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By Gregory R. Gorrell

The legal issues surrounding the regulation of subsidence are among the major concerns facing the underground mining industry today. Whether subsidence occurs almost immediately as a result of longwall mining or without warning as a result of room and pillar mining conducted years ago, the resulting disputes are highly controversial and typical of the disputes involving the competing interests of surface and mineral estate owners. Until recently, the law governing these disputes was firmly established under the common law. The passage of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act 1, the utilization of new mining technologies, and the general heightened environmental awareness of our times, however, have interjected new issues into this area of the law. State and Federal court decisions and administrative agency interpretations have helped clarify some of the issues. However, as evidenced by the many recent lawsuits between operators, surface owners, and regulatory agencies, many uncertainties still exist.

Jan 1, 1986

By Lake H. E.

The request to participate on your theme panel was accepted with some reluctance but indeed as an honor. My subject was outlined to cover 'Energy Resources - both nuclear and conventional' as related to your theme 'Minerals - Treasure Trove of the West'. This is indeed quite an order and I hope you will forgive me for concentrating mainly on the nuclear-uranium portion with brief references only to conventional fuels some of which will be covered in detail later in your conference. In regard to Uranium, I am speaking on the fringe of the area containing half the uranium reserves in your country and no doubt to many who are very conversant with knowledge of these resources. Nevertheless since our two countries have been very closely allied in both nuclear developments and uranium supplies I hope an exchange of information may be mutually beneficial. Concentration on the nuclear fuel resources is I hope understandable as nuclear energy is the coming source of power which will augment the rapid demand in the industrialized countries and provides hope for economic power in many of the more underdeveloped countries. The situation regarding conventional fuel resources is more widely known and their expanding future revolves around production cost reductions, research into diversified uses, plus more assurance of imports from countries less effected by international controversies determining export policies.

Jan 1, 1967

By R. K. Singhal

A sizable surface mining industry exists in Western Canada. There are the surface coal mines in the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan producing the bulk of Canadian Coal. The two oil sands plants in Fort McMurray, Alberta producing synthetic crude oil are surface mining operations. Much of the metalliferous mining in British Columbia is carried out by open pit methods. This paper discusses the current surface mining methods in both of these industries with particular reference to Alberta. Issues relating to environmental impact assessment, mine reclamation and mine site closure have been dealt with.

Jan 1, 1995

By G. T. Lineberry, W. J. Wiehagen

A paradigm shift As market economists, mine managers are interested in "staying in business" and even "prospering." Bottom-line results are the "order of the day." Concern for bottom-line results can invoke questions such as how much was produced, at what cost, and was anyone injured? While these questions will always carry everyday emphasis at the mine, they are fundamentally lacking in that they often appear, especially to lower levels of management and to the production worker, as pre-eminent concerns. Driven by market economics, many organizations have decentralized, outsourced, downsized, restructured and formed new coalitions. Investments in new technology and a concentration on productivity have been an essential part of these changes, contributing to improvements in both safety and efficiency. A reason for (and, perhaps a result of) these improvements has been the development of a highly experienced and flexible work force. This situation presents an interesting opportunity to modify a few paradigms about work life in general, and perhaps a few paradigms about how we invest in the miner, in particular. Studying these issues now night offer some interesting opportunities for the Future, as the foundations for the next generation of mine workers are laid. With the average "experienced" U.S. miner five to fifteen years from retirement, perhaps a key determinant of future success in the world market might be how well we make the transition from today's work force to the work force of tomorrow. We can ill afford to wait a few more years to tap into the special knowledge residing within a veteran mining work Force. The Work Crew Performance Model (WCPM) is one approach to defining, capturing and transferring this expertise. The WCPM suggests a paradigm shift, moving from a focus on products (quantity) to a focus on the process (quality). It also involves a slight change in the process -- a different way to think and work. Of great importance, it entails a belief and a commitment to people within the organization; a commitment to collect simple (but interesting) data; exploration for insightful ways to plot and integrate that data; and finally the search for creative methods to reinvest that knowledge back into the organization, that is, back into the work force. As a way of thinking, the WCPM subordinates information about how much is produced daily or how many were injured over a year's time to concern and detail for how the individual's and the work crew's performance contribute toward meeting organizational goals. Drawing upon the expertise within members of that work crew to address and solve operational problems is one approach for meeting organizational goals. This everyday focus on how we work is hypothesized by the WCPM to make the difference between a good section supervisor and the average one; an exemplar continuous-miner operator and the run-of-the-mill one; a mining crew that produces consistently high quantities, but, inadvertently, degrades the production of other units. The WCPM permits objective and reliable performance data to be collected. This data then can be used to define variability within tasks of work crew members; to relate observed variability to a cost consequence; and to more meaningfully analyze performance through the integration of traditional analytical tools, such as the production simulator, CONSIM, with a recommended behavioral approach, the WCPM. Basis for engineering test Most equipment selections and purchases involve a field trial test of the system. Technology is routinely bench tested at the manufacturer's facility, government agencies and the mine site. The WCPM suggests a similar, but more practical, method for testing the performance of a work system -a test for how technology is used (by people) at the work site. It implies learning from veteran mining personnel that have gone well "beyond the book." This approach to learning and to integrating training with everyday work life can help answer questions such as: What constitutes desirable perfor¬mance as, for examples, a shuttle-car operator, a miner operator or a bulldozer operator; what characterizes exem¬plary performance within the context of the work system, the technology and the work crew; how can investments in the worker he linked to measurable results within the organiza¬tion? This paper explores these questions and makes recom¬mendations for enhancing the cost-linkages between invest¬ments in people and the mine's monthly cost sheets.

Jan 1, 1996

By F. Segobia, M. Portal, F. Ysla, A. Mujica, L. Goicochea

The “Building Our Future” project is a collaborative initiative between the UNC SME Student Chapter and the Water and Earth Museum (MAT) of Asociación Los Andes Cajamarca (ALAC), both corporate entities of Newmont Yanacocha. Its mission is to promote responsible and sustainable mining among new generations while fostering a culture of equality and respect. This comprehensive educational program integrates sustainable development goals and includes workshops led professionals and external experts who share their personal stories to inspire students from rural and urban educational institutions to follow their dreams. Additionally, for this year 2024, the project development and implemented an interactive mobile application that educates users about the use of minerals in everyday life through four levels: Minerals in the Home, Minerals in Medicine, Minerals in Transportation, and Minerals in Agriculture. This multi-faceted approach seeks to raise awareness about the importance of mining in Peru’s economic, environmental, and social development, ultimately fostering a new generation of informed and engaged citizens who understand the vital role of mining in a sustainable future.

Feb 1, 2025

An important problem in mine operations is the classification of material as waste, low-grade stockpile, and ore. This classification must often be made with blasthole data that are widely spaced and that have sampling errors. Geo-statistical simulation techniques combined with basic economic principles allows a procedure for classification that maximizes expected profit. Geostatistical simulation methods (Gaussian, indicator, or annealing-based) allow the integration of hard and soft data in the creation of alternative, equally-probable, realizations of the mineral grade(s). At each location, for each realization, we calculate the "profit" if the block were to be classified as ore or waste The optimal classification is the one that maximizes expected profit (a Maximum Profit Se-lection (MPS) procedure). We discuss the theoretical justification of the method and implementation details. The use of blasthole data from different types of mineral deposits, that is, different levels of continuity, is considered. We also show the efficacy of the procedure with different levels of sampling error. The increased revenue due to the MPS procedure and improved sampling is shown. We show the geostatistical simulation procedure and the uncertainty in block grades that result from incomplete and imperfect sampling. The optimal classification is presented. Optimal block classifications are transferred to realizable dig-limits by hand-drawing polygonal boundaries. We compare the results of the proposed method to classification based on kriging. Limitations and areas of future work are identified.

Jan 1, 1999

By L. E. Mercando

The proposed Flambeau Mining Project is based on a high grade copper deposit located approximately one mile southwest of Ladysmith, Wisconsin. The project involves only the mining, crushing, and shipping of ore to facilities outside of Wisconsin for processing. The Wisconsin environmental regulations include provisions for identifying wetlands, the requirements for minimizing the disturbance of wetlands, and the need to establish new wet-lands to replace any wetlands which have to be disturbed.

Jan 1, 1991

By Terry A. Rightnour

Multiple seam mining is predominant throughout the central Pennsylvania Appalachian coal fields. Wide ranges in individual seam thickness, coal quality, and overburden characteristics are common throughout the region. On typical mining permits, ranging from 404 x 103 to 2023 x 103 m2 (100 to 500 acres), often as many as eight seams are concurrently mined, with each interburden requiring unique economic and environmental consideration in the mine plan. Specifically, this paper presents several planning tools and operational guidelines developed in response to current regulations for the special handling of potentially acid-forming materials as they are related to development and operation of multiple seam mines.

Jan 1, 1984

By John Hanna

Recently. researchers at The University of Alabama have developed a two-step method for the treatment of phosphorus sludge that includes bulk removal of phosphorus by physical separation techniques followed by remediation of the residual P4 in the sludge using a novel wet air oxidation technique known as "HSAD", Tests made on samples of the electric furnace phosphorus sludge have demonstrated that essentially complete and fast removal of the P4 in the sludge can be achieved by the HSAD wet oxidation treatment, Further studies were made to determine the applicability of the two-step process on sludges of various origins. P4 contents different pre-treatment and storage conditions, The present work discusses the mechanisms and factors controlling the HSAD wet air oxidation remediation approach.

Jan 1, 1992

By Francisco A. Fonseca

The Carajás Hills are in Brazil's Eastern Amazon, between the Araguaia and Xingu rivers, and parallels 5° and 7° Latitude South. A location map is given in Fig. 1. It is an area of low mountains (maximum altitude 900 meters), covered by the Amazon rain forest. Annual average temperature is 25°C, ranging from 31°C (maximum) to 19°C (minimum). Annual rainfall averages 2,000mm. Although it rains throughout the whole year, heavy rains occur from December through March. At the beginning of the 20's, Brazilian explorationists made brief geological descriptions of the area. Due to the thick soil, scarce fresh rock outcrops and the tropical forest covering a completely unpopulated area, detailed geological studies were difficult and reconnaissance expeditions were limited to the river margins.

Jan 1, 1982

By R. S. Jurani

Sunshine Mining Company's Kellogg operation is the primary silver producer in the United States, and maintaining a comfortable working environment in this deep underground mine historically has been a complex and costly problem. To improve the ventilation and cooling systems at a time of declining and uncertain silver market, it was proposed to optimize the performance of existing facilities at minimum cost. This paper discusses a 2-year, $400 000 optimization program that resulted in increased total mine airflow, cooler ambient temperatures, reduced compressed air usage, and lower energy consumption by primary fans, air compressors, and refrigeration plants, thereby saving the company approximately $650 000 per year.

Jan 1, 1987

By HASSAN E. EL-SHALL, AYMAN A. EL-MIDANY, KERRI-ANN A. HUE

Modifying the hydrophobicity of clay is necessary to accommodate large mycotoxin molecules such as zearalenone (ZEN). In this study, tricaprylmethylammonium (TCMA) chloride and common corn oil were used to modify clay. The results indicate that more than 90 percent of ZEN could be removed using clays modified by TCMA and corn oil at acidic and neutral pH due to the expansion of intergallery spacing as a result of TCMA surfactant intercalation within the clay-forming layers. The removal percentage depends on the pH and amount of clay used. Complete removal can be achieved at acidic pH and small clay amount.

By Olav Moklebust

The R-N Process is an outgrowth of the development by the National Lead Company's Norwegian subsidiary Titania A/S, of a process for producing metallic iron and a high titanium content co-product from ilmenite. Development of the process for the treatment of iron ores was continued as a joint project of the Republic Steel Corporation and the National Lead Company in 1953. More recently in July, 1957, the R-N Corporation was created by these two companies to undertake the commercial promotion of the results of this joint project. This paper has been prepared with the permission and encouragement of these three companies. The R-N process has as its objective the making of metallic iron from iron ores or iron ore concentrates. The general principles of the process have already been disclosed in technical papers and patents. In general the process comprises the following steps: 1. Iron oxide in crushed natural iron ores or iron ore concentrates is reduced to about 95% metallic iron, without fusion in a rotary kiln in the presence of solid carbonaceous fuel,*such as, coke or char, limestone and combustible gases. 2. The kiln discharge, consisting of metallized ore, coke, lime and coke ashes, is cooled. The excess coke is regenerated and recycled to the kiln feed.

Jan 1, 1959

By James A. Kiger

We at Colowyo would like to thank you for the opportunity to share with the Society of Mining Engineers of A.I.M.E. the progress of reclamation at Colowyo Coal Company's multiple seam open pit coal mine which is a general partnership of W.R. Grace and Co., and the Hanna Mining Co. First, a brief history of Colowyo Coal Company (Colowyo). The Colowyo operation is located approximately 28 miles southwest of Craig, Colorado, which is in the northwest corner of the state. The Colowyo operation produces coal from a Federal Coal Lease, a portion of which has experienced previous coal mining by underground methods. The underground coal mines were known as the Red Wing Mine and The Streeter Mine, and supplied coal to numerous locations in the Rocky Mountain region.

Jan 1, 1984

By Hooman Askari-Nasab, AHLAM MAREMI, EUGENE BEN-AWUAH

In oil sands mining, tailings are voluminous unwanted byproducts generated from extracting the desired mineral from the mined ore. Dyke construction and backfilling activities require well-managed techniques to facilitate progressive reclamation at the earliest opportunity. This directly affects the sustainability and profitability of the mining operation. This research introduces a goal programming framework that simultaneously optimizes the (1) production schedule with limited duration stockpiling and directional mining, (2) dyke construction schedule, (3) size, shape and location of tailing cells and (4) mining and processing production targets. The results show that in creating in-pit tailing-cell designs, decreasing the mining-cell volume and increasing the number of mining cells improves the net present value (NPV) of the operation due to increased operational flexibility.

By U. Srivastava

In the processing of manganiferous ore, it is useful to control whether the manganese (Mn) goes to the iron product to produce ferromanganese, or to the slag for extraction as a high Mn product. This can be done by manipulating the thermodynamic conditions for manganese oxide(MnO) reduction to control whether it remains as MnO or converts to metallic Mn. Results are presented showing that during production of iron nuggets, reduction of manganese oxide (MnO) can be controlled by changing the furnace temperature and reductant composition appropriately.

Jan 1, 2010

By Lu Yang

In the last two decades, acid iron ore pellets have established their predominant position as the iron-bearing burden material for blast furnace ironmaking in North America. It is a general practice that pelletization plants are asked to produce pellets of certain chemical composition and in a narrow range of sizes. A minimum amount of fines created during handling and transportation is desirable. Such a requirement is often expressed indirectly by the minimum compression load causing a pellet to break. The behavior of pellets inside a blast furnace, of course, is very important for a smooth and efficient operation. Before its melting in the lower part of a blast furnace during this period of several hours the behavior of pellets depends on their properties after induration as well as conditions inside each furnace. Among properties of indurated pellets, the ability to maintain their physical integrity in the burden and to be reducible are most important. To maintain the integrity of pellets (i.e., minimal low temperature breakdown, swelling and softening) so that there will be adequate overall permeability for certain wind rate and local permeability for gas/solid contact for reduction. A higher reducibility will moderate the adverse effects of swelling and softening and contribute to a smooth operation and efficient use of heat and reductants in a blast furnace. An article devoted to the relationships between the quality of iron ore pellets and blast furnace practice has been published elsewhere(1); therefore, no further discussion is needed here. The mechanism of strengthening of iron ore pellets during firing has been the subject of investigation of many authors(2). There is no doubt that the bridging of the growing hematite grains, particularly starting with magnetite concentrates, is very significant in the production of strong pellets. Recently, there are many reports from blast furnace operators that they have noticed the adverse effect of LTB in their plants. It is obvious that the strength derived from bridged hematite grains may disappear when hematite is converted to magnetite with thorough breakdown of grain structures. It is suggested that some other strengthening mechanism may be required in order to improve the LTB index of acid pellets. The influence of porosity on both compression strength and reducibility follows regular patterns. It has been suggested(1) that the amount of liquid slag in pellets during firing determines to a large extent the porosity, hence, indirectly, strength and reducibility.

Jan 1, 1983

By John R. Marks

Introduction An engineer is a builder and a problem solver. He uses knowledge of the properties of matter and energy to furnish the needs of society. Engineers form the bridge between scientific researchers and the general public, most of whom are technologically illiterate. Mining, metallurgical, and petroleum engineers extract minerals from the ground and process them into usable forms. Then, other engineers further process them into society's needs. Minerals engineers deal with more uncertainty than other engineers. Each ore deposit has its own personality and each ore is metallurgically unique. Minerals engineers, therefore, must be flexible, often applying larger safety factors and contingencies than other engineers, and frequently functioning as a jack of all trades. A minerals engineer can work in coal, oil, oil shale, base metals, ferrous metals, precious metals, industrial minerals, strategic minerals, or in exploration. Other mining jobs include banking and financing, education and research, marketing and sales, and government. As a minerals engineer, you may be among the first to work on the ocean floor or the moon. College Preparation A difference between college and industry is the type of problems to be solved. A typical college problem has an exact answer derived from given information. An industry problem is more apt to have a solution chosen from a number of alternatives. Information required for the solution is not given. It must be measured, calculated, looked-up, estimated, or otherwise derived. Solutions involve trade-offs, economics, and human factors, as well as application of physical laws and theory. When a college problem is answered, you move on to the next one. In industry, however, the headaches may just be starting with the implementation of the solution. Students often complain that they see little use for the theory they are learning. This is valid. A good professor will link theory and practice. Another difference between college and industry is the price of failure. In college, you can make a half-hearted effort in an assignment and take your C or D. On the job, however, poor engineering results in potentially effective projects being rejected and unsound projects being undertaken. Poor performance results in cost overruns, schedule holdups, oversights, disgruntled employees, irate bosses, unsafe structures, and unreliable systems. The costs are time, money, and possibly lives. The student pays the university for his work - not the other way around. So the rewards for good schoolwork often seem nebulous. But education must be viewed as an investment. Working for good grades will help you think better, learn more, receive better job offers, and perform more effectively on the job. There is no substitute for hard work. Avoid taking the easiest electives. If you desire a more liberal education or dislike rigorous physical sciences, mathematics, or engineering courses, change majors. Remember, you are training to be an engineer, not a computer programmer or market analyst. At least one summer of industry employment is necessary for minerals engineering students. The sooner you gain actual experience, the sooner you will know whether to change majors. Most large companies hire students during summer. It is best to send out applications around Christmas break. First and second year students usually work as laborers. Upper-classmen may work as engineering technicians. Students must sometimes choose between returning to a company at a higher position or trying a different company at a lower position, for more varied experience. Both alternatives have advantages. Do your best on these summer jobs. The company is watching. If you do well, the chances are good you will get a job offer when you graduate. Good references are important when you begin job hunting. Interviewing occurs near the end of your school career. The standard procedure is to send your resume with a cover letter to each company you are interested in. The resume for a graduating engineer with little experience need not exceed one page. The cover letter must be written for the individual company.

Jan 2, 1985

By J. A. Botín

Mining investment decisions are difficult since decision analysis is often based on scarce information. The sources of uncertainty in large mining investment projects are particularly numerous and are present in all evaluation stages. Hence the feasibility decision for projects of this nature will largely depend on how well these sources of uncertainty are managed to achieve bankable risk levels. The risk associated to the construction stages of a mining project is particularly difficult to quantify, mainly because the large number of variables affecting constructive yields, and the complex interactions among constructive resources. This investigation focuses on developing quantitative simulation models and tools to increase the value of a mining project by means of an optimization of the preproduction equipment fleet. The models were validated through their application in the Chuquicamata Underground Mining Project.

Feb 23, 2014

By O. M. Arafat, J. A. Finch

"The Functional Performance Equation calculated from a plant grinding survey defines two distinct ball mill circuit efficiencies and how they relate to total production rate through the target grind size. The survey data are also used to calculate a complete ball mill size distribution model, represented by the energy specific grinding rates, not just through the target grind size, but through all the size classes. Cyclone separation performance is represented by individual size recoveries to underflow. When these two unit operation performances are entered into the circuit modelling program (Streamline™), along with the circuit feed rate and size distribution, all the circuit survey size distributions and mass flows are perfectly regenerated by the program. The many issues associated with the historical Epstein (breakage-selection) models are eliminated. Once the circuit program is populated, pump and cyclone performance changes can be evaluated using a step-by-step procedure in order to maximize Classification System Efficiency. Mill water use and media sizing opportunities are also diagnosed in order to maximize Mill Grinding Efficiency at the size of interest. An example is provided. This circuit analysis and modelling system, and related training, is provided through a web-based application. INTRODUCTION Since its development (McIvor, 1988), the Functional Performance Equation for ball milling has facilitated new understanding of industrial circuit cause and effect relationships, leading to significant strides in operational performance. Success stories of this refreshing approach to plant circuit performance improvement are now too numerous to list. Finch and McIvor (circa 1986) also discovered that the Functional Performance “Mill Grinding Rate” at the size of interest was the same cumulative grinding rate that is calculated from mill feed and discharge size distributions using a first-order rate equation. By calculating these cumulative grinding rates for all screen sizes, a complete ball mill model is generated (as used by Finch and Ramirez, 1981). Others in industry, Hinde and Kalala (2009), for example, have noted the same. Lacking the complexity needed to maintain their interest, most researchers have ignored this model, broadly opting instead for Epstein’s (1948) characterization of grinding as a chemical reaction, combining “selection rate” and “breakage size distribution” functions. The much simpler ball mill model presented here has previously been incorporated into a proprietary circuit modeling program (McIvor, 2005) and used for plant improvement work (for example, see McIvor and Finch, 2007, and McIvor, 2014). Now, by combining this extremely business-friendly ball mill model with optimization criteria from Functional Performance Analysis, a circuit modeling system (including the needed supplementary steps to assure successful plant implementation of circuit design changes) is at the disposal of every plant metallurgist, grinding equipment/material provider, and circuit designer."

Jan 1, 2017