Back to Basics

In 2018 the AusIMM Mill Operators’ series returns to Queensland celebrating 40 years since this highly successful conference series started. The 14th AusIMM Mill Operators’ Conference will be hosted in Brisbane, Queensland 29-31 August.  Inaugurated in Mt Isa in 1978 the Mill Operators’ Conference aims to promote the sharing of knowledge in operating practices for mineral processing plants, including extractive metallurgy, process control and environmental issues. This conference provides the opportunity for plant operators, metallurgists, engineers and suppliers to learn, share and network with others in the minerals industry.

Technology advances over the last 40 years have changed the way our industry operates. Previous conferences have investigated the evolution and survival of our industry through boom and bust, the experiences gained, the lessons learned and the challenges ahead. We have investigated how we can optimise our operations, achieving more with less and how technology now gives us the opportunity to measure, manage and improve. Despite 40 years of technology advancements and numerous commodity cycles the fundamentals of our operations remain largely the same, mineralogy and mineral behaviour drives grade and recovery. Throughput, recovery, grade and costs drive the profitability of our operations.  The 14th Mill Operators’ Conference is  about understanding and getting “Back to Basics” of our business.  The conference committee are seeking papers with an emphasis on best practice in all areas of plant operations, doing the basics well, operating updates, newly commissioned operations and information on emerging technologies in line with the conference themes.  

Katie Barns MAusIMM
Conference Chair