Xstrata Zinc operates George Fisher Mine, an underground zinc/lead mine located about 20 kilometres north of Mount Isa in north-west Queensland.

The mine is broadly divided into two areas; George Fisher North (GFN) and George Fisher South (GFS), which are separated by about two kilometres. Currently 3.5 Mtpa of ore is mined from the ML8058 resource with the P49 hoisting system located adjacent to GFS accounting for 2.9 Mtpa of primary crushed ore, with the remaining ore being transported to the surface via trucking.

A feasibility study has been completed, which investigated the expansion of the current operation to 4.5 Mtpa by increasing production from GFN and maximising the value of the zinc/lead operations in Mount Isa. To achieve the production increase, a new materials handling system needs to be installed at the north end of the mine, including underground crushing, conveying and storage, L72 hoisting shaft, surface conveying and surface crushing facility (SCF). The SCF is also required to alleviate current operational limitations within the existing secondary and tertiary crushing facilities.

MIPAC scope:
MIPAC Pty Ltd is configuring, testing and commissioning the PLCs & SCADA systems. 

Using an RSLogic 5000 PLC system and Wonder Ware InTouch, the control system will control the surface crusher facility including one of the largest cone crushers on site, the Metso Nordberg HP5 Cone Crusher, and supporting systems such as the feed conveyors and interface to the stockpile conveyor system. After 2,500 hours of combined design work, the system is scheduled to be installed in March 2012.

Systems being interfaced with include:
• product sampler
• tramp magnet
• cone crusher
• apron feeder
• ploughs
• stacker
• dust fogging system
• weigh meter
• power factor correction
• UPS
• water pumps
• fire system.