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By J. D. McKay

Continuous column flotation parameter testing, to improve operating methodologies, using coarse bubbles on fluorite ore from Nevada, revealed that retention time is the predominant factor affecting column flotation fluorite recoveries. Column height and feed injection location affected fluorite grades and recoveries because they affected particle retention times in the collection and cleaning zones. Other parameters tested, including froth depth, wash water addition, and axial mixing, showed varying results. Four defined zones within the column were found to have characteristic rates of upgrading per vertical foot. Fluorite-gangue separation was more efficient in a column than in a conventional cell at all particle sizes.

Jan 1, 1987

By Thomas V. Falkie

The title of this talk has brought some interesting responses - even before it was written - from different parts of the country. A geologist from the Western U. S, was deeply concerned with recent layoffs in his profession and the employment situation in general and wondered why "the AIME wasn't doing anything for the benefit of its members." A petroleum engineer in Texas said that a group in his field were studying "professionalism" and their professional status and wondered if there were any words of wisdom for him. A mining engineering professor from the East pointed out that the National Science Foundation did not include mining engineering as one of its recognized fields in one of its equipment funding programs. These are just a few examples of reactions received to date, but they serve to illustrate the broad image that the title has meant to various people. Actually the term profession is defined by Webster as "a calling requiring specialized knowledge and often long and intensive academic preparation." The word encroach means "to enter by gradual steps or by stealth into the possessions or rights of another", or "to advance beyond desirable or normal limits." The intention of this paper, as originally conceived and requested by the program chairman, was to combine those two words literally and talk about how the professional standing of mineral engineers is being eroded from people outside the profession. But the amazing preliminary response suggests that it may be timely to broaden the discussion by including some comments about professionalism in general. In the paper the terms "mineral engineer" or "mining engineering" are used frequently, but it should be clearly understood that much of what is said is valid and is intended for all fields covered by SME and perhaps for AIME in general.

Jan 1, 1972

By D. J. McKee, D. M. Wiseman

The usefulness of simulation as a technique for metallurgical process design and optimization studies has been greatly extended over the last few years by the development of a number of general purpose simulation packages. The packages, or simulators, all have the common objective of presenting the mathematical models and simulation methods in a form which is readily usable by plant engineers and metallurgists. To date, most simulators have been concerned with steady state simulation, but packages capable of dynamic simulation are now becoming available. The paper outlines the essential features of versatile steady state and dynamic simulators. Typical applications are presented by considering examples of design and optimization studies. Limitation on the use of simulators are also presented.

Jan 1, 1991

By L. B. McConville

The general term "tar sand" has been used to describe sand containing varying amounts of dense, viscous petroleum. Deposits of tar sands have been found throughout the world, often in the same geographical area as conventional petroleum. The largest one by far is known as the Athabasca Tar Sands, and is located in the province of Alberta, Canada. Actually a group of three deposits, these particular sands underlie an aggregate area of more than 12,000 square miles. Current estimates place the contained raw petroleum at about 700 billion barrels, from which as much as 300 billion barrels of synthetic oil may be recoverable under presently developed technology. For comparison, this latter quantity is roughly equivalent to five times the combined total of U.S. and Canadian crude oil reserves. With the ever-widening gap between energy supply and demand, attention is being directed to all possible energy sources - both developed and underdeveloped - and certainly the Athabasca Tar Sand deposit is one of the more important ones to merit such attention. This paper will review some of the more significant developments and attempt to place in perspective the role that this source of energy could possibly be expected to play in the foreseeable future.

Jan 1, 1974

By Kwangmin Kim, Junnhyeok Park

In the hard-rock mining industry, the generation of fines during blasting is an important issue because it has a significant effect on production processes. Although various approaches have been used to estimate fines generation in recent decades, as a practical matter, measuring the amount of fines is nearly impossible given the technical limitations and the scale of mine blasts. In this study, a dynamic PPV damagemodel was developed and applied to predict fines generation as a result of blasting. This modified version of the crushed zone model (CZM) considers dynamic rock properties and peak particle velocity (PPV), which represents the induced stress in blasting. Dynamic rock-fracturing tests were conducted using a split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) to determine the parameters that represent the relationships between rock strength and strain rate as well as the relationships between fines amount and strain rate in the model. A case study was conducted that entailed determining the radius of the crushed zone for given blast designs and rock properties and then measuring the fines amount within this crushed zone. This case study indicated that the dynamic PPV model can provide a rough estimate of fines generation for given dynamic rock properties and blast design parameters and that this method has the potential to be a useful indicator, or index, of fines generation.

May 16, 2020

By M. W. Buche, E. Tarshizi, R. Chappidi, B. Inti

"Coal mining is an age-old method of power production in the world. It is also widely known for the associated risks during mining. Although the number of mishaps has dropped dramatically over the years, the number of fatal accidents is still a concern, and any aid in reducing these figures would be important to industry workers. Therefore, data from accident reports during the past seven years were collected and analyzed. Qualitative data from reports and articles provide a deeper understanding of the incidents, thus affording the possibility of identifying patterns and relationships between the accidents. For this study, a total of 119 fatality accidents occurring in U.S. coal mining operations were analyzed using advanced text mining techniques. The fatality data were obtained from U.S. Mine Safety and Health Admininstration fatalgram reports. This analysis is primarily exploratory in nature and uses term frequencyinverse document frequency (TF-IDF) methodologies along with correlation network plots. An interesting word relation pattern was obtained that identified “positioning” as the common cause of 12.6 percent of accidents, and found that 29.4 percent of accidents can be categorized as vehicle-related. IntroductionIn the mining industry, accidents are situations that employees and employers wish to avoid. They are devastating experiences to the victims and their coworkers alike. Even worse, accidents that result in fatalities create trauma and undesirable repercussions. Several measures have been taken throughout the industry to prevent such mishaps, and the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) provides continuous monitoring for miners’ safety by guiding organizations through best practices in every job role. As a result, according to MSHA, there has been a steady decline in the average number of deaths due to accidents over time. Nonetheless, any opportunity to avert one more such casualty is of paramount importance, and that is the goal of our analysis. Our objective is to identify opportunities resulting from previously unexplored directions in order to provide additional insights into potential safety recommendations. Until now, most of the studies in this area had been conducted using structured and tabulated data with a constant number of categorical and numerical variables. Unstructured text data mining is an emerging area that is still insufficiently researched and has a feasible scope for important results, as a vast majority of human communication and cognizance is comprised of words. The aim of undertaking this project by capitalizing on unstructured data is to analyze the text reports to discover potential relationships that explain the causes of accidents in new light in order to mitigate the occurrence of fatalities. The analysis in this project is based on textual data obtained from the MSHA website (2017). Individual accident reports are organized according to the date and year of the fatality. Each report includes details with images of the incident. For convenience, a simplified summary of the report is also available. Data collection consisted of gathering formal documentation of fatal accidents in the coal mining industry during the past seven years. These reports were extracted from the website in text format."

Jan 4, 2018

By Robin G. Burn

An orebody is a mining company's greatest asset; without it there can be no mine. Yet, by the very nature of the industry, orebodies are wasting assets whose progressive depletion must be balanced by continued discovery of new ore to enable both the industry to survive and the raw material demands of society to be satisfied. Although mineral exploration may be viewed as any activity which leads to the creation of investment opportunities in the mineral industry, ultimately new ore can only be generated through discovery. The process leading to discovery may involve a long chain of independent and interdependent events. It will almost always be repetitious and require the examination of many prospects or trials before the goal, a commercially successful discovery, is satisfied. Long term survival of a mining company through regular discovery of new ore, requires a continued commitment of funds and effort to mineral exploration.

Jan 1, 1984

By Nikhil Dhawan, Sanjay Pindar

The limited lifespan, ever-growing demand, and significant lithium and cobalt content are responsible factors for the immediate recycling of discarded lithium-ion batteries. Discharged batteries were dismantled, segregated, and size reduced to recover cathode and anode material. The active cathode material comprises LiCoO2 (65.8%) and LiMn2O4 (34.2%) and was carbothermal reduced with recovered graphite in a microwave furnace followed by water leaching and magnetic separation. A Box Behnken statistical experimental design is used for process optimization. Both cobalt and manganese report to magnetic fraction, whereas graphite and lithium carbonate report to non-magnetic fraction and solution crystal respectively. The final product comprises of cobalt 73% and manganese of 14% with process yield of 36% and saturation magnetization of 76 emu/g.

May 16, 2020

By M. A. Trevits, G. W. Luxbacher, L. D. Patts

"It is almost a given that post-disaster mine conditions will have compromised the mine ventilation system, resulting in a hazardous atmosphere in portions of the mine, and often complicated travel through debris fields and roof falls. Robotic technologies provide the opportunity to gather valuable information to assist decision making or lessen exposure to dangerous conditions. MSHA's Mine Emergency Operations Division (MEO) has utilized a fully permissible mine robot, the V2, for a number of years, constantly updating the unit as new technologies became available. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, as part of the MINER Act Extramural Contract Program, examined the need for additional robotic units and ultimately funded three different types of prototype technologies: two robots, the Snake Robot and the Gemini-Scout, and a mine rescue robotic assist vehicle known as the ""Mule"". The Snake Robot is designed to be lowered through a borehole and to conduct surveillance (gas monitoring, video and audio) in the immediate vicinity, while the Gemini-Scout, designed to be deployed in the mine opening, serves as a more mobile and agile exploratory tool as compared to the MSHA V2 robot. The Mule was developed in response to needs expressed by mine rescue teams for a versatile remotely operated support vehicle and it will move from prototype to MEO utilization in the near future. This paper describes the development of the robot prototypes and discusses their limitations in the prototype stage, possible enhancements and potential applications, as well as the utilization of the Mule. INTRODUCTION The conditions in a coal mine may be dramatically altered after a mine fire or explosion. For example, the ventilation system may not be functioning correctly as control devices may be compromised or damaged beyond repair. The visibility in the mine opening may be limited due to accumulated smoke and dust. Roof support systems may be damaged or no longer functional. Equipment and materials may be strewn about the mine opening. Debris fields, blocked openings, roof falls, flooded areas, gas accumulations and active burning make it very difficult or impossible for those managing the post-event emergency to permit mine rescue teams to enter the mine to conduct search and rescue operations. With the evolution of robots and robotic assist technology there has been a proliferation of purpose-built units for the military, police and law enforcement agencies, urban search and rescue and those contending with hazardous environmental conditions. In each case, the technology used is designed to limit human exposure to the unsafe conditions or to provide access to areas under difficult conditions. For example, a specially-designed marine robot has been deployed into the damaged core of the Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant to assess the conditions of the containment vessels, where melted fuel is believed to have accumulated. Human access to the area is prohibited due to dangerously elevated levels of radioactivity [1]. Multiple robots were deployed in Amatrice, Italy, to assist in the response after the 6.2-magnitude earthquake devastated the town. The robots were used to explore two medieval churches that were severely damaged and deemed too dangerous for human entry [2]. Tactical robots are regularly used by police and law enforcement agencies when the conditions of the emergency place intervening officers directly in harm's way [3]."

Jan 1, 2018

By T. A. Gray

There are several potential large-volume uses for coal ash in mining-related applications that could be environmentally and economically beneficial to mining companies. Actual usage, however, may be constrained by regulations or by perceptions of coal ash and the potential uses. To identify currently allowed uses and to assess constraints to coal ash use in the eastern coal fields, questionnaires were sent to state coal mining agencies to determine their policies on coal ash utilization and to mining companies to solicit their viewpoints on coal ash utilization. Identifying and understanding the constraints will allow for the development of a coordinated and consistent approach to remove or reduce these constraints and possibly allow for increased utilization of coal ash by the mining industry. This paper summarizes the findings of our investigation.

Jan 1, 1995

By R. A. Winters

At the operations level, productivity is a principle key to profitability. If you are competing with other mines that are paying roughly the same wage rate and the same prices for capital, materials, and energy, the only way your profit can be greater is by producing more output per unit of input. Mines with higher productivity have higher profit margins. Higher profit margins lead to greater operating cash flow, and cash flow is what distinguishes a dog from a cash cow. The turnaround in U.S. metals during the 1980s was in large part due to incredible improvements in productivity. According to statistics compiled by Kaufmann, 1991, labor productivity, measured as tonnes of primary production/manhour, increased 64% in steel, 94% in copper, 75% in lead, 143% in zinc, 132% in molybdenum, and 75% in gold. These improvements were hard won. However, with most modernization programs now complete, measuring and monitoring productivity becomes even more important as producers strive to maintain the gains they have achieved.

Jan 1, 1993

By C. H. Stephenson, Z. White

This paper presents the design approach case study for incorporating a Technogrid® conveyance End-of-wind arresting system within the new South32 Hermosa headframe. Focus is placed on energy absorption requirements, structural integration, and mounting details tailored to the geometry and operational constraints of the headframe. Key considerations include arresting forces, load path continuity, and connection design to ensure reliability and maintainability. The paper also discusses coordination with other headframe systems and the iterative design process used to meet safety standards and client objectives.

Feb 22, 2026

By E. Siami-Irdemoosa, S. R. Dindarloo

"Pareto analysis was used to investigate the failures database of a Hitachi EX1900 hydraulic shovel over one year of continuous operation. The hydraulic system and hydraulic links, hoses and piping were identified as the most critical system and subsystem, respectively. A three-parameter gamma distribution function was identified as the best fit for a probabilistic modeling of the time between failures (TBFs). This distribution was used in a Monte Carlo reliability analysis of the hydraulic system. Autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA), within the context of a time series analysis of the TBFs, was proposed as a viable alternative to the traditional technique of distribution fitting. The mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) metric was used to compare the two models. The MAPE value that resulted from the ARIMA was 66 percent smaller than that from the traditional technique in predicting the TBFs.Resumen ¦ Se usó análisis Pareto para investigar la base de datos de fallas de una pala hidráulica Hitachi EX1900 durante un periodo de un año de operación continua. Se identificó al sistema hidráulico y a los enlaces hidráulicos, mangueras y tuberías como el sistema y subsistema más importantes, respectivamente. Se identificó una función de distribución de tres parámetros gamma como el más apto para un modelado de probabilidades del tiempo transcurrido entre las fallas (Tabes por sus siglas en inglés). Esta distribución fue usada en un análisis de confiabilidad Monte Carlo para un sistema hidráulico. El promedio de movimiento integrado auto-regresivo (ARIMA por sus siglas en inglés), dentro del contexto de análisis de serie temporal de los TBFs, fue propuesto como una alternativa viable a la tradicional técnica de ajuste de distribución. Se usó el porcentaje de la media absoluta de error (MAPE) para comparar los dos modelos. El valor MAPE que resultó de la ARIMA fue 66 por ciento menor que el resultado obtenido con la técnica tradicional de predicción de TBFs."

Jan 1, 2015

By K Timtner

As shown in former publications there are problems in load sharing of backstops in multiple drives of conveyors. Therefore, detailed calculation methods and design recommendations are required. In this paper various designs of load sharing methods are described and a dynamic torque calculation method will be presented. With this method the loadsharing properties for low and high speed backstops are calculated and compared. These properties depend on the spring characteristic of the drive train between backstop and load. Furthermore, the properties depend on the method of torquearm support and shock absorber configuration. Remarkable differences for external and internal backstops are shown

Jan 1, 1998

By A. M. El Shafey, Ahmed W. Hussein, Ibrahim M. Gaafar, Mona M. Fawzy, Mohamed Diab, Mohamed S. Abu El Ghar

The Quaternary stream sediments of the Diit area, southern Red Sea coast, Egypt, were mineralogically studied for their content of economic heavy minerals. The study area covered approximately 450 km2 and included three main parts: Wadi and Delta Diit, as well as Diit lens. The mineralogical investigation revealed that these sediments contain considerable amounts of placer ilmenite, magnetite, zircon, sphene, apatite, garnet, and rutile. Also present, in minor or trace amounts, are uranothorite, monazite, xenotime, fergusonite, khatyrkite, and gold. The magnetic fractionation tests, supplemented with the XRD and SEM mineral analyses, indicated the presence of Fe-oxide minerals as wuestite, hematite, and maghemite accompanied with magnetite as products for hand magnet separation. Ilmenite separation was carried out using a high intensity magnetic separator at a current of 1 A, while the paramagnetic minerals (e.g., garnet, pyroxene, amphibole, epidote, monazite, xenotime, and fergusonite) were separated as magnetic fraction at a current of 3 A. The non-magnetic minerals (e.g., zircon, apatite and rutile, uranophane, uranothorite, gold, and khatyrkite) were obtained at 3 A current. On a mineralogical and geochemical basis, the present work suggests that Diit stream sediments should be considered as a potential source for Ti, Fe, Zr, Zn, and Cu after the physical upgrading processes for concentrating the minerals carrying the aforementioned economic elements.

Jan 21, 2022

By John P. Anderle

A tectonically disturbed sequence of Mississippian age evaporites expressing a 5 milligal negative gravity anomaly near Sussex in southeastern New Brunswick, Canada, was investigated by a program of drilling, geologic and geophysical work over the past 27 months. Seventeen of twenty-one drill holes have penetrated 10 to 140 feet of potash mineralization in a salt sequence underlying 2 000 to 3 000 feet of arenaceous, conformable red beds, also of Mississippian age. Bromine and borate studies, lithological characteristics and geophysics, have facilitated improved understanding of the salt structure. The salt sequence has been affected by f1owage which has resulted in both major and minor folding. In the more disturbed areas, the potash interval was extensively subterraneally eroded at the upper anhydrite-salt contact.

Jan 1, 1978

By Bernard E. Weichman

The oil shales in the Piceance Creek Basin of northwest Colorado occur in the Parachute Creek member of the Green River formation. The oil shales were deposited in a unique environment of deposition which caused the mineral nahcolite (NaHC03) to be precipitated within the oil shales. Post-depositional tectonics resulted in extensive fracturing of the Middle Zone of the Parachute Creek member, and to a lesser degree portions of the Lower Zone, which allowed percolating ground waters to dissolve the nahcolite in the fractured portion of the oil shale beds which is characterized by broken porous oil shale, certain beds of which have collapsed into rubble and debris. The extent and porosity of the Leach Zone aquifer is dependent upon the percentage of kerogen and nahcolite originally deposited in the oil shale. Any oil shale development program in the Piceance Creek Basin of northwest Colorado will need to be preceeded by an extensive study of the Leach Zone in order to determine the effects on a mining program.

Jan 1, 1973

By Antonio Nieto, Jesus Castillo

Research and Development (R&D) departments in the mining sector are essential for creating new solutions on productivity, safety, and sustainability. Nevertheless, the selection of R&D projects is complex, often influenced by subjective judgments and uncertainties. This paper explores the application of the Multicriteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) as a structured approach to evaluate and prioritize innovation projects based on various criteria such as safety, cost, environmental impact, and social acceptability. By assigning weights and quantifying criteria, MCDA enhances decision-making transparency and objectivity. This study aims to show a method that facilitates strategic thinking, resource optimization, and stakeholder engagement, ensuring that selected innovations align with the company’s long-term objectives and commitment to responsible mining practices.

Feb 1, 2025

By Steve Kral

The Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) was established in 1932 in response to proposed regulations that would have threatened prospectors in Ontario. From there, the association grew to represent the interests of Canada?s mineral exploration and development industry. The PDAC?s mission statement reads: ?The PDAC exists to protect and promote the interests of the Canadian mineral exploration sector and to ensure a robust mining industry in Canada. The PDAC will encourage the highest standards of technical, environment, safety and social practices in Canada and internationally. ?Today, the PDAC?s 6,000 individual members include prospectors, developers, geoscientists, consultants, mining executives and students. In addition, the association?s membership includes 950 corporate members, representing senior, mid-sized and junior mining companies in addition to organizations that provide services and equipment to the mining industry. In 2010, the PDAC adopted its e3 Plus principles, a framework to guide its membership in responsible exploration.

Jan 1, 2011

By Yong Pan, SRIVATSAN JAYARAMAN SRIDHARAN, Purushotham Tukkaraja

The block cave mining method poses unique ventilation challenges compared to other underground metal mining methods. This research study focuses on assessing the airflow behavior in regulated airflow distribution systems by developing a 1:100 scaled block cave experimental model and a numerical model. This study also investigated gas flow behavior under various airflow conditions. Based on our findings, we observed that reduction in particle size and porosity of caved materials, decrease in cave footprint, and closure of undercut drifts would increase cave airflow resistance. The increased airflow is found to be beneficial for gas dilution regardless of its source locations, while the regulated airflow distribution system might deteriorate the gas dilution situation when the source is located in the extraction drifts.

Sep 1, 2022