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By Francis S. Kendorski

INTRODUCTION Caving offers the lowest cost per ton of any large-scale mining method, but its successful application demands an ore body that conforms to several rigid requirements. The deposit must be of wide areal extent, massive and not spotty in ore values, and insensitive to ore dilution. It must also be a rock mass that breaks up readily. There are only three active caving operations in the US-Climax, Henderson, and San Manuel-but caving methods have recently taken on new importance as deeper lower grade mineral occurrences and ore bodies are found. These deposits are too deep for surface min¬ing methods, and too low grade to support any type of underground mining except a bulk method such as caving. Announced discoveries or indications that may be amenable to caving include: Climax's Mt. Emmons molybdenum discovery in Colorado; Molycorp's Goat Hill molybdenum prospect in New Mexico; the Phelps Dodge molybdenum deposit in Beaver County, UT; Arizona copper occurrences such as Asarco's Sacaton, Hanna's Casa Grande, Noranda's Lakeshore, and Ken¬necott's Safford; Anaconda's suspected deep copper de¬posit in Butte, MT; Anaconda's Carr Fork, UT, deposit; and perhaps others. CAVABILITY'S ROLE IN FEASIBILITY STUDIES Caving is a system of underground mining which removes support from underneath an ore body. As a result, the rock mass fractures, fails, and flows vertically downward by gravity to be collected in previously ex¬cavated funnels. Types of ore that have been mined by caving include molybdenum, copper, iron, nickel, as¬bestos, and diamonds (Julin and Tobie, 1973). It is primarily a large-scale method, with production rates of more than 45 300 t/d (50,000 stpd) having been achieved. However, the initial capital investment before return is very high, often in the hundreds of millions of dollars. The cavability of an ore body or mineral occurrence is a critical item in the feasibility study of a proposed mine, not only from the point of overall minability, but from the point of impact on other costs such as blasting, loading, hauling, crushing, and grade recovered. Aside from the often-asked question of, "Will it or will it not cave?" the real questions are, "Can we afford to make it cave, carry the rock away, and extract the mineral?" The last is not a topic of this chapter, but the first two are. The cavability of an ore deposit or mineral occur¬rence is based on many things, but clearly, if a large enough area is undermined, any rock mass will cave. The result could be a violent collapse as occurred at Urad, CO (Kendrick, 1970), or perhaps the rock mass will cave beyond the ore boundary. Another unfavor¬able result could be ore blocks that are too large for the equipment and orepasses to handle without considerable secondary blasting. Weak rock with numerous fractures may produce a very fine ore when it caves, resulting in dilution and ground control problems. DETERMINING STRUCTURAL DOMAINS It has long been recognized that the geologic nature of an ore body is important to cavability (King, 1946). Such items as weak rock material, intensity of fractur¬ing, and severity of faulting all contribute to the success of a caving operation, and information regarding these is required as a minimum for the cavability determination. In practice, the rock mass-defined as the blocks of intact rock together with the intervening fractures, joints, faults, bedding planes, and other discontinuities-that contains the ore body, as well as the surrounding and overlying rock, must be examined in a systematic and detailed fashion. Surficial geology maps must be pre¬pared, exploration holes drilled, and core logged for en¬gineering information. The fracturing of the rock mass must be studied to ascertain the three-dimensional dis¬tribution of fractures and their characteristics, and faults must be located and described. The strength and other mechanical properties of the rock material, the fracture surfaces, and the fault filling materials must be tested and reported for later use by designers and planners. With this basic information and an understanding of the geologic setting, the rock mass can be divided into one or more structural domains which tend to behave similarly in response to engineering activities (Robertson and Piteau, 1970). One must keep in mind that the determination of the structural domains goes beyond the geologic units present. Several lithologic units may be lumped together, while a single lithologic unit can be divided into multiple domains. Major faults often form their own domain, and the direction of engineering ac¬tivity-for example, cave advance to the north rather than the south-may alter rock mass behavior, resulting in different domains. As an example of the detailed rock fracture map¬ping required for such studies, the structural domain determinations at the Climax mine (Kendorski, 1973) are shown in Fig. 1. The circles are Schmidt equal area projections of the three-dimensional attitudes of frac¬tures (Ramsay, 1967) mapped in detail at various rock exposures. The attitude of fractures is important to the cavability determination since it dictates the directional behavior of the rock mass as it fails, and determines the effectiveness of arching, keying, and rock block inter¬locking. Low-angle fractures must be present to allow movement of the rock in the vertical direction during undermining (Mahtab and Dixon, 1976); if low-angle planes of weakness are absent, the rock mass may arch with a keystone effect, rather than moving vertically downward.

Jan 1, 1982

By A. Broussaud, J. D. McKay

Benefits analysis of adaptive Expert control systems operating at plants in Africa and the United States are presented. Proper statistical tools and techniques are discussed. Technical and practical pitfalls of strategy comparison are also presented and illustrated with from published data. Advantages and disadvantages of a “Pay for Performance” approach to a project are reviewed.

Jan 1, 2001

By Karl W. Mote, R. K. "Ivan" Urnovitz

One of the Northwest Mining Association's guide-lines is: "If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always gotten." Another way of saying this is, simply, "when the road curves, don't refuse to turn." Our industry has been roundly criticized for living in the old political world, and, I believe, justifiably so. Until about 20 years ago, members of both houses of Congress deferred to specialists among their members for mining legislation. This was true for all public lands and natural resource issues, and were referred to as the mining bloc, or the timber bloc, or the ranching bloc. We felt safe, and to a large degree, were safe in the sense that western members of the US House of Representatives and of the US Senate understood the need for multiple use of public lands, and the need for the natural resources they supply. They also knew what it takes to stay in business and how to create the economic atmosphere that encourages private industry to find and provide the natural resources. Almost daily, members of our industry bemoan the destructive effects that current regulations, let alone new proposals, are having on American industry. And, there are some intriguing aspects for us to ponder. First, the specific complaint about the government is not regulation per se, but rather that the rules or policies don't make sense. We recognize that few understand our industry, but we have assumed that the government will rely on people experienced and knowledgeable in the area being brought under government controls. There was a time that this assumption was valid, but it is no longer true since we have entered the era of the professional regulator. Much like the MBA who believes that a professional manager can manage anywhere, the new breed of regulator sincerely believes that process is the key to developing effective regulations or programs. They reason the process virtually assures that all the pertinent facts will inevitably come to light and, after receiving appropriate considerations, will result in the proper decision being reached and implemented. Unfortunately, following the process also allows politics to play a new and greater role than ever before, since information based on what can only be called weird-science can now be presented to the professional regulator and accepted as fact. Regulators do not have the background to question the basic tenets of the conclusion being presented to them. To add insult to injury, testimony from people in the industry involved, intended to set the record straight, is too easily discounted as being merely self-serving. A second aspect is that the question of why the associations aren't doing more to stop poorly conceived legislative and regulatory proposals, or to counter the ever-increasing influence of the selfappointed public interest groups is being increasingly discussed. This is occurring despite the fact that there is a higher level of involvement and closer cooperation between the various associations than ever before. This raises a most important question: where are we going wrong? In the last 20 years or so, major changes have taken place. A new philosophy, taking advantage of the public's recognition of need to protect our environment, has swept through the nation, resulting in a whole new body of law enacted to assure environmental protection. We all acknowledge the need to prevent undue degradation during the course of mineral development, and we all consider ourselves to be responsible stewards of the land, because we live and work in the outdoors and know the importance of environmental protection. The changes in the federal statutes apply now to every aspect of mineral discovery, development, and production, and assure adequate reclamation of lands when we are done. Along with the positive changes, are a constant barrage of attempts to stop public land use, or stop mining, or stop any new economic development, ostensibly to "protect the environment," but often reflecting a hidden agenda of social reform. These types of extreme, irrational, and just plain impossible proposals are everyday occurrences, but we have not geared up to challenge all the proposals which could end mining. Instead, we did what we always had done. The road turned, but we didn't. And we wondered why those who had always protected mining weren't doing their job, and why we were having such limited success in reining in the regulators. The Congress had changed, the public demands had changed, the recognition of importance of natural resources had

Jan 1, 1991

By William F. Riggs

The basic theme of this symposium and panel Is Rotation Pads: Are They Optimized? There Is a. reason for phrasing the title In the form of a question. There Is not only the technical competency which we must address; there Is the operating philosophy that must be evaluated on the part of both the customer and the supplier. Customers desire reagents which are trouble-free and capable of providing that extra amount of selectivity or recovery. When they receive ft, after the supplier has provided several years of Internal research, one of the first concerns/complaints Is the price of the product. This has a tendency to rapidly reduce a supplier's support level In the future. Suppliers are equally guilty from another perspective. When they approach a customer to Introduce a product, they often attempt to market by offering only a price Incentive. They then wonder why a customer doesn't respond Immediately to the incentive. They are often oblivious to the fact that the reagent cost is such a minor aspect of the operating budget, and the customer has many more pressing problems on a day-to-day basis In comparison to the reagent cost. We need to establish the understanding that reagent cost Is an Inconsequential cost of operation, and yet has such a disproportionately high Impact on the success of the entire operation. This understanding Is required by both the customer and the supplier. We say to each other,' why are we discussing this since this has been obvious for some time?' The reason is relatively simple in that we talk about it, acknowledge it, and yet we do not adhere to it. The supplier provides a product along with test data containing statistics, analysis, recovery, grade and cost calculations while most of the time ignoring the operating technique which must be applicable In the plant In order to optimize the product. He expects the reagent to be substituted In the plant for the existing reagent and ft works or does not work after trying several variables. The operating management Is equally guilty, In order to best explain this to both the customer and the supplier, ft becomes necessary to review the basic purpose of the major reagents utilized In flotation. A collector is basically to Impact selective, maximum water repellency on the surface of a particular mineral, The frother has the purpose of providing a chemically stabilized membrane on the surface of the bubble at the air-water interphase. This, then, provides a host environment for the attachment of the collector-coated mineral to a bubble. The depressant functions In the reverse of the collector and must demonstrate the same or greater degree of selectivity than expected of a collector. The key area which has been Ignored Is the rate by which these reactions occur and Interrelate. This has a very specific effect on the operating technique and the compatibility of the chemistry, equipment, and the operator himself. Researchers, suppliers, and customers provide reams of data to demonstrate how their products or design produce, for example, higher kinetics, more selectivity, or more recovery. The Information is often true. After all, we are all learned men and laboratory and actual plant data do not lie. However, we must remember the theme of this symposium and panel: Flotation Plants: Are They Optimized? and Optimizing of Flotation Reagents? The direct, honest comment to the two titles is very simple. OF COURSE THEY ARE NOT The plants, equipment, and reagents had better not be optimized or else we are in trouble. The Issue of this panel discussion is to approach this subject from a slightly different or perhaps mainly Ignored aspects of optimizing reagents in flotation. When we have reagents which provide higher kinetics, more selectivity, and better recovery, how do we use them? Since each reagent has a different physical characteristics of froth, rate of recovery, volume effect on the compatibility of equipment, and many more aspects too numerous to mention, the question which has been severely Ignored Is, 'What degree of study and cooperation by both the supplier and the operating management has been conducted In order to prepare the operator for maximizing the performance of a reagent In relation to the rest of the system?" Prior to testing a new reagent, how much time Is spent to bring the actual operator(s) Into the program to make them feel part of the program? How much time is spent explaining to the operator on the float floor how to possibly take advantage of a reagent with faster kinetics or one which Is Inherently more selective? What

Jan 1, 1993

By K. Fuenkajorn, S. Serata

Discussion by S. Serata and K. Fuenkajorn Background Results of the above study in the August 1991 issue of Mining Engineering offer valuable lessons in the solution of cutter-roof problems. The original study plan was initiated by the discussion authors to solve the problems using the "stress control method" of mining (Serata 1976, 1982; Serata, Carr and Martin, 1984; Serata and Gardner, 1986; Serata, Gardner and Preston, 1986; Serata, Gardnerand Shrinivasan, 1986; Serata and Kikuchi, 1986; Serata, Preston and Galagoda, 1987) However, the plan and the planner were changed to the arrangement reported in the paper. The change was considered reasonable at the time due to the mine engineers' uncertainties about the stress control method. Consequently, the basic principle of the study was shifted from the original stress control method to the method described in the paper, which will be called the "yield pillar method" for the purposes of this discussion. The paper convinces the reader that the yield pillar method fails to solve the cutter-roof problems. This doesn't mean that the stress control method also fails. Actually the contrary is true, as discussed below. Limitation of the yield pillar method The paper illustrates clearly how poorly the yield pillar method performs in solving the problem. The reason for this failure is the lack of the protective stress envelope needed to stabilize the cutter roof. Unfortunately, the protective envelope cannot be formed properly without utilizing the stress control method of mining. Changing the pillar size does not make much difference in the roof stability. Stress measurement The key issue is how to form the global stress envelope to make the gate entries safe for production. Therefore, measuring the stress condition of the ground around the mine opening is critically important to solving the cutter-roof problem, regardless of the method applied. With regard to the stress measurement, there is a serious question as to the reported stress state of [6 i = -51.7 MPa (-7499 psi), G2 = -44.5 MPa (-6458 psi) and 63 = -30.8 MPa (-4465 psi)]. It is mechanically impossible to have such a stress state at any location in the mine ground since the known initial vertical stress [o,,] is less than or equal to 800 psi. There may be a large stress state in the [61] direction, but that is possible only at the expense of the [63] value. Having the above stress tensors in the mine is simply impossible. The questionable, reported stress values could be attributed to the application of the overcoring method, which tends to produce erroneously large stress values in the extremely nonelastic mine ground. Stress control method The paper should be considered as a major contribution demonstrating the limitation of the yield pillar method. At the same time, the paper does not disprove the stress control method. However, in comparing the paper with stress control studies conducted in other similar failing grounds, the stress control method appears to be able to solve the problem more effectively. Therefore it is advisable that the mine not give up its efforts to solve the problem. [•] References Serata, S., 1976, "Stress control technique - An alternative to roof bolting?," Mining Engineering, May. Serata, S., 1982, "Stress control methods: Quantitative approach to stabilizing mine openings in weak ground," Proceedings, 1st International Conference on Stability in Underground Mining, Vancouver, BC, Aug. 16-18. Serata, S., Carr, F., and Martin, E., 1984, "Stress control method applied to stabilization of underground coal mine openings," Proceedings, 25th US Symposium on Rock Mechanics, Northwestern University, June, pp. 583-590. Serata, S., and Gardner, B.H., 1986, "Benefits of the stress control method," invited paper, American Mining Congress Coal Convention, Pittsburgh, PA, May 7. Serata, S., Gardner, B.H., and Shrinivasan, K., 1986, "Integrated instrumentation method of stress state, material property and deformation measurement for stress control method of mining," invited paper, 5th Conference on Ground Control in Mining, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, June 11-13. Serata, S., and Kikuchi, S., 1986, "A diametral deformation method for in situ stress and rock property measurement," International Journal of Mining and Geological Engineering, Vol. 4, pp. 15-38. Serata, S., Preston, M., and Galagoda, H.M., 1987, "Integration of finite element analysis and field instrumentation for application of the stress control method in underground coal mining," Proceedings, 28th US Symposium on Rock Mechanics, Tucson, AZ, pp. 265-272.

Jan 1, 1993

By M. Kalin, H. D. Sharma

INTRODUCTION The inactive uranium mill tailings investigated in this study are located in two mining districts, Elliot Lake and Bancroft, Ontario, Canada. The sites exhibit a mixture of surface features consisting of dry areas, with or without vegetation and areas covered with water. On the edges of the water bodies, indigenous vegetation has invaded the tailings beaches [ Typha] spp. (Tourn.) L. a dominant plant on these tailings beaches, has been studied for the uptake of radium-226 and lead-210 (Kalin and Sharma, 1981b) from the tailings. It was found that most of the radium-226 remains in the roots of the plants, and that the solubility of radium-226 in control soil differs from that in tailings. The uptake of radium226 by vegetation and other biota is related to the solubility of the element in water. Factors controlling the solubility of radium-226 in uranium mill tailings are of interest in assessing the environments effects of these wastes. Rusanova (1962) found that the soluble or extractable amount of radium from the soil is inversely related to the total concentration of calcium and magnesium in the soil. Experimental work has clarified some aspects of the leachability of radium from uranium mill tailings (Levins, et al., 1978; Wiles, 1978, and others). Halvik, et al., (1967) studied the effects of pH and chemical composition of surface water on the liberation of radium from uranium mill tailings and uranium ore. He found that an increase in pH, up to a value of pH 9, decreases the amount of radium released from the tailings and the ore. A positive effect of calcium chloride was noted on the leachability of radium. Benes (1981) reviewed the physicochemical forms of radium and its migration in water. Based on experimental work, he identifies primary factors which determine leaching of radium from uranium mill tailings. The ratio of the volume of the leaching solution to the weight of the leached sample; the composition of the leached solids and the leaching solution, and finally the pH of the leaching mixture are of importance. He emphasized that a scarcity of field data exists, which would relate experimental work to the actual situation in the tailings ponds. Inactive tailings ponds in Ontario are 16 to 23 years old, and processes which are of importance in evaluating the long term effects of uranium mill tailings in the environment can be studied. The objective of this work was to investigate the leachability of radium-226 from the tailings under field conditions. MATERIALS AND METHODS Sample Collection A description of inactive tailings sites in Ontario, where the tailings and the water for this study were collected, can be found in a report by Kalin (1981). [Typha] spp. specimens were excavated from 16 different locations along with the tailings attached to the roots of the plants. A tailings sample from the surface area, around the plant, was secured before the excavation. Tailings samples were also collected from dry areas free of vegetation in the vicinity of the wetland stand. Surface samples (depth 0-5 cm) and samples at a depth of 20-25 cm were secured. Water was collected from the shallow tailings beaches around the vegetation stands. Sample Preparation The roots of the plants were washed free of tailings with distilled water. The resulting thick slurry of tailings was allowed to settle in the wash basin for five minutes and the supernatant water was decanted. The remaining saturated tailings were brought to 400 ml volume with distilled water in a beaker. The slurry was mixed with a magnetic stirrer for two 24-hour periods. After the first 24-hours, the slurry was allowed to settle for 20 minutes and the supernatant water was removed. The remaining sediments were suspended again in distilled water (400 ml total mixture) and leached for a second 24hour period. The tailings slurries from the different locations had a solid to liquid ratio, which ranged from 0.5 to 1.4 grams of dry tailings material per millilitre. The variations in the ratios are the result of differing fractions of coarse and fine tailings on the sites. In the final leachates, the solid to liquid ratios of the samples were 0.17 (±0.1) g/ml. The pH of the surface water and the leachate was determined with an I.L. Portomatic pH meter. All the tailings samples were homogenized in a mortar and brought to dryness at 75 to 85°C. Approximately 0.5 g of tailings were

Jan 1, 1981

By W. E. L. Minter

Discussion by R.W. Hutchinson Minter's excellent recent paper (1990) on the great paleoplacer gold deposits of the Witwatersrand and its subsequent discussion (Cheney, 1991) and reply (Minter, 1991) provide an informative, interesting and up-to-date review of the geology of these unique ores and some long enigmatic questions regarding their origin. Clearly summarized by Minter (1990) are the compelling sedimentologic and stratigraphic relationships indicating that the Central Rand Group conglomerates are ancient placers and documenting the fluvio-deltaic conditions of their transport and deposition. As Minter (1991) indicates, Cheney's discussion broadens Minter's 1990 coverage of the subject by considering higher and lower stratigraphic units and by adding detailed comments concerning recently published information about metamorphic and age relationships. Cheney's discussion and Minter's reply also readdress the old controversy of epigenetic hydrothermal vs. syndepositional placer origin for these deposits. This controversy has been resurrected by: • recent recognition of hydrothermally-altered granites (HAGS) in the older Archean basement rocks that lie unconformably beneath the Dominion Group rocks north and west of the Witwatersrand depository; • recognition of greenschist metamorphic assemblages in the Witwatersrand strata; and • the presence of interpreted epigenetic mineral assemblages and textures in some of the deposits. These relationships are briefly discussed by Cheney who suggests they may result from later, superimposed metamorphism and deformation and do not prove that the gold was introduced by epigenetic/metamorphogenic processes. In his paper, Minter (1990) cited the 1986 abstract of a subsequently published paper by Hutchinson and Viljoen (1988) who also considered many of these aspects and attempted to integrate them all in abroad genetic hypothesis. In addition, they emphasized the additional important problem of determining the source for the Witwatersrand gold. Although this issue was partially addressed by Reimer (1984), Mossman and Dyer (1985) and Reimer and Mossman (1990), the question has been generally under emphasized in earlier work and was, therefore, not stressed by Minter and Cheney. Reimer (1985) also emphasized the importance of weathering of the basin's Archean hinterland and its affects on Witwatersrand sedimentation. Since the epigenetic hydrothermal hypothesis was essentially discarded in favor of placerist origin, the gold source for these great deposits has generally been attributed to the weathering of lodes in greenstones or granites of the uplifted, older Archean hinterland to the north and west. However, Hutchinson & Viljoen (1988) present evidence that this explanation is inadequate, as well as data in support of an alternative explanation. They suggest that the gold and accompanying abundant, clearly detrital and auriferous pyrite in the conglomerate reefs were derived by erosional degradation of auriferous-pyritic exhalite previously deposited, by shallow marine discharge of hydrothermal fluids, along the fault-bound northwestern margins of the Witwatersrand depository. The auriferous-pyritic exhalites were generated by fluid-rock reactions in the subsurface, particularly in the highly-altered lavas of the Dominion Group but also in adjacent basement granitic rocks. The process envisaged is comparable to that observed in sea floor hydrothermal systems today, although, in this case, it occurred at the margin of a rapidly subsiding, shallow marine or continental basin. Important evidence for this explanation is the anomalous gold content of the ferruginous, shaley strata occurring throughout the Witwatersrand Supergroup and including the distinctive contorted bed that is an iron formation. These layers have been interpreted (Hutchinson and Viljoen, 1988 and 1990) to represent the more distal, finer-grained, mixed chemical/clastic sedimentary strata. Thus, they are the basinal equivalents of the proximal, auriferous-pyritic exhalites that were deposited along the basin's margin and subsequently reworked by sedimentary processes. This gold source explanation resolves many of the enigmatic questions regarding Witwatersrand geology and the reawakened controversy between proponents of hydrothermal and placerist genetic hypotheses. The theory invokes a hydrothermal origin for the gold in the basin-margin pyritic exhalites, thus explaining the visible hydrothermal characteristics (Figs. 1 and 2). It also provides compelling evidence for placer origin by encompassing all of the fluvio-deltaic processes of clastic sedimentary transport and deposition that are clearly summarized by Minter. These characteristics result from the degradational reworking of the pyritic exhalites along the depository's margins. Fluvial reworking, transport and deltaic redeposition of this detritus, along with additional detritus carried into the depository from the hinterland, then formed the conglomerate reefs. Other enigmatic aspects of Witwatersrand geology include: • the rarity of magnetite and ilmenite (the two most common heavy minerals in placer deposits) and the contrary abundance of leucoxene in the conglomerate reefs; • the presence of differing varieties of pyrite (authigenic, allogenic, compact and porous) all of which are auriferous; and • the presence of well-rounded pebbles, even cobbles, of pyrite that, in view of the brittleness of the mineral, could not have been transported great distances from a hinterland.

Jan 1, 1993

By L. G. Austin

Introduction My first contact with industrial milling was during the time I worked in the electricity generating industry in the United Kingdom. In visits to power stations to investigate either deposits in the boiler furnaces or polluting deposits settling around the stacks. I had to check the performance of the vertical coal pulverizers, since poor pulverization aggravated both problems. Naturally, then, when I came to the USA in 1957 to take a PhD in fuel technology at Penn State, I was put to work to review the science of coal pulverization. After this reviewing, I was completely confused. On one hand, there was a well-developed understanding of stress-strain equations, and a rap- idly developing knowledge of how stressed, brittle solids fractured, based on the Griffith crack theory. On the other hand, reading in the grinding literature gave me: • Kick's Law, which was clearly not correct in the light of modern fracture theory; • Rittinger's Law, which was also clearly not correct; • Bond's Third Law of Comminution, which was claimed to have something to do with the Griffith crack theory, but where the connection between the two was made by intuitive pseudo- scientific reasoning I could not accept; • the choice of mill motor power for the most common type of coal mill, the Raymond pulverizer, was calculated from the fan power required to move air through the mill. Although I could accept the empirical connection between the two, it made no sense from the point of view of fracture energy. Even today, most books or review chapters on size reduction start from these laws. incorrect statements abound in the literature, such as “the Hardgrove Index is based on Rittinger's Law," which it is not, "The Bond theory states that work input is proportional to new crack tip length produced in particle breakage," which is not true, etc. My own test work showed that these "laws" did not fit the data for grinding of coal. At about this time, Epstein (1 948) and Broadbent and Callcott (1 956), following the original work by R.L. Brown (1941) at the British Coal Utilization Research Association, proposed describing breakage as a series of fracture stages. I took their concepts and developed the basic differential equation for a batch grinding process continuous in time, analogous to a batch chemical reactor. Robin Gardner then joined the project and did his PhD on treating batch grinding in the same way as a batch chemical reactor. He found that the basic equation had already been partially derived by Sedlatschek and Bass (1 953) in Germany. We confirmed experimentally the validity of the equations for describing batch grinding (1 962) and formulated the equation describing steady-state continuous grinding in a fully-mixed mill. At about the time this work was published, Gaudin and Meloy (1962) and Filippov (1961) independently published essentially the same equations, but without experimental proof of the validity of the concepts. I will give a brief overview of what these beginnings had led to in the design of mills for size and power, and show some of the results of this more detailed understanding of grinding processes. Concepts of Fracture Mills such as tumbling ball, rod, pebble and autogenous mills and vertical mills such as the Raymond, and E-type apply compressive stress to lumps or particles relatively slowly. Compressive stress applied to a particle of an elastic brittle solid imparts overall strain energy to the solid and produces local regions of tensile stress, (Fig. 1) (Berenbaum and Brodie, 1959). Irwin (1949) showed from solution of the stress-strain solutions that a small hole in a region of tensile stress reduces stress concentration at the hole, that is, the tensile stress at the tip of a crack or flaw in a solid is much higher than the general tensile stress in the region. The longer the crack, the higher the stress concentration. Griffith (1920) hypothesized that when the regional tensile stress is large enough, then the chemical bonds at a preexisting crack tip are stretched to breaking point, as illustrated in Fig. 2. When the bonds break, the crack becomes longer, the tensile stress concentration increases, the situation is unstable and a crack opens up (propagates) a surface of tensile stress, creating its own tensile stress at the leading edge. Stored strain energy is converted to the kinetic energy of the moving stress field, which is analogous to sound propagation through the solid, so the crack tip accelerates to velocities approaching those of sound. The moving crack will pass through regions that were previously under regional compressive stress. The equations for "ideal" and "Griffith" strengths are where a is the intermolecular distance, y is Young's modulus, g is the energy

Jan 1, 1998

By M. Manrique

Various pyrometallurgical methods for treating Ilmenite and Zircon concentrates are reviewed. Laboratory experiments, using a thermal plasma reactor, have been performed to evaluate: the conversion of ilmenite to TiC or TiC-Fe and the conversion of zircon to ZrC or ZrC-SiC. Results are examined and possible processing routes are identified.

Jan 1, 1996

By Sureshan K. Moothedath

This paper provides a mechanistic representation for floc formation, growth and degradation and presents results from an experimental study of batch flocculation in which step changes were made in the impeller speed, flocculant addition, and slurry concentration. A discussion of the experimental results is included in terms of the mechanisms of floc formation and size-change.

Jan 1, 1993

It has been reported previously that dolomite samples from different locations showed varying flocculation behavior with Poly(ethyleneoxide) (PEO). In this study it is determined that palygorskite associated with the Florida dolomite samples is responsible for their flocculation with PEO. A detailed characterization of the dolomite samples from different locations and its relevance to flocculation with PEO is discussed.

Jan 1, 1994

By J. Edwards

A new, world class dump leach, solvent extraction, electrowinning plant for the recovery of copper comes on line in Chile. CODELCO-Div. Chuquicamata has added a new facility to their operations located in northern Chile. The plant demonstrates many unusual features including: underground collection of leachate, high copper tenors, extensive use of plastics and special corrosion resistant alloys.

Jan 1, 1989

By Harold Rees

[This report supplements and brings up to date a paper prepared earlier this year for presentation at the Eleventh Pan American Railway Congress to be held in Mexico City, October 18 to 31, 1963. In order to acquaint the reader with the background of this project practically all of the first paper is included in the report.]

Jan 1, 1963

By H. J. Handewith

This paper explores the state-of-the-art of mechanical rock drilling and boring methods in use in the year 2000. It covers the basic mechanisms of cutting tool design and outlines the current understanding of related rock fracture methods. It provides suggestions for future research needs and discusses the mining and construction markets that are driving these needs.

Jan 1, 2001

By Fritz Eder, Rick Hendrickson

The quantities requires decisions growing demand for large of oxygen by gold smelters today that economic and operational be made regarding their selection providing electrical power, water, communications, sewage facilities and access roads. Liquid storage and supply system is of the system. decisions most appropriate oxygen supply Key factors affecting such are discussed in the following.

Jan 1, 1990

By Charles A. Horne

Grinding mill circuits used for particle size reduction of mineral ores commonly use cyclones as primary classifiers. Typically, several individual cyclones are installed in a cluster (Fig. 1) where they can easily be added or valved-out of operation in order to balance classifier capacity with fluctuations in tonnage and recirculating loads as ore grades and hardness vary.

Jan 1, 1993

By D. A. Bulled

• "What does it look like?" - describes the appearance. • "How does it work?" - outlines the operation. e "Why does it work?"- explains the principles. • "What about controls?" - indicates possible automatic systems. • "How is it sized?" - discusses the necessary testwork and evaluation. • "What are the results?" - demonstrates test and operating results. • "What's the benefit?" - concludes with gains for the user.

Jan 1, 1999

By L. W. Cope

Cuba is a mineral rich area, and the Cuban government is encouraging mining investment in the country. Joint ventures with government entities are encouraged. This paper will give some insights into the laws and regulations, and the agencies to contact for investment and development. The present-day situation of the US sanctions against Cuba will be covered.

Jan 1, 2004

By H. Z. Kuyumcu

In order to ensure a sustainable development in the mineral industries it is very important to reduce the process water consumption in mineral processing. Based on a systems analytical approach this paper deals with the most important parameters of process water management during plant operation and indicates strategies for reducing the water consumption in mineral processing.

Jan 1, 2003

By B. Suresh, Kalyan K. Das, Pradip

A series of salicylaldoxime derivatives with alkyl group substitution in the main chain and the side chain were synthesized and evaluated for the flotation of malachite, cerussite and smithsonite. The effect of chain length and the position of the substituent group on the selectivity of separation amongst oxidized copper, lead and zinc minerals are discussed in this paper.

Jan 1, 1995