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By Michael Hughes, Paul Bonapace, Harry Charalambu, Stephen Rigbey

Ontario Power Generation is building a 10.4-km water diversion tunnel in Niagara Falls, Canada. The tunnel is a two-pass, cast-in-place prestressed concrete-lined pres-sure tunnel with a nominal internal diameter of 12.7 m. It is mostly situated within the Queenston formation which swells in contact with fresh water and has very aggressive groundwater. Tunneling in this material presents challenges in both design and construction. The tunnel design includes for a membrane to eliminate the potential for rock swelling and to protect the concrete liner from the ground conditions. A unique three-stage Geotechnical Baseline Report (GBR) is being used and is expected to provide an equitable method of dealing with any variations in subsurface conditions.

Jan 1, 2007

By Ryan Dr.

In December 1988 Phelps dodge corporation brought an underground gold mine into production in the republic of Botswana. The mineralization is associated with steeply dipping shear zones in Archean greenstones of the Tati Schist Belt. The gold is intimately associated with sulfides and is refractory in nature. The deposit is being exploited by underhand open stoping methods. Vertical and inclined shafts are used to hoist the ore to surface where it is treated by conventional crushing, milling and flotation, followed by fluid bed roasting with CIP elution and carbon regeneration. Adjacent deposits are being explored with a view to increasing production. Legal and taxation aspects of operating in Botswana are discussed.

Jan 1, 1989

By Michael J. Beus

This paper describes research conducted under the BuMines's Advancing Metal and Nonmetal Mining Technology Program, a major element being the application of new and improved technology to shaft design in deep underground vein-type mines. Two basic design parameters considered in shaft planning are configuration (shape) and ground support. The most common shapes are circular and rectangular. Ground support systems include concrete, timber sets, steel sets, rock bolts, and steel liners. The inherent advantages and/or disadvantages of various shaft designs such as ventilation and fire resistance, flexibility and ground support characteristics are well known. Circular concrete-lined shafts have minimal resistance to air flora and are virtually fireproof, an important consideration in deep hot mines. However, concrete does not yield significantly, and failure conditions and misalignment cannot be easily repaired. Timber-supported rectangular shafts predominate in the Coons d'Alene Mining District with its highly stressed and frequently heavy ground. The sets can be relieved and reblocked when out of alignment. However, the constant maintenance and repair requirements result in exposure to an inherently dangerous working environment combined with excessive operating costs. Obviously a dilemma exists--a circular, concrete-lined opening has many desirable features, provided it is strong enough to withstand the stresses involved. Rectangular, timber supported shafts have proven adequate in the Coeur d'Alenes; however, the implication of increased maintenance and repair requirements on ever-deepening shafts in this district and other similar areas will be an important design consideration in the future. This paper, then, presents shaft-configuration and ground-support guidelines to help remove some of the uncertainty concerning the stresses to be encountered in typical deep vein mining areas.

Jan 1, 1976

By R. Gong, R. Bhaskar

A coal mine study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a compressed-air, foam spray system installed under a continuous miner boom and directed to cover the pan and the gathering arm. The study's objectives were to evaluate the foam, underboom sprays' effect on: • the respirable dust concentration in the ambient air, and • the quartz concentration in the airborne, respirable dust. The foam generation and delivery system's engineering design is described in the paper, followed by descriptions of the mine and the dust sampling strategy. The data were analyzed to study the foam's effects on respirable dust and quartz concentrations at the continuous miner cab, the face return and the intake. The data indicate reductions in the dust's quartz content, ranging from 19.7% to 64.6%, in eight of 11 comparisons of the foam vs. no foam cuts. In addition, airborne intake dust reductions were observed in eight of 11 comparisons.

Jan 1, 1993

By O. H. Rostad

The importance of geology in ore reserve estimation has been stated by several authors. King et, a1 (1982) reported that the geological factor was the key deficiency where serious weaknesses in ore reserve estimation appeared, especially in grade. The foundation for a successful mining operation is an ore reserve estimate that neither overstates nor understates the true situation as to tonnage and grade. Overestimation of reserves can have devastating economic results. Overestimation of tonnage may lead to wasting money on an overbuilt plant or worse yet, if grade is seriously overestimated also, to undertaking an operation that is doomed to economic failure from the outset. Understated ore reserves can result in building a plant that is smaller than optimum which may result in higher unit costs. At worst, understated tonnage of ore reserves can result in a missed opportunity for a profitable operation. Failure of the ore reserve estimator to properly take into account all geologic and allied factors pertaining to the deposit can result in an ore reserve estimate that is overstated either as to tonnage or grade or both. This paper will focus on these factors and will not discuss rules about distances above or below a drift that should be given a classification of proven or probable, etc. Each deposit has its own particular characteristics which often require modification of general rules for defining limits of proven and probable ore blocks that work satisfactorily in another deposit. A number of references are included which discuss some of these problems. Definitions of ore reserve classifications and an illustration are given in the Appendix.

Jan 1, 1985

By R. A. Franks

An evaluation of a nuisance-emissions-discriminating smart mine fire sensor system was made in an operating coal mine. These field evaluations were conducted to determine the sensor system?s ability to discern nuisance emissions, such as diesel exhaust, emissions from flame cutting and welding operations or hydrogen gas from a charging station, from real fires and to compare the number of falsely reported fire alarms generated between the sensor system and a standard carbon monoxide (CO) monitor. The sensor system?s ability to operate successfully in the working environment of an operating coal mine was also evaluated. The smart mine fire sensor system consisted of four sensors whose data outputs were fused with the use of a neural-network-type computer program. Long-term trials were conducted in a haulage way, a belt entry, and a track entry. The system functioned successfully in the belt entry, in accordance with its developmental goals, where the sensor system even discriminated events not anticipated during development. It was not totally effective in the haulage way and track entry, though, due to a combination of significant diurnal air temperature variations, dust, and mechanically induced vibrations. Also, deteriorating rib conditions contributed to operational problems in the haulage way evaluation. In general, the smart mine fire sensor provided nuisance emissions discrimination and was shown to be a viable new approach for mine atmospheric monitoring, enhancing miner safety. This paper describes the in-mine evaluation of the smart mine fire sensor system and discusses recommendations for improving the system. Disclaimer: The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

Jan 1, 2008

By R. K. Mehta

Conventional triboelectrification based dry coal beneficiation methods require ground coal as a prerequisite feed material, energy intensive static-in-line mixer or cyclonic tribocharger configuration, and transport and/or improvement in the design of free-fall separators to improve the separation efficiency of [me pyrite/mineral matter from coal. The proposed paper illustrates the two concepts. First, the use of ceramic media in a polyurethane lined attitor in achieving simultaneous grinding and differential charging. Second, the use of an electrocentrifuge to selectively separate coal from mineral matter present in the triboelectrified mixture. It is of interest to note that some ceramic media can satisfy the requirements of both desired density and work function to achieve grinding and differential charging.

Jan 1, 1996

By Saverio Agresti, Giuseppe Lunardi, Donato Basta, Roberto Trapasso

"At a distance of 10 years from the first application of the Nazzano Method, the widening under traffic of a tube of an existing motorway tunnel was realized near Ancona, along the A14 Motorway in Italy. This paper describes the works for the enlargement with conventional method of the second tube, very close to that already widened under traffic.This enlargement was realized very fast, taking into account the advantages of some interesting technological improvements of the Final Design proved in the first tube.INTRODUCTION TO THE WIDENING OF EXISTING MOTORWAY TUNNELSThe widening of a twin-bore motorway tunnel usually considers the double option of creating a third bore as an alternative or closure to traffic of one of the two bores with the resulting reduction in the level of service for users.On the contrary, the extension in situ of a road, motorway, railway or underground tunnel in the presence of traffic, made possible by an inspired idea of Prof. Pietro Lunardi, enables the level of service of the infrastructure to be maintained without the need to resort to alternative routes to create new permanent or temporary bores, not always feasible because of the lack of the necessary space.This construction technique, known as the ‘Nazzano Method’, is part of the technologies refined and offered by the ADECO-RS approach to tunnel design and construction (Lunardi P., 2008) which is increasingly used in the world, leading to the industrialisation of tunnelling (meaning respect for the times and costs set out during detailed design) both in conventional and mechanised (through TBM) excavations.The first true experimentation of the ‘Nazzano Method’ was carried out between 2004 and 2007 to enlarge the two-bore ‘Nazzano’ tunnel (Italy, Milan-Rome A1 motorway) in the presence of traffic, widening it to house from two to four lanes in each direction (Lunardi P. et al., 2007). Following the success achieved in this first application, the Nazzano Method was strengthened considering all the possible suggestions arising from the previous experience and then taken up to enlarge the north bore of the ‘Montedomini’ two-bore tunnel (Italy, Bologna-Taranto A14 motorway), in situ and the presence of traffic."

Jan 1, 2016

By Raja V. Ramani, Sachin Shankar

Re-entrainment refers to dislodgement of particles deposited by both atmospheric and nonatmospheric processes and their subsequent insertion into a flowing field. Formation of sand dunes, snow drifts, soil erosion and fugitive dust emissions are a few examples of the natural occurrence of re-entrainment. Re-entrainment studies have been done for the estimation of potential hazards from nuclear fallouts. The phenomenon of re-entrainment has been utilized for the cleaning of wafers and filters. Re-entrainment is associated with both surface and underground mining activities. However, studies on dust re-entrainment in mine atmospheres are limited. Understanding the re-entrainment phenomenon is important because dust particles lying seemingly harmless on the ground and adhering to numerous surfaces can get re-entrained and become a health and safety hazard. There are significant differences in the kind of re-entrainment encountered in underground mines and those in other fields of interest. These major differences are air velocity, direction of air flow, particle size, amount of particles, and time of exposure. While numerous studies have been done in other fields to identify the role of interacting variables and their contribution to the mechanisms of re-entrainment, no similar reported work is available for dust in mine atmospheres. In this paper, recent research efforts on re-entrainment are reviewed. The most suitable form of representing re-entrainment in underground coal mine atmosphere is presented. Various approaches to studying re-entrainment phenomenon in mines are also outlined.

Jan 1, 1991

By Bo Forsman

METAFORA is a simulation model for determination and evaluation of strategies for operating loader/truck systems in mining. A specific version of METAFORA was used to evaluate the haulage system at Solider Mineral's Aitik mine in northern Sweden, one of the largest open pit mines in Europe with a production of about 11.5 Mtpy (about 34000 tpd) of copper are. A production level of 34065 tpd was estimated by simulation runs with METAFORA. Using METAFORA's dispatch rules (Fixed Dispatch, Maximize Trucks, and Maximize Loaders), the truck/shovel system in the Aitik mine was simulated for evaluating alternative dispatch control strategies. The Maximize Trucks rule gave about the same total production (ore + waste) as the Fixed Dispatch rule but a 9% higher ore production. The Maximize Loaders rule gave the lowest production. The marginal truck capacity decreases with increasing number of trucks serving the same loader due to increasing waiting times. In Aitik mine the low crusher capacity results in long dumping times. If the dumping time at the crusher could be halved, the ore production would increase by 14%. The paper indicates that the use of software like METAFORA can result in a substantial reduction of time, effort and cost in shovel/truck system design and evaluation.

Jan 1, 1992

By Tony Walsh

Australian Stock Exchange Limited (ASX) -ASX is ranked 9th in the Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) Index – only 2.02% of that Index. -1520 companies – 400+ mining & mining exploration. -Over 50% of Australians own shares in ASX listed co.s -Disclosure standards play a vital part in providing investors with confidence, thereby building depth and liquidity in the market.

Jan 1, 2003

By G. B. Misra

Heat transfer in partially wet mine airways has been the subject of study for quite some time. Of the available models some are quite empirical while some involve highly complicated computation. Models developed by Amano, Mizuta and Hiramatsu and Banerjee and Chernyak as well as that modified by Misra were evaluated for prediction of the rise in temperature and humidity (mixing ratio ) of partially wet mine airways at four different levels in the Mosaboni Mine of Hindustan Copper Ltd. Measurements of barometric pressure, virgin-rock temperature and changes in dry- and wet-bulb temperatures along a certain length of airway were made. The rise in dry-bulb temperature and mixing ratio of air over the sections were calculated using the three models. The study reveals that calculated values of temperature and moisture content agree within possible rage of experimental error with all the three models in case of three levels with low wetness factor, but the agreement was poor for the relatively more wet airway on the 30th level. Errors in the estimation of fw to the tune of 0.025 can lead to fair error up to 0.94 K in the estimated temperature while alternative ways of estimating the heat transfer coefficient [] can introduce errors up to 1.45 K.

Jan 1, 1987

By Wenhua Wan, Jan M. Mutmansky

Many concerns have been expressed worldwide regarding the use of diesel equipment in underground mines due to the potential health risks associated with diesel particulate matter (DPM). In assessing the risk to the health of miners and designing control strategies for DPM, it is important to know the concentration of DPM in the working areas of a mine. In some mines, significant stratification occurs due to the characteristics of the diesel exhaust, affecting exposure and the ability to measure DPM concentrations accurately. This study outlines some of the concentration profile data obtained during sampling at three mines where diesels were employed. Mine #1 (a gold mine) employed large openings in which a diesel-powered roof bolter was used. Mines #2 and #3 are both room-and-pillar operations with varying conditions. Mine #2 is an experimental mine where two stationary diesels were utilized for sampling purposes, while Mine #3 is a traditional evaporite operation using two mobile diesel vehicles for section haulage. These field studies indicated that some level of stratification occurred in all the mines, but the stratification was not as pronounced in the case of Mine #2 due to the complex pattern of exhaust emissions generated by the vehicles. The stratification seemed to depend on the distance from the vehicle, the mine air velocity, whether the vehicles were moving or stationary, and whether the exhaust was diluted by equipment design features. The concentration of DPM was generally higher at samplers located near the roof and lower at samplers located near the floor. However, this was not found in all cases. This paper provides conclusions on how knowledge of stratification patterns can be utilized in sampling and control of DPM in mine atmospheres.

Jan 1, 1997

By Subhas G. Malghan

The response of feldspar flotation to tallow diamine dioleate collector in the presence of sulfuric acid is studied using batch flotation experiments. Application of this non-hydrofluoric acid (non-HF) reagent system in the flotation of mineralogically and chemically different feldspar ores is compared with that of the conventional hydrofluoric acid system. The dependence of flotation recovery and concentrate grade on feed particle size distribution, conditioning time, pulp density, and pH, combined variation of collector and acid addition rates, sodium hydroxide concentration in the collector solution, and initial pulp pH prior to conditioning is studied. The results have been discussed in relation to applicability of the non-HF system to plant trials, and the nature of the collector adsorption in the selective flotation of feldspar.

Jan 1, 1978

By K. C. Corin, B. McFadzean, J. G. Wiese

The Bushveld Complex of South Africa contains almost 90% of the world’s reserves of platinum group minerals (PGMs). In the flotation of PGMs, there are significant challenges arising from the need to treat ever-decreasing grades of the relevant ore deposits. The major challenge in the flotation of these ore bodies is the control and management of the gangue minerals, particularly silicates such as orthopyroxene and plagioclase feldspar which are often rimmed with talc which makes them naturally floatable. It has been shown that various polysaccharide depressants such as CMC and guar have different properties in terms of depressing the gangue minerals. Since the PGMs are often associated with sulphides, copper sulphate is widely used as an activator in PGM flotation but can inadvertently activate the gangue minerals and reduce the recovery of PtTe2 which accounts for up to 40% of the Pt in the Platreef ore body. Depressants also reduce the mass of solids reporting to the froth and can thus destabilize the froth. This effect on the froth can be mitigated by using higher frother dosages or water of higher ionic strength. In summary due care needs to be taken to carry out site test work to develop an optimum ratio of collector, frother, activator and depressant to ensure that the highest grades and recoveries of the PGEs are obtained while reducing depressant dosage as much as possible. Chromite recoveries can be reduced through the application of gravity separation or reducing entrainment through reduced water recovery. INTRODUCTION The Bushveld Complex located in the north of South Africa contains the world’s largest deposit of Platinum Group Minerals (PGMs) (1). The so-called upper Critical Zone of the Complex hosts the largest concentration of platinum group elements (PGEs) in the world. The Zone hosts the Upper Group Chromitite No.2 (UG2) reef and Merensky Reef as well as the Platreef mineralization of the northern limb of the Bushveld Complex. The Merensky pegmatoid Zone contains the base metal sulphide grains and associated PGMs. Of particular importance to the topic of this paper is the occurrence in these reefs of various gangue minerals. The Merensky Reef consists predominantly of orthopyroxene (~60%), plagioclase feldspar (~20%), pyroxene (~15%), phlogopite (5%) and occasional olivine. Secondary minerals such as talc, serpentine, chlorite and magnetite have widespread occurrence. Of these, talc is the only mineral to show significant natural floatability (2,3). Although present in small amounts talc is closely associated with pyroxene and imparts significant floatablity to the high concentrations of pyroxene present in these ores (4). The base metal sulphides consist predominantly of pyrrohtite (~40%), pentlandite (~30%) and chalcopyrite (~15%). The major platinum group minerals are cooperite (PtS), braggite [(Pt,Pd)NiS], sperrylite (PtAs2) and PGE alloys. The UG2 consists predominantly of chromite (between 60 – 90% by volume) with lesser silicate minerals (5 – 30% pyroxene and 1 – 10% plagioclase). Other minerals present in minor concentrations, can include silicates, oxides and base metal sulphides. Total PGE varies by locality but on average range between 4 and 7 g/t. The PGMs present in the UG2 Reef are highly variable, but generally the UG2 is characterised by PGE sulphides such as laurite (RuS2), cooperite (PtS) and braggite [(Pt,Pd)NiS. The base metal sulphides consist predominantly of chalcopyrite, pentlandite and pyrrhotite. The Platreef is located in the northern limb of the Bushveld Complex. This reef consists of a complex assemblage of rock types, with pyroxenites, serpentinites and calc-silicates being the most abundant. Base metal mineralization and platinum group element (PGE) concentrations are found to be highly irregular, both in value as well as in distribution. The predominant platinum group minerals (PGM) in the mined area of the Platreef are the PGE tellurides, alloys, arsenides and sulphides. T

Jan 1, 2019

By S. R. Bryan, J. D. Stephens, D. R. Rothbard

The distributions of gold and associated elements in mineral grains from a pyritic gold ore were studied by optical microscopy, and by SEM and SIMS imagery. Products studied were a sulfide flotation concentrate, a calcined sulfide concentrate, a cyanide leached calcine, and a cyanide leached pressure oxidation residue. Individual pyrite grains are compositionally zoned and solid solution gold occurs in some, but not all zones. Most of the gold in calcined products is present as metallic coalesced grains that are smaller than 100 angstroms. Gold lost into cyanide leached residues from the calcines tends to be in “semi-dense” grains that cannot be distinguished from gold-free grains except by SIMS analysis. The gold in cyanide leached pressure oxidation residues occurs as solid solution gold in unoxidized pyrite remnants.

Jan 1, 1990

An atomic force microscopy (AFM) has been applied to study the adsorption of potassium amyl xanthate (PAX) and potassium ethyl xanthate (KEX) on arsenopyrite surface in solutions. AFM images show that the collectors adsorb on arsenopyrite surface in patches at pH 6. Increasing the chemical dosage will increase the adsorption density of the patches on mineral surface. The increased probe-arsenopyrite adhesion measured in PAX solutions at pH 6 is attributed to the adsorption of the patches, suggesting the hydrophobic nature of the patches, which is likely the oily dixanthogen. It is also found that arsenopyrite is reactive in water in the presence of air. At a high pH with the addition of Ca(OH)2 the adsorption of collectors on arsenopyrite is greatly retarded or depressed because the mineral surface is coated by a lot of precipitates, which is hydrophilic in nature as shown by the measured strong repulsive probe-arsenopyrite detachment force. The findings confirm that the flotation behavior of arsenopyrite in xanthate solutions is very similar to that of pyrite.

Feb 27, 2013

By W. E. Bardelmeier

The high speed conveyor type self unloading bulk carrier concept has been around for about 70 years. Although the design was developed, refined and steadily improved in the Great Lakes, to date limited numbers of such vessels have emerged in the bulk ocean trades, and these have tended to concentrate within specific mineral trades. For example, North American gypsum companies have embraced conveyor self unloaders to the point where such vessels almost exclusively carry the gypsum requirements of this part of the world. One major aluminum company has developed an impressive fleet capability in self unloaders. Application of other ships tends to be fragmented through several mineral trades. A few years ago a new phenomonen began to appear on the Great Lakes. Whereas it had historically been accepted in that region that self unloaders were effective vessels for the minor bulk trades including limestone, coal, salt, gravel and sand; they had seldom been employed heavily in the big volume iron ore trades. Suddenly, however, the new generation of 60,000 ton Lakers which emerged were all designed as high speed self unloaders. The new vessels intended to trade especially in ore, or alternatively especially in coal, have somewhat different internal features, but the important point is that all are self unloaders.

Jan 1, 1979

By Arthur B. Arnold, Curtis T. Scott

The Blue Mountain Tunnel is a part of the Sultan River Hydroelectric Project. The Sultan Project is in the Cascade Mountain Range, approximately 56 km (35 mi) northeast of Seattle, Washington. The geology is structurally complex, consisting of graywacke and argillite, with lesser amounts of metaigneous rocks. The tunnel, excavated with a tunnel boring machine (TBM), is 4.32 m (14 it) in diameter and 6.3 km (3.9 mi) long. The average 24 hour advance was 41 m (134 it) with a maximum of 71 m (234 it). The tunnel is essentially unlined except for 383 m (1,257 it) in a low cover area and in the rocktrap. Inspection of the tunnel after one year of operation showed it to be in good condition with only a minor amount of rock debris in the rocktrap.

Jan 1, 1987

By Kewal K. Kohli, Richard E. Thill, Syd S. Peng

The results of unpublished investigations into surface subsidence from coal mining in the Northern Appalachian Coalfield are summarized. These investigations were carried out by various coal companies and the State of Pennsylvania in the sixties and seventies. Subsidence data were collected and analyzed from 10 room-and-pillar panels in 5 mines in the Pittsburgh coal seam. Results show that angle of draw ranges from 26° to 33° and subsidence factor from 0.42 to 0.72; surface heating generally occurs beyond the edges of the panel, the amount and extent of which vary; waviness occurs in the subsidence profile if a substantial number of pillar stumps are left in irregular patterns; interpanel effect is significant; time-dependent subsidence exists, but varies for different panels; and surface slope does not seem to affect the amount of subsidence.

Jan 1, 1982