Factors influencing Cost, systems available for transporting minerals, particularly on land, and methods used for comparing costs are reviewed. A case study presents comparative costs graphically for coal haulage, assumed in Queensland, by 31-6" gauge rail, belt conveyor, 120 ton road train, slurry pipeline, and transmission of electrical energy by transmission line._x000D_
The effect on comparative results of alternative methods of including initial capital and capital replacement costs is considered and approximate break-even points between systems, bearing in mind the assumptions taken, are discussed.