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Book Reviews M. J. Jones(ed.). Geological, mining and metallurgical sampling London, The Institution of Mining and Metallurgy, 1974. 268 pp. £8. Spooner, J., et al. (eds.). 1974 miningannual review, London, The Mining Journal Limited, June 1974. 506 pp. £14,25 (including annual subscription to Mining Journal and Mining Magazine). J. H. Quilliam et al. (eds.). The ventilation of South African ~old mines. Johannesburg, Mine Ventilation Society of South Africa, 1974. 488 pp. RI0,00. The Hans Merensky Foundation As announced in a recent brochure, the 25-year-old Hans Merensky Trust has been converted to The Hans Merensky Foundation, its main objective being 'to promote and assist in the development of the resources of the Republic of South Africa and neighbouring territories articularly such natural resources as soil, water, minerals, flora and fauna-and to promote the health and welfare of the inhabitants; more specifically by research, experiment and demonstration and through the correlation and application of scientific knowledge'. Applications for S.A.I.M.M. membership and transfer Please note that new application and transfer forms have been issued.

Jan 11, 1974

By D. J. Stanton

The objective of this study was to develop, install, and test a small underground mobile refrigeration plant (MRP) to deal with some of the real problems associated with mine cooling in an operating mine. The requirement for cooling the underground environment is discussed with particular emphasis on the need for this method of cooling, with the concomitant benefits. The research investigated current methods of cooling and reasons for previous failures in MRP. Both static and dynamic simulations were conducted to increase the confidence level under operating conditions. Implementation and testing, resulted in ?lessons learnt? requiring modifications, which are documented. Actual results have been recorded. These results have proved that significant cooling via MRP is feasible. Main benefits include positional efficiency, cost per kilowatt of cooling and cooling opportunities for remote hot areas of a mine. Finally, a proven technology is now available for large-scale implementation in the mining industry. Now the ventilation engineer has another system of cooling, which can be utilized in the quest to create an occupational environment, which meets the physical and mental health requirements of the worker.

Jan 1, 2004

By H. E. James

During the past ten years there has been an upsurge of interest in the development of selective ion exchange resins and solvents, and of ion-exchange and solvent extraction equipment tailored to the special requirements of mineral-processing circuits. It is therefore not surprising that the recent Symposium on Ion Exchange and Solvent Extraction in Mineral Processing, held at the National Institute for Metallurgy (NIM) on 7th and 8th February, 1980, was a resounding success. This Symposium, organized jointly by NIM. Ion exchange and solvent extraction The Symposium on Ion Exchange and Solvent Extraction in Mineral Processing, which was organized jointly by the National Institute for Metallurgy, the South African Institution of Chemical Engineers, and the South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, was held in Randburg on 7th and 8th February, 1980. Analytical chemistry The Fifth International Conference on Analytical Chemistry, organized by the Chemical Society, is to be held at Lancaster University, England, from 20th to 26th July, 1980. Coal mining The First International Symposium on Thick and Steep Seam Coal Mining will be held in London from 18th to 21st May, 1980. Mineral processing The XIV International Mineral Processing Congress will be held in Toronto from 10th to 16th October, 1982. The theme of the congress will be 'Worldwide industrial application of mineral processing technology'. Sessions will be held on the following:

Jan 1, 1980

The Gold Medal of the Institution for Mining and Metallurgy for 1978 was awarded to Adriaan Louw at the Annual General Meeting of that Institution in London on 17th May, 1979. The award was made for distinguished services to the mining industry in South Africa.

Jan 1, 1979

By H. Wagner

In 1980 The South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy instituted the Brigadier Stokes Memorial Award to commemorate the outstanding contribution to the South African mining industry made by Brigadier R.S.G. Stokes, who was an Honorary Life Fellow and a Past President of the Institute.

Jan 1, 1986

Four engineering products and three consumer products have received awards in the 1978 Shell Design Awards competition organized by the Design Institute of the South African Bureau of Standards. Norman Hanson Visiting Fellowship The Norman Hanson Visiting Fellowship, supported jointly by the National Development Fund for the Building Industry (inaugurated by the Building Industries Federation (8.A.)), the Institute of S.A. Architects, the Association of S.A. Quantity Surveyors, and the National Building Research Institute of the CSIR exists to finance fully or wholly visits by eminent authorities from overseas to South Africa for the purposes of seminars, informed discussions, consultation, and possible active participation in scientific, technological, and development projects of importance to the building industry.

Jan 1, 1979

By G. H. Grange

The control of dust from mine dumps by G. H. GRANGE Pr. Eng., B.Sc. (Min. Eng.) (Rand) (Fellow) This paper gives a resume of the early attempts to control dust from mine dumps, leading up to the research project undertaken by the Chamber of Mines ResearchLaboratories to explore the possibilities of establishing vegetation on dump surfaces. The ultimate success of this work and details of the principles involved are outlined. Also given are a brief history of the event that culminated in the introduction of the Atmospheric Pollution Prevention Act in 1965, details of the control of dust in terms of this Act, and a short summary of the dust-control work.

Jan 3, 1973

By D. Gerhart, J. Hung, J. Hackwood, A. Pix

A computer-based, real-time mine management system has been installed in a number of underground operations. The system’s innovative software application is coupled with wireless data acquisition and database management to provide complete mine monitoring and control execution in closed-loop control fashion. The system is well suited to automatically assign equipment, acquire status, and reassign resources based on status; and to automate information handling. The system has provided mines with improved utilization of the equipment fleet and mining crews, and reduced workplace cycle time. This paper describes the deployment of systems at a number of underground mining operations and discusses future development of the system. Keywords: Computer-based: Real time: Utilization: Mining cycle control: Monitoring: Productivity

Sep 1, 2001

By J. N. van de Merwe

CONTRIBUTION BYH. WAGNER AND T.T. OZAN The paper by Dr J.N. van der Merwe makes an important contribution to the design of bord-and-pillar workings in the Vaal basin. It has been recognised for some time that the strength of coal seams in the Vaal basin is markedly lower than that of coal seams in other coal-mining districts in South Africa. However, there was insufficient data to quantify how much weaker the extensively jointed coal the Vaal basin is. A number of recent pillar collapses that occurred at Sigma colliery, the only remaining underground colliery in the Vaal basin, provided Dr Van der Merwe with an opportunity to make this assessment.

Jan 1, 1993

By A. P. Van Wyk, G. Pirnaar

The effect of vanadium on the susceptibilities of chromium and chromium-nickel steels to reversible temper embritlement was evaluated. The steels investigated were approximately equivalent to steels of as 970 Grade 708A42 and as 970 Grade 817M40, the major difference being that molybdenum had been replaced by vanadium in various concentrations. It was found that the vanadium had a detrimental effect and, in al the concentrations tested, enhanced the susceptibility to reversible temper embritlement of both the chromium and the chromium-nickel steel. The detrimental role played by vanadium in reversible temper embritlement is explained by a consideration of the effect of vanadium carbide, as well as of free vanadium, in solid solution in ferrite.

Jan 1, 1987

Results are presented on the elution of gold cyanide and base-metal cyanide complexes from strongand weakbase resins. It is shown that thiocyanate anions, zinc cyanide anions, and thiourea in acid solution are effective eluants of strong-base resins, but that it is generally necessary for electrowinning to be incorporated in the elution cycle if fast rates of elution are to be achieved. Weakbase resins are eluted with sodium hydroxide solution, which is shown to be far simpler and far more effective than the elution of strong-base resins. The effects of parameters such as concentration of the eluant, temperature, and electrowinning efficiency on the rate of elution of the resins are examined.

Jan 1, 1984

By Pamela Binstead

The Institute's ninetieth anniversary was celebrated in grand style with a banquet and dance in the ballroom of the Carlton Hotel in Johannesburg, on 22nd March. Some six hundred and thirty members and guests filled the room to capacity, and many remained to enjoy the festivities until well past midnight.

Jan 1, 1985

By R. P. King

The ideas leading to the formulation and utilization of a flotation model are developed. The main theoretical and experimental work that has been carried out by the National Institute for Metallurgy Research Group at the University of Natal is presented. The two experimental flotation plants available to this Group are described.

The May General Meeting of the Institute was held in Kelvin House, Johannesburg, on 21st May, 1969, at 4.30 p.m. Mr J. K. E. Douglas (Vice-President) was in the Chair. There were also present twenty-two Members, including Messrs F. P. Bath, M. Bareza, A. R. C. Fowler, D. M. Jamieson, C. M. Mavrocordatos, D. G. Maxwell and J. A. Nixon (Council Members), Messrs T. Davidson, G. L. Diering, E. T. Dunstan, D. E. H. French, K. Hodgson, O. A. E. Jackson, A. F. Lee, A. Louw, D. L. Starkey, R. K. Wheeler and M. Youngworth. Four Associate Members including Messrs D. Blair Hook and G. R. Still. One Student Mr N. A. Barcza. Thirteen Visitors, including Messrs S. H. Ash, D. L. G. Bayne, E. Bayne, S. Bell, W. S. Garrett, L. S. Gibbs, R. C. Hamilton, M. Maguire, D. Rose and J. D. van Niekerk. Total Present: Fourty-one. OBITUARY The Vice-President: "It is my sad duty to announce the death of the following member of the Institute: Thomas Spence Haldane, Member, who joined the Institute in 1924 and passed away on 21st December, 1968. As a mark of respect to the memory of the deceased and in sympathy with the bereaved, those present stood and observed silence for a few moments. MINUTES The Vice-President requested that confirmation of the minutes of the previous meeting be held over as they would only be appearing in the Journal of the following month. He also requested that confirmation of the minutes of the 75th Anniversary Meeting be held over. MEMBERSHIP The Vice-President: "I have much pleasure in announcing that the names of the under-mentioned candidates have been published in accordance with By-Law 5.2.2, and Council has elected them to membership of the Institute in the following grades: Members: Gideon Jacob Haumann, Peter John Cumming, Ian Stanley Dudman, Roderick Goldston Murchison. Associate Members: Francois Alwyn Beyers Fouche, Alan Marsh, Johannes Petrus van der Westhuysen, Waldo Edmund Stumpf, Ian Nicholas Ridley. Affiliates: Lutgerus Kolver Jooste, Roger Ainsley Ralph Kebble, Edward John Wainwright, Lewis William Davies. Graduate: Clive Graham Knobbs. MEMBER TRANSFERED TO A HIGHER GRADE From Student to Associate Member: Diethard OUo Eduard Fahrbach. I welcome the newly elected members to the Institute and congratulate the member who has been transferred to a higher grade." (Applause).

The May General Meeting of the Institute was held in Kelvin House, Johannesburg, on 21st May, 1969, at 4.30 p.m. Mr J. K. E. Douglas (Vice-President) was in the Chair. There were also present twenty-two Members, including Messrs F. P. Bath, M. Bareza, A. R. C. Fowler, D. M. Jamieson, C. M. Mavrocordatos, D. G. Maxwell and J. A. Nixon (Council Members), Messrs T. Davidson, G. L. Diering, E. T. Dunstan, D. E. H. French, K. Hodgson, O. A. E. Jackson, A. F. Lee, A. Louw, D. L. Starkey, R. K. Wheeler and M. Youngworth. Four Associate Members including Messrs D. Blair Hook and G. R. Still. One Student Mr N. A. Barcza. Thirteen Visitors, including Messrs S. H. Ash, D. L. G. Bayne, E. Bayne, S. Bell, W. S. Garrett, L. S. Gibbs, R. C. Hamilton, M. Maguire, D. Rose and J. D. van Niekerk. Total Present: Fourty-one. OBITUARY The Vice-President: "It is my sad duty to announce the death of the following member of the Institute: Thomas Spence Haldane, Member, who joined the Institute in 1924 and passed away on 21st December, 1968. As a mark of respect to the memory of the deceased and in sympathy with the bereaved, those present stood and observed silence for a few moments. MINUTES The Vice-President requested that confirmation of the minutes of the previous meeting be held over as they would only be appearing in the Journal of the following month. He also requested that confirmation of the minutes of the 75th Anniversary Meeting be held over. MEMBERSHIP The Vice-President: "I have much pleasure in announcing that the names of the under-mentioned candidates have been published in accordance with By-Law 5.2.2, and Council has elected them to membership of the Institute in the following grades: Members: Gideon Jacob Haumann, Peter John Cumming, Ian Stanley Dudman, Roderick Goldston Murchison. Associate Members: Francois Alwyn Beyers Fouche, Alan Marsh, Johannes Petrus van der Westhuysen, Waldo Edmund Stumpf, Ian Nicholas Ridley. Affiliates: Lutgerus Kolver Jooste, Roger Ainsley Ralph Kebble, Edward John Wainwright, Lewis William Davies. Graduate: Clive Graham Knobbs. MEMBER TRANSFERED TO A HIGHER GRADE From Student to Associate Member: Diethard Otto Eduard Fahrbach. I welcome the newly elected members to the Institute and congratulate the member who has been transferred to a higher grade." (Applause).

By B. Steyn

AngloGold Ashanti?s Obuasi Mine, in Ashanti Province, Ghana, operates a plant utilizing bacterial oxidation technology. The mineralization consists predominately of arsenopyrite with gold associated in the sulphides. The plant was commissioned in 1994, at that time was the largest BIOX® plant in the world, and has been operated by AngloGold Ashanti since 2004. The constraints identified in the plantwere the flotation capacity, BIOX® feed size and disruptions to the BIOX® process. This paper focuses on the practical steps that were followed in order to increase the recovery of the plant. The original plant design was based on a head grade of 10 g/t and an overall recovery of 86.5%. In 2007 the plant was operating at an overall recovery of 79.2% at a head grade of 5.6 g/t and this has improved to 80.6% at a head grade of 5.8 g/t during the last quarter of 2008. Additional improvement to 81.5% are expected by the end of April 2009. Improvements that have been implemented include: ?Replacement of the regrind mill ?Installation of additional float capacity ?Installation of a scavenging circuit ?Installation of a complete water treatment plant. In addition we have focused on the effect of the water circuit on the BIOX® process and the steps involved in correcting this problem. The water circuit was originally designed as an open circuit and through environmental considerations the circuit was closed towards the end of 2007. The bacteria in the BIOX® are particularly sensitive to cyanide and cannot tolerate levels above 0.05ppm (free cyanide), this required extensive modifications to the water circuit. The plant improvement project is ongoing and the current scope of work should be complete by the end of April 2009. Further research and development work is being planned, which includes a ?white rot bacteria? that can consume the preg-robbing carbon and oxidize the sulphide in a single pass.

Jan 1, 2009

A modified germanium recovery process in conventional zinc metallurgy, based on the understanding that ferric hydroxide has strong ability to coprecipitate germanium element, was presented. The relaxed lab-scale experiments were conducted to evaluate its technological feasibility. The experimental results obtained show the new process has great competitive advantage over the conventional one.

Jan 1, 2008

Book news 1. Book reviews ? Prospecting in areas of desert terrain. London, The Institution of Mining and Metallurgy, 1985. 283 pp. £28 (members £25,20). Reviewer: J.S. Mostert This publication records the proceedings of a con¬ference convened to deal exclusively with prospecting in areas of desert terrain. The meeting, organized jointly by The Institution of Mining and Metallurgy (London) and the Ministry of Energy and Mines, Morocco, was held in Rabat from 14th to 17th April, 1985, and generated considerable international interest. Exploration cam¬paigns and case studies of successful discoveries in the desert areas of more than 14 lands are described. Since large areas of South Africa, Botswana, and Namibia are characterized by and and semi-arid terrains, this publication should be of considerable interest to explorationists and mining engineers engaged in the search for and development of mineral deposits in southern Africa. The fact that the desert terrains of southern Africa are host to a number of important base-metal (Aggeneys, Gamsberg, Prieska, and O'Okiep) and diamond deposits (Orapa, Jwaneng) has ensured continued interest in these areas from the viewpoints of exploration and mining.

Jan 1, 1985

By N. B. Strydom, H. H. E. Schroder, A. van der Linde

This paper describes a study of the destination of the mercury that is present in the ore during the recovery of gold. It was found that over 96 per cent of the mercury passed through the process untouched. A small amount finds its way into cyanide solution, and is concentrated with gold in Zinc dust as Merrill precipitate. When the precipitate is calcined, the mercury is driven off and finds its way into the atmosphere. However, dilution of the stack gas in the atmosphere appears to be sufficient to prevent hazardous concentrations arising at ground level. No other significant concentrations of mercury were found at any stage of the process. The amount of mercury lost to the atmosphere by this mechanism appears to be less than 200 kg per year throughout the gold-mining industry in South Africa. Virtually no mercury vapour could be detected in the air in the smelt-house. Slight increases in mercury concentrations above background level were observed in soils around the reduction plants and in the discharge or return waters, but no environmental stress is anticipated from these increases.

Jan 1, 1982

By F. H. Guise-Brown

Raise-boring experiences in the gold mines of the Anglo American Corporation Group by J. W. WILSON and P. C. GRAHAM Published in the Journal, October, 1972. Discussion by F. H. Guise-Brown., B.Sc. (Min. Eng.) (Member) INTRODUCTION Messrs J. W. Wilson and P. C. Graham are to be congratulated on an excellent paper containing several thought-provoking remarks. The concept of allocating a machine and equipment valued initially at some R300 000 on an experimental basis is courageous, and the results obtained could be of interest to the mining industry as a whole. The Gold Fields of S.A. Group approached this problem differently. In pioneering the start of this work in South African gold mines, they considered that expenditure of this magnitude would be warranted only if the proposition was viable right from the start. To this end, a Robbins R41 was purchased expressly to assist in the duplication of part of the No. 1 shaft system of the Doomfontein Gold Mine. Mr M. J. Koortsl has summed up the initial results of this work and given some preliminary costing, but inflation since that period has made these figures somewhat out of date.

Jan 10, 1972