No abstract available

[en] At the Olympic Dam copper-uranium-gold deposit in South Australia, evolution in the understanding of the controls on mineralisation coupled with the changing demands of the project have led to changes in the approach to reserve estimation. The project has moved into a phase where detailed stope mining reserves are now required as distinct from global ore reserves. To enable the selective manipulation of geological and assay information and its characterisation, a relational database has been developed. For reserve calculations themselves, initial computations were based on a system derived from that used for the Kambalda nickel orebodies. The Olympic Dam system differed mainly in the use of statistical analyses in the estimation of grade instead of the previous polygonal area of influence weighting method. Three dimensional weighting techniques are now being used for local reserve estimates

[en] Tissues from fourteen kangaroos were analysed for radionuclides. Seven kangaroos were collected inside the Olympic Dam mine lease and are referred to as 'mine sample animals'. Seven further animals (controls) were collected at distances greater the 30 km from the mine. Samples of three tissues (muscle, liver and bone) were taken from each animal and analysed for five radionuclides in the U-238 decay chain (U-238, Th-230, Ra-226, Pb-210 and Po-210). All radionuclides were near or below the limit of detection in muscle tissue from all animals; in addition activity concentrations for U-238 and Th-230 were very low in all tissues. There were low, but quantifiable, concentrations of U-238 and Th-23o in bone. However there was no statistically significant difference between control and mine samples for either radionuclide (Mann- Whitney two-tailed test). Quantifiable concentrations of Pa-226 were found in bone, but there was no significant difference between mine and control animals. Activity concentrations of Pa-226 in muscle and liver were low, and no significant differences in activities of Pa-226 was identified for either tissue (Mann-Whitney two-tailed test). In the case of Pb-210 and Po-210, concentrations in liver were significantly higher (both p < 0.005) in mine animals than in controls. In contrast Pb-210 activities in bone were significantly higher in control animals (p < 0.05). Pb-210 and Po-210 concentrations were very low in muscle and concentrations in mine and control animals did not differ significantly. There was no significant difference between mine and control animals identified in Po-210 activity in bone. Activity concentrations in all kangaroo tissues were low, and in most cases (12 of 15 comparisons) no significant differences were found. In the three cases (Pb-210 and Po-210 in liver and Pb-210 in bone) where statistically significant differences were observed, no consistent pattern was discernible. The results indicate that there is no significant difference in radionuclide concentrations in kangaroo tissue as a function of proximity to the mine.

[en] The Olympic Dam mine is scheduled to become fully operational midway through 1988. Ore reserves are estimated at 450 million tonnes, and the annual mining program calls for the processing of 1.5 million tonnes of ore which will produce 2,000 tonnes of uranium, 50,000 tonnes of copper and 90,000 oz of gold

[en] The agreement between the South Australian Government and the Joint Venturers associated with the development of the Roxby Downs uranium deposit is considered. The author, who represented the government in the negotiations, discusses the extent to which normal state law should be waived or varied

[en] The environmental management and protection program at the Olympic Dam uranium/copper/gold project, Roxby Downs, South Australia, monitors eight major environmental parameters - meteorology, vegetation, mine site rehabilitation, fauna, terrain, soil salinity, hydrogeology and well fields. It came into effect with the approval of the South Australian Government in March 1987. The Great Artesian Basin, one of the world's greatest artesian basins, is the source of the water supply for the project

[en] Short communication

[en] Most aspects of the pre-production phase of the Olympic Dam Project, from commencement of exploration in May 1975 through to commitment to development in December 1985 are documented here. The discovery by Western Mining Corporation Ltd of copper mineralisation on Roxby Downs Station in July 1975 has led to one of the more intensive base-metal exploration programmes undertaken in Australia. Comprehensive exploration, evaluation and feasibility studies between 1975 and 1985 have delineated a probable 450 million tonnes of higher grade ore containing 2.5% copper, 0.8 kg/t uranium oxide, 0.6 g/t gold and 6.0 g/t silver. The total resource is estimated at 2 billion tonnes containing 1.6% copper, 0.6 kg/t uranium oxide, 0.6 g/t gold and 3.5 g/t silver. At 31 December 1985, over 540 km of surface and underground drilling had been completed, comprising over 700 surface drillholes totalling 234 km of core and 218 km of open-hole drilling, and about 900 underground diamond-drillholes totalling 90 km. The Whenan Shaft had been sunk to 500 m and driving on three levels totalled almost 10 km. More than one million tonnes of ore and mullock were raised during development. A pilot treatment plant commissioned on site produced concentrates, matte and blister copper, and ammonium diuranate. Following a technical study of the Olympic Dam Project, completed in March 1985, and a subsequent economic feasibility study, it was announced on 11 June 1985 that the initial project was considered to be commercially viable. On 8 December 1985, the joint venturers, Western Mining Corporation Holdings Ltd (51%) and the BP Group (49%), announced their commitment to the Project. An appendix lists the important events that occurred between January 1986 and December 1987 in bringing Olympic Dam to the production state. 26 refs., 17 figs., 5 tabs., ills

[en] The Olympic Dam uranium/copper/gold project at Roxby Downs, South Australia, has a harsh environment with high summer temperatures, low rainfall and poor quality soils. There are no natural water courses. The vegetation is dominated by annual grasses in summer and wildflowers in winter. Red kangaroos are the most commonly sighted native mammals. The Fat-tailed Dunnart a nocturnal carniverous marsupial, is found. Eighty three bird species have been recorded. Reptiles are numerous and one amphibian occurs. A vermin eradication program aimed at rabbit control is conducted. ills

No abstract available