4095 6815 $4 4320 16484 16484 - 172 - t73 . 891 - $51 - 341 341 -- C 4442 -16' AUSTRALIAN SLUE ASBESTOS PTY. LTD. POWER HOUSE ACCOUNT ACCOUNT NO.. 15 H.Y.E. 31. 12.62 last HAlf YEAR TOTAL 4.783 6.438 1.678 - 2,100 1,834 3.623 2,828 45,507 300 15,470 Labour operating Labour maintenance potr hour* Labour maintenance reocuiation Engineering deparanent maintenance Labour expente* Salariudc tali, expeeset Statu maintenance power house Scoter maintenance reticulation EuelA lubricous Mote* vehicles Depreciation 89,563 COMPRESSED AiR 1.917 1,987 183 663 367 701 30 4,538 60 3,769 14,219 Labour operating Labour maintenance power houre Labour maintenance reticulation Engineering dept, maintenance Labour expenses Salnriar Store maintsnence power hoise Store maiatenanee reticulation Fu*l& lubricous Motor vehiclae Depreciation ELECTRIC POWER 2,866' Labour operating 4,451 Labour maintenance power hotae 1,493 Labour maintenance reeculauos - Engineering dept maintenance 1,433 Labour expetne* 1,467 Salaries 7,924 2,798 Store* maintenance power home Scorn maintenance reticulation cost per TON FIBRE LmtH.Y. Thi* H. Y. .61 92 21 27 .24 1. 10 . 36 5.80 .04 1.97 11.42 .60 . 58 .03 31 . 18 . 18 S5 .53 5.54 .03 1.72 10.30 5,694. 0. 0. 5,456. 0. 0. 759. 0. 0. 2.901. 0. 0. 1.740. 0. 0. 1,738. 0. 0. 5,163. 0. 0. 4,998. 0. 0. 52,413. 0. 0. 300. 0. 0. 16,269. 0. 0. 97,431. 0. 0. . 24 . 23 .02 .09 .03 .09 .00 .58 .01 .48 1.81 .06 . 19 .08 . 12 .06 .04 . 21 42 . 78 .01 . 48 2. 43 570. 0. 0. 1,831. 0. 0. 751. 0. 0. 1,180. 0. 0. 544. 0. 0. 348. 0. 0. 2,013. 0. 0. 3.983. 0. 0. 7, 323. 0. 0. 60. 0. 0. 4. 568. 0. 0. 23,173. 0. 0. .37 . 57 . 19 . 18 . 19 1.01 36 . 54 . 37 .00 . 18 . 13 . 15 .33 . 11 5,124. 0. 0. 3,623. 0. 0. 8. 0. 0. 1,721. 0. 0. 1,196. 0. 0. 1,390. 0. 0. 3,148. 0. 0. 1,015. 0. 0. C 4443 -16- AUSTRAL1AN blue asbestos pty. ltd. POWER HOUSE ACCOUNT ACCOUNT NO-. IS H.Y.E. 31. 12.62 LAST HALF YEAR 4,783 6.438 1,678 2,100 1,834 3,629 2,828 45,507 300 15,470 TOTAL Labout operaang Labour mainnaance power house Labour maintenance teaculotion it^ineenog deparoaent - maintenance Labour expenses Salaries 4t sols, expenses Scorn maintenance powerhouse Scores maintenance reticulation Fuel4 lubricants Motor vehicles Depteciation 89,563 COMPRESSED AIR 1,917 1,987 183 669 367 701 30 4,538 60 3,769 14,219 Labour operaang Labour mainteooace power house Labour maintenance rericularion Engineering dept, mainteooace Labour expenses Salaries Store maintenance power house Score moisteaoace rericularion Fuel* lubneona Motor vehicles Depreciation ELECTRIC POWER 2,866 4,451 1,493 1,433 1,467 7,924 2,798 Lobov operating Labour maintenance power house Labour maintenance rericularion Engineering dept, maintenance Labour exposes Salaries States maintenance power bouse Stores maintenance reaculation COST PER TON FIBRE Lett H. Y. ThisH.Y. .61 32 . 21 - 27 .24 1.10 .36 5.80 04 1.97 11.42 60 . 58 .08 . 31 18 . 18 .55 .53 5. 54 .03 1.72 10.30 5,694. 0. 0. 5,456. 0. 0. 759. 0. 0. 2,901. 0. 0. 1,740. 0. 0. 1,738. 0. 0. 5,163. 0. 0. 4,998. 0. 0. 52,413. 0, 0. 300. 0. 0. 16,269. 0. 0. 97,431. 0. 0. . 24 . 23 .02 .09 .05 .09 .00 .58 .01 . 48 1.81 06 . 19 .08 12 .06 .04 . 21 .42 . 78 .01 .48 2.45 570. 0. 0. 1,831. 0. 0. 751. 0. 0. 1,180. 0. 0. 544.' 0. 0. 348. 0. 0. 2,015. 0. 0. 3,983. 0. 0. 7, 325. 0. 0. 60. 0. 0. 4,568. 0. 0. 23.173. 0. 0. .37 .57 . 19 . 18 . 19 1.01 36 .54 . 37 .00 . 18 . 13 . IS . 33 . 11 5,124. 0. 0. 3,629. 0. 0. 8. 0. 0. 1,721. 0. 0. 1,196. 0. 0. 1.390. 0. 0. 3,148. 0. 0. 1.015. 0. 0. C 4444 -17- 140,969 240 11.701 175,344 Pueidt lubncants Morot ventclet Depreciation iLECTRIC POWER (Cont'd) ACCOUNT NO. 15 Coat'd 5.22 . 03 l. 49 9.61 4.77 03 1. 24 7.89 45,088. 0. 0. 240. 0. 0. 11.701. 0. 0. 74,296. 0. 0. POWER Kilowatt hours produced Coit per kilowatt produced (not includu^ rettculatioa) Coit per kilowatt produced (pence) Co<t per kilowatt diiaibutsd (pence) LAST H. Y. 61545440 2. 333 2. 942 3. IBS mis H. Y. 6631S60 2.650 2.687 2.942 AUOCATION E1ECTR1CJTY Min* - power - compressed air Mill Settlement Town distribution Power houM mag* Sactanafcing Engineering 1319991 612690 3539464- 77223 433096 574642 572 78082 6,631, 560 o o 16,178. 0. 0. 7.512. 0. 0. 43,246. 0. 0. S, 310. 0. 0. - 7. 0. 0. 1,056. 0. 0. 74,296. 0. 0. AIIOCATION COMPRESSED AIR Min* (compmtsed ait) Total charged out 23.178. 0. 0. 97,431. 0. 0. KIIOWATT HOURS DISTRIBUTED EAST H, Y. 5,676,600 mis H. V, 6,096,718 WITTENOOM GORGE 8<h February, 1963  18. AUSTRALIAN BLUE ASBESTOS PTY. LTDMONTHLY OPERATION REPORTS Fibre produced ton* MiU recovery -T $q. yd*, broken Assay incbe* Ton* fibre per miner shift total Ton* fibre per iq. yd. milled TIOO tneds te*t grade if C 14 mesh tert grade if Esdmcted profit 8t lot* E*. Coitper toof.O.B. . E*. $q. yd*, per miner shift total $q. yds. per scraper rape* . Trainee miner drifts Total miner shift* Ore from mine pocket Waste picked Grade milled Tone milled (Urn wane) To Operating - primary crushing Vt Operating - secondary crushing fo Operaring - treaanent Tone fibre per Aift K.W. h . per ton ore treated K.W.b. generated Callem fuel per K.W. h . Mee at start Men engaged Men left Men at end Steel toed footage drilled * total feet Development advance* . feet Rising feet Stripping - cubic feet Average steel toomge per use Exploetves scoping lbs. per sq. yd. Average itope height - inches four - weeks Period Ended 7/5/'63 4/6/ '63 859 1,001 87 87 5,716 6,091 33 22 0.149 0.164 31 33 64 62 12,619 2,308 107 9 13 29 615 15,438 18 7 11,837 63 93 78 19 26 680,230 629 326 44 44 326 299 79,309 179 101 1,470 269 3.33 39 97 9 12 10 654 17,523 7 14,269 68 95 35 21 24 752,550 625 326 34 27 333 401 32,634 363 140 2, 543 206 3. 18 40 TARCETS 1,000 87 6,000 3 l 0.178 28 68 L. 3,373 97 7 10 25 340 18,580 18 7 15,240 65 93 95 21 22 700,000 62 340 - 340 358 74,560 450 * 230 3.60 40 COMPARATIVE FIGURES MINING S NULLING ; 1358 959 I960 961 ! 1 362 So vat. lifted . 3ns rack mined .smote oroKen . ons ore co mill Tool rock discarded Tons ore created i on! fibre bagged Vields: Ton! fibre per sq, vd. lifted :4 Fibre co rack mined ore broken ore from bins ore created '4 Ore broken per ton rock mined H Rock discarded per ton ore to Mill jUNE 51.766 112.380 98.795 *4 * .2 U. US 54.272 6. 179 . 194S 5.498 6.2S4 6. 548 7. 332 58.0 10.7 DEC. I : JUNE i DEC. ! i :une DEC. .'LINE 36.889 i 39.672 1 43 0281 35.636 45.632 33.934 131.9461 144.163 1 171,4291 124.4S0 1 153.562 126.706 115.610 | 123.131 l 153.3031 114,4S0 1 143.614 1 115.393 138.632 1 124.48S 1 IS1.7221 116 . 76S i 14S.S15 1 112.759 16.170| 18,223 1 21.070 1 IS.670 1 22.160 i 19.580 102.3391 106.98S 1 130.902 1 101.46S i 123.10S 1 93.629 ".1341 7.59S i 9.0211 6.998 f 7,474 5.627 ! 19341 5.407 ! 6. 171 : 6.020 1 6.972 ' .1364 1 5 130 1 5. 771 1 5.306 1 6.312 1 .13781 5. 263 1 5.38S 1 5.936 1 6.392 1 .1964 5.263 6.279 5.974 6.397 . 1638 1 4. 714 I 5.204 t 5. 145 I 6.071 i . 1566 4,441 4.376 4.979 6.010 57.6 13.6 33. 7 14.4 98.5 13.3 92.0 13.4 90.6 IS. 2 : 91.0 : 16.7 DEC. jUNE i DEC. f i 60.692 1 55,923 1 $4,403 196.383 1 17S.349 1203.911 ISO.714 1- 161.363 1 137.633 133.069 i 152,464 ) 181. 379 29.030 1 29.390 f 34.32S 1S3.789 N CD 2 1 147,557 10.150 j 7,34S 1 9.456 . 1672 1 5, 155 ! 5.617 1 5. 550 1 5.600 1 .1403 . 1463 4.461 4.637 4.347 5.038 5.152 5.199 6.334 1 6.407 91.8 15.9 ! 92.0 ; 19.3 92.0 18.3 Cost of mining per un rock mined. Shillings 37.9621 3S.396 1 35.274 1 34.ISO 1 40.620 39.534 1 48.507 43.662 1 44.380 4S.703 MINING (Shills.. ton ore broken) labour * ooeroang maintenance expenses Scores opernang maintenance Explosives Mining steel Power Compressed Ait Working expenses - motet vehicles Salaries and travelling expenses Cartaae contract Engineering department Stock change Transferred to suspense Development suspense written off 17.91 l. 10 2.65 3.00 2. 37 S. 87 2. 35 2. OS 2. IS .47 2.21 3. 34 IS.4S i 13.03 l. IS i .91 2. 19 1 2.59 2.24 1 2.90 1.36 ! 2.34 5. 34 i 5.19 2. 64 1 2. 79 1.33 i 1.17 2.32 [ 2.59 .20 1 . 2$ l. 35 1.34 1. 71 07 ' 18.34 .30 2.39 2.45 ! 2.47 ! 5.12 | 2.59 I 1.23 I 1.89 I .27 1.60 , ; 20. u i 1.08 ! 3.29 i 2.20 1 3.12 1 5.33 i 2.76 , 1.71 i 2.65 1 .42 1 2.42 > 20. 16 : 1. 11 i 2.33 1 2.03 2. 19 S. 40 3.47 1.69 2.54 .38 2.03 i i 22.25 | 1.64 1 4.13 4.68 4.23 5.42 3.96 2. 18 3.43 .60 2.33 4S.47 . 1.23 3.98 2. S3 41.43 .21 - 5.36 - 2.56 41. 17 - .93 - 3.64 - 2.39 39. IS - .30 -3.20 -2.37 1 45.09 1- 1.09 .- 5.09 - 2.29 43.83 - . 38 -2. 70 *2. 35 55.35 - . 3S -4.16 *2.39 21.77 1.32 3. 10 4.31 2.36 3.83 3.02 2.03 2. 17 .23 1.36 j | 22.83 ! 1.94 i 4.03 | 3.84 [ 3.09 i 5.62 | 2.42 ! 1.56 ! 2.35 1 .41 i 2.68 21.27 ! i.n . 3.38 j 3. 35 1 2.90 5.37 2.64 1.72 3.27 .49 1.88 43. SO - .35 -3. 79 -2.66 51.27 - 1.28 - 4.23 - 2.94 .57 48. S5 f 1.32 - 4. 78 * 2.90 TOTAL MINING COST MILLING. I Shilli/tna ere created! . Labour - opernang maintenance expense Stores - operating Lubricants Sacks Power Compressed air Motor vehicles Salaries and travelling expenses Tailings disposal contract Insurance recoupment Engineering department TOTAL MILLING COST 4S.2S 40.09 40.90 58.62 43.20 43. 10 54.43 47.02 51.26 48.49 8.85 4. 28 1.82 . 16 7.4S . 36 4.S4 9 06 .34 .33 1.60 2. 28 40 (cr). 9 31 4.67 l. 56 .32 6.57 .31 4.07 9.44 65 .24 l 43 1 76 09 (cr) 3.03 3. 56 1. 53 1.01 6.34 13 3.92 7. 25 . 77 . 31 1.35 1.2S 41. 17 40.49 35. SO 5.95 3 32 1.23 .92 7.21 .09 3. 85 5.31 .25 34 1.03 1.26 t 7. $2 3.68 1.74 1. IS 4.68 24 3.24 6.27 .32 .48 1.46 1.24 31.26 32.02 8.23 4.09 1.81 . 9S 5.53 .20 3. 71 6.78 .33 46 1.07 1.30 34.46 9.03 4.S7 2.3S .39 6. 27 .20 3.62 3.13 .47 .74 1.91 1.41 . 82 (cr) 7. 16 3.03 1. 3S . $4 4. 76 17 4. 42 5.96 .29 .27 1. 18 1.31 38.77 30. S9 7, SS 4.24 1 92 1.04 7.48 .22 3.04 7. S4 12 .SS 1.63 1.46 36.84 6 23 1.68 l. 16 1.02 7.86 . IS 2.39 5.36 .62 1. 17 1.50 2.60 32.74 TOTAL COST PER TON OF FIBRE - Mining Milling Depreciation Other com (Including stock charge) Selling expenses 4446 TOTAL COST Sales sar'cvr -b i.-tt 34.52 23.08 7.33 S. 29 14. S3 39.15 98.33 3 69 32.73 29.04 6.54 3.09 11.36 33.26 98.42 *9 *< 34. 38 25.68 6.13 8. 71 9.06 33.96 97.29 1 11 32.44 22.68 6.06 6.96 3.48 76.62 96.44 *0 9*> 36.13 23. 22 3.10 9.55 9.22 86.22 96.81 A CO 41.96 28.38 7.70 7.82 10.40 96. 26 97. 11 S4.61 32.26 10.43 .42 10.41 108.29 97.16 42.35 23.17 S.98 2*7*4' 10.74 49.74 23.85 3.00 t 6.97 9.34 49.27 29. 26 5.36 2.96 11.20 j j l*t-9S 97.2S 103.40 93.4S . II. r 93.5S i 93.49 : 'A, * COMPARATIVE ETCURES J1 :)SS JUNE 1 OEC. : SALES AND MINE DEVELOPMENT 19S9 JUNE . OEC. ; 1960 1961 :une i oec. ; tone OEC. ! :962 JUNE ; OEC. ?!3RE SALES - t'j. o4S.724 623.589 766.493 836.114 726.7S7 713.302 573.636 928. 113 676.052 338.631 CRADE 2 > 5A 3 5F 4 U.S. Fibrcutd SHORT TONS 41 6,493 6.534 49 5 338 6.387 10 51 7.367 3.619 7.378 3.670 21 1 5.570 1.390 16 7. 507 5 3 5.3SS :. 9io 70 2 7. 347 25 27 5,070 1 277 1 489 1 6.569 513 2.097 37 5.904 9,544 1 3.643 346 l. 113 132 19 > 5.235 10 11 3.595 7.23S 3.971 MINE DEVELOPMENT Actual con co-dau 'Vritttn down value Suipo4 account ' 244.322 232.703 2S7.S97 259.829 262.90S 266,218 300,528 326.662 3S6.036 391,704 137.294 135.99S 131.708 124.230 117,612 111,066 (3S.393 ISO, 257 167,382 189,710 47.46S 43.860 51.495 53.SI7 57. 156 57,887 63,027 66, 261 67, 739 79. 166 C 4447 ~S n i l u . i s o is iirsv :m m n v i iv m s n v .m ai in -~~ - ill Z_W. avi ! ! * ^ i S!; $S:3 t 2 MSI 1 ill 5 nisi yp = 2 3 5 3'5` 3i5 ss: = -- S' 3 5 3 3 s l!i - 3* s a 2' 5\ V 1 --- - !~1 - _ * "J = M SI'I Is 11 t* > 2 !3s? 1 21 MM'M I 3 5 5 '! ? -i <3N ; : M M=a ri - ?. ~ -* * cO ' o nit =' 'll! M -o M* 2 I .2 ~ II ? 5 5:S js;? M n i2 5 ? O * -; s i c S; | !!::: -' fn 3 ,* ~ 5 5 s? i ? o m if -* ?, / Z - s* sl U.U. I S l Mil ` 5 51 j: ni 34 is ?O:3 c. " s V3. i sis '2 : 3 SSIS SS =5=z 5 3Si * 'll 1 r2 a - s' * % Si?: i 2 5 A S S 2|2:S`S 2 *1 * I =' si mi N MI! <N in* <N [ SI -I - si m s! -I'll' rj ; SI 5M - 11|1 M<NI* HIN <N I Si * ~ i5 - mi I SI Mil ' * M mi i 21 iM O' S :2:a - sM * *j 5 arvi <*N "1 1$ ' 4 d f> - ;"sr?.i sa s r ! s sm ?. S 2 i li 2 5 S-- 3* 3 51:5 =5 Mil = *3 a 2>::f. : 5 SS s" - =! sc' "> <N 3 2 3 o 5? = 2* ~'i 3 2 M5! as 2a2s MIH1 n i !" m 53 5SfS n'ini MS = M S='SS = 3 a liSS O is'; s' i'j : a ;*:S8 o' It I io* Ml 5* . 3' 5 Ii1 3 R' 2 o !:! 2 s siSS in' 3 2 2:2 2 H S;5:I 3 d< s 3 5S A| 4z i _ - - StfiSifs im c/1 v-T ? -j* s ? M? = { r ?i5 7 . ^ ^ 0 51 $isi5 si 5*: 3- 2 3 'i2"i 8 ^ s - - 58 11 ;a:?a $ - 5 51 a 2* ;' 2 5 7a; a ;8 R 5 r* <N :I:s#rO 5<* "? n 2 fill . I SI mh .3 2 S ) ! Sl = 2 ' - ills M- S_ ~ "2 ssisSs s':'?a'-3 3 SI 2 !a S2 3 3*5"' 1 = i;^SS*isS ii M a- - a ilii 1 3 s'io; ' 3 2 i s i SS3t - a s ijc sT*ic>'? 3S3S32 2 = 3S* s 5 " I <2N 3 8! | SSs y * . Ills M 2. *N - 2S 2; i I 111 I 3 2 ' s' - 5 5 3 5 113 3 a^s SlalS 3 2ii a 8S5S 3 S3* ' '#*#' Si 1 ^2? 1V Sa;s 2 2 rls'i 22_ ~S4O , M1 , 1^ fill ! SI -'ll! ' a 2 2o i 5 1 =Ss i 8H3 - * 5 * 2 ?'; s' I 5s a s -a 3 i 22 ii s a 111 59* 5 2 i* iiis s 2 rls**-* ;2 iV 2i ni 1 SI 2 3 33$ s 3 Sis las:; a ? 1 S2S 3 t s 2r. a -ill ' s' " 5 s' a S S 3 ~3`3 S S 3 - = * s 2`f`r 2 7. 1 J i I< 111! 1 SI M'aM ` 5 1 #11 ? Siis SSsSs 3 s 5 s* a a s' a a = 5i? 3 Jf v 5 - i ala 1 in' 1 * 1 -. Z' 5 K 3 " S' i ilii 11 II i SssS 3 = S;5 liias 3 t s 323 3 ji 3 V 0 : i I 3'ill *5 M a iiii 2 , II * i 2'i 3 2 sa: a fsiifa 3V 3233y s' s as --la 'xsrs - si a 3a253 3 s S 7 SrfS 5a m: 5 1 S2 31 8 70^* 5 a .1!l!. 7 i Ri ill! I = 3|3 i s' 1 3 39 8 sa ? * N ^ ~j i ~ 5 fill I aa'a'a II 22 J 3--' Iw Sr* | 1SI "1 r* a Ms a a-a - a 2f**" ! a \i R S s Si 2>0 sa a= - : j i I ii i s 11 2 3 ? 3o j II 2* i r1 1! | !; < =n .H !5 n ! 1 2 ji ilhlfi ill! :|1 1i ill H iiSa iaiS,, Hi; ill HI* i ,: 5: C 4448  00,000 ATONDIX 3 A ** A ooo ro/va 23- APPENDIX C 1948 A.B.A. LTD. j. APPENDIX 3