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By Ma Fangyuan, Li Min, Xu Bing, Xian Yushuai, Zhao Tonglin

The study explored a new combination amine collector (XK-28) that can obtain better flotation index and defoaming rate for magnetic iron ore. A pure quartz mineral test indicates that dodecylamine, XK-I, or XK-II has good collection effect on quartz and their best flotation pH is in the range of 6–7. The experimental results of a combination collector (XK-I:XK-II = 2:8.) show that the separation effect for quartz and magnetite is better than that of a single collector. The single factor for actual mineral test shows that when the combined reagent is used as the collector, the best conditions are pH = 7, 90 g/t dosage, and XK-I:XK-II = 2:8, which is consistant with the pure mineral test. The difference for dodecylamine as a collector is that the optimal dodecylamine dosage is 60 g/t. Under the best conditions of actual ore test, dodecylamine and XK-28 are respectively used as the collector to compare the flotation indexes. Study results indicate the magnetite grade using XK-28 as the collector is higher by 3.02% than that of using dodecylamine, recovery is increased by 1.92% over that of using dodecylamine. Based on the measurement results of zeta potential, uses of XK-28 can slightly increase the zeta potential difference of quartz and magnetite to enhance the flotation effect. The mechanism of action between the XK-28 collector and the actual ore from the Gongchangling plant is physical adsorption, and this adsorption also has hydrogen bond formation. Contact angle results shows that XK-28 improves the hydrophobicity of quartz better than dodecylamine. Compared with dodecylamine, XK-28 is more sparsely arranged on the surface of the foam. The foam produced by the XK-28 collector has better air permeability and it is more likely to merge and disappear with bubbles.

Jul 21, 2021

By Paul D. Tomlingson

Numerous worthwhile benefits accrue to the industrial organization that is supported by a maintenance organization performing at a world class level. That organization will be favored with consistently reliable production equipment. It will be assured of meeting production goals. Its product will exceed marketplace standards. Its customers will see them as a quality organization. Its employees will enjoy job satisfaction and the plant will realize continuing profitability. Every industrial plant aspires to achieve ?world class? status knowing it can compete favorably with the best, most profitable organizations in the world. The trick is to achieve the attributes that qualify your organization for world class status. But there are no world class maintenance organizations. Rather, there are world class industrial organizations that include a world class maintenance organization. Maintenance, by itself, is a service provider, dependent on the support and cooperation of other departments. When that service is exceptional, it is made that way because maintenance is operating in a plant environment that requires it to be exceptional. Managers have created an environment in which maintenance can be exceptional. The plant, mine or facility manager must acknowledge from the start that maintenance is not a stand-alone effort of a plant maintenance department. It will require the joint efforts of all plant departments. Quality material support and full cooperation from operations, for example, are among the essential requisites for effective maintenance and achievement of world class maintenance status. When attributes such as these are reinforced by dedicated plant managers, profitability soon follows.

By Thomas H. Wake, Timothy M. Tower

A continuing trend in raise drilling is the movement toward increased automation. This paper discusses the reasons for automating a raise drill, which include labor saving, faster and smoother operation, quicker response to blocky ground, and improved data logging and diagnostics. It gives a "wish list" of features when automating a raise drill, from simple shutdown control through unattended operation. It discusses the principles involved in closed loop control of a sluggish mining machine with large inertia, and covers functions such as data logging and remote control. Results are presented from a field test on a production raise drill.

Jan 1, 1991

By Daniel Hodouin, Claude Bazin, Sami Makni

Computer systems, installed in mineral processing, are designed to accumulate massive amounts of real-time data. Frequently these data are only partially processed because of the lack of adequate methods and the limited accuracy of mineral processing sensors. Methods are proposed to estimate missing data and reconciliate sensor data on a real-time basis. They are based on dynamic extension of steady-state techniques such as the node imbalance minimization or the least-squares mass balance adjustment techniques. The methods are illustrated for simulated and actual flotation data. Their data upgrading ability could be used to improve process monitoring, control and optimization.

Jan 1, 1993

By H. Habenicht, E. Urschitz

Three mining methods for full extraction in flat coal seams - i.e., longwall (L W), shortwall (SW), and rib pillar extraction (RPE) - are com- pared with each other in view of the introduction of a mechanized, self-advancing roof support. Features are shown according to which RPE appears most attractive under certain conditions. In this presentation, the mining methods are outlined and discussed. The new support (Alpine Breaker Line Support, ABLS) is described, and its employment is explained. A trial operation in RPE using the ABLS has been conducted successfully in a South African coal mine. The results and improvements are stated.

Jan 1, 1988

By John A. Herbst

Flotation control systems in use around the world today owe their effectiveness to the coordinated use of appropriate sensors, control hardware, and decision-making strategies. This paper traces the development of these three main elements of the "control triangle" over time. Based on an analysis of recent developments, it is concluded that improvements occurring in instrumentation have basically been evolutionary, while advances in hardware and strategies have, in contrast, been revolutionary. An attempt is made to extrapolate developments in each of the "control triangle" elements into the future in order to make a projection concerning flotation control systems for the next millenium.

Jan 1, 1999

By J. E. Hoffman, Corby G. Anderson, T. J. Keefe, O&apos, Suzzann M. Nordwick

Antimony removal has become necessary as it is commonly found in precious metal refractory ore bodies. The Sunshine Mine in Kellogg, Idaho has recovered metallic electrowon antimony from its argentiferous tetrahedrite (Cu2S'Sb2S3) deposits for over fifty years. Recently, Sunshine conducted an intense research effort to improve and modernize its antimony facility. This paper presents information which was learned about the antimony electrowinning processes and the development of a single¬-electrolyte antimony electrowinning technology. The relevant effects of process variables were investigated. The research results and the relevant chemistries involved in metallic antimony electrowinning will be discussed.

Jan 1, 1993

By Jiro Yamatomi, Susumu Takemura, Osam Sakai, Hiroshi Shimotori, Yoshio Otsuka

The Toyoha Mine is operated under extremely high rock temperature. The geothermal heat is 10 to 20 times more active than the average of the Japanese Islands. The highest temperature ever observed in exploration drill holes is 242°C that must be equivalent to those of the geothermal fluids utilized for power generation in Japan. In order to improve the underground climate, the mine has a plan to introduce paste backfilling and to effectively reduce the heat flows from the mined out stopes. The surface flow test was carried and the second test is being arranged in underground.

Jan 1, 2001

By Terry Ritzel

Predictive maintenance technologies include vibration analysis, tribology, infrared thermography, ultrasonic detection and electrical measurements. These technologies have been applied to large electric mining shovels at the Cyprus Sierrita Mine outside of Tucson, AZ. The predictive maintenance program was initiated on the P&H models 2300 and 4100 electric shovels during August 1996. Results of these technologies have shown the potential for improving electric min- ing shovel availability and minimizing maintenance costs. Predictive technologies provide the tools to assess machinery condition. Availability is enhanced by the condition-based planning of component replacement. Maintenance costs are minimized by focusing resources through condition-based prioritization.

Jan 1, 1997

By Andrew I. Hustrulid

The discrete element method has successfully been used to model the behavior of material flow in transfer stations. With position, velocity, and applied forces for every particle and boundary in the simulation available at increments of 10-5 seconds, the next critical step is the presentation of this data in a concise and beneficial form. This paper discusses several methods of presenting the data from discrete element simulations that are used to improve the performance of a transfer station. These measurements are also used as a learning tool to better understand and visualize how material transfers from one belt to the next.

Jan 1, 1998

By Shawn Orser, Jennifer Waddell, Mike Sierakowski, Tom Barrett

Production evaluations were conducted at Daisy Gold Mine (Glamis Gold, formerly Rayrock), between August, 1997 and August, 1998 to quantify the effect of 3M fluorochemical surfactants (fluorosurfactants) on extraction kinetics and gold recovery in gold heap leach mining operations. Ore was treated at a level of 7-10 grams surfactant per ton of ore using 3M Pluorad TM Leach Mining Additive PC-GOLD. Kinetics and gold recovery were determined by solution assay for each of the tests. Both tests indicated improved kinetics, and data from Test 2 was used for determination of a quantitative increase in gold recovery resulting from PC-GOLD addition. A discussion of test results including methods used to determine gold recovery is provided.

Jan 1, 2000

By Joel Lenz, Warren Hood, Jackson Jenkins

Whole ore or other process streams are being transported from mines to remote processing facilities for multiple reasons, such as improved project economics, maximum utilization of capital, and minimization of environmental risk. Case studies will be presented from a variety of operations. Glenbrook Nickel processes ore from their deposit and receives ore from New Caledonia, crushes and dries the ore, and transports it inland to the smelter. The Mule Canyon and Rosebud ore bodies truck-haul their ores to the Lone Tree and Twin Creeks processing plants. Pegasus Gold hauls their Diamond Hill ore to their Montana Tunnels facilities, and Sierrita pumps solution to an existing tank house 8 miles away for electrolytic recovery.

Jan 1, 1998

By E. B. Johnson, G. Kjerbol, L. J. Holloway

The Mount Baker Ridge Tunnel is a major improvement of Interstate Route 90 in the State of Washington. The total length of planned underground construction is about 3,400 feet (1,040 m) of which 1,332 feet (406 m) will be constructed by a stacked-drift tunneling method. Sized for vehicular traffic on two levels, the net interior diameter will be 63 feet (19.2 m) requiring an exterior diameter of about 80 feet (24.4 m). The material to be excavated is predominantly stiff clay, and this will be the largest-diameter tunnel ever attempted in soft ground. A construction contract for the stacked-drift tunnel was awarded in late 1982.

Jan 1, 1983

By W. M. Hart, Q. H. Shen, J. S. Chen, S. S. Peng

The automatic data-acquisition systems that are now available can continuously monitor and record changes in leg pressure and changes in advancing ram stroke in every shield. These systems can record shearer position at any moment during a mining operation. The data obtained can be used to improve production and maintenance management and can be used to provide better roof control at the longwall face. Research now being conducted jointly by West Virginia University and Cyprus Amax Coal Co. is aimed at developing a longwall-management system (LMS) for mine operators. The LMS software package, which works in the Microsoft Windows NT environment, performs data interpretation and analysis, production management, maintenance management and ground-control management for longwall mining.

Jan 1, 1997

Over the last two decades, the mining industry has spent considerable time and effort in installing sophisticated control systems (including expert systems) to regulate and improve the performance of AG/SAG mills. Yet the need for these systems is often overlooked – unmeasured and uncontrolled variation in the feed material. With AG/SAG mill technology replacing rod and ball mills as primary grinding equipment, the need for careful and thoughtful feed preparation has gone. To maximise mill throughput, operations need to better understand the ore characteristics affecting AG/SAG mill performance. Industrial operating data will be used to illustrate these ideas and concepts. It is often quite surprising which ore characteristics that are the most influential on mill throughput.

Jan 1, 2004

By Clark Woodland, William E. Stanley

Mining companies have been required to enter a "new era of management" in the 1980's as they strive to become more efficient in an increasingly competitive market place. One response for many companies has been to modify their mine accounting systems to make them more effective for cost control and decision-making. This paper discusses some of the major issues in developing and implementing a standard costing system as part of improved management reporting and cost control procedures. It describes the key features and benefits of a computerized standard costing system with particular emphasis on budget-setting and variance analysis. It also identifies important factors to be considered in order to achieve successful project planning and Implementation.

Jan 1, 1987

By Lars Olaf Höglund

MiMi has been set up to be i) visionary, ii) strategic and iii) long-term. The planning as well as the executive phases involves industry, academia and authorities in close co-operation. MiMi focuses on improved, economically efficient management of mining waste, a challenge that requires combined and integrated research efforts across discipline boundaries. The MiMi programme is financed by the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Environmental Research (MISTRA) with support from the mining industry. The first programme phase covers the period 1997 - 2000, with intentions for additional phases. Planning, experience and results from the first programme period are highlighted. INTRODUCTION Most of the mining activities in Sweden takes place in the No

Jan 1, 2000

By Malcolm Scoble, Sean Dessureault, Scott Dunbar

Budgets are key financial and behavior drivers for most businesses, including mining. Budgets are used to link strategic objectives to tactical decisions, to measure performance, and to provide basic financial planning. More accurate and pertinent budgets should result in improved strategic decision making and performance measures. This paper discusses how a process based production and cost database, based on activity based costing models and the one year production plan, can be used to create the annual budget for an operating mine as an Activity Based Budget (ABB). A case study is used to compare budgets derived from traditional methods and an ABB approach. It is evident that the ABB method is more accurate.

Jan 1, 2002

By Nico Bezuidenhout, André M. van Niekerk, Jan J. G. Vermaak

This paper documents empirical evaluations of geochemical data that was recorded during a seven year pilot scale experiment. The experiment was aimed at assessing the effectiveness of natural soil covers for rehabilitation of coal discard facilities. Ten test cells were constructed using different natural soil cover materials and configurations. Results of the evaluation indicate that, although a pH breakthrough was not recorded for the single layer soil cover cells as was the case with the uncovered cells, single soil covers were not effective in preventing ARD oxidation processes. Multi layered soil covers were found to be able to create anaerobic conditions leading to a reduction in ARD oxidation processes and an improvement in leachate quality.

Jan 1, 2000

By D. S. Holmes

Biological processes for metal solubilization and ore beneficiation are in widespread use today. There are also some promising new applications of biotechnology in the areas of metal concentration and toxic metal cleanup. Recent progress in genetic engineering promises both to revolutionize the existing biological process and to expedite the adoption of the new biological applications. But before it can do so effectively, progress must be made in many areas of fundamental research and in biochemical engineering. These issues are addressed with special reference to the biotechnology of semi-enclosed containers (bioreactors), dumps, heaps, in situ and under- ground leaching, and with respect to the biotechnology of metal concentration. Finally, certain biological considerations for bacterial strain improvement are discussed.

Jan 1, 1987