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By H. Walqui, A. Buendía

The Toquepala concentrator expansion project incremented the capacity of the existing concentrator by 15,000 Metric tons per day (t/d), from 45,000 to 60,000 t/d. The plant is located in southern Peru,1,200 km southeast of Lima. The implementation plan for the expansion project was based upon an engineering and procurement contract, and a construction contract. The overall Project Management was by Southern Peru Copper Corporation (SPCC). The expansion followed a very aggressive schedule that considered a construction period of only ten months, with minimum interference to the existing facilities. Major equipment was purchased during basic engineering. This paper details the design, construction, and commissioning of the 6.4 m diameter by 10.2 m long ball mill, and the performance of the milling circuit during the first two months of operation.

Jan 1, 2003

By Stuart Brashear, J. W. Reil

The manuscript of this paper was not available for publication when the Proceedings went to press. Should the authors elect, they may distribute copies at the time of the Symposium.

Jan 1, 1986

By Norbert Patzelt

Today the standard method for grinding ore is the wet process. This is mainly due to the fact that the downstream process is wet and considering the total circuit dry grinding is not the most eco­nomical method for the comminution of the ore. Presently in gold ore processing dry grinding is only applied in cases where whole ore roasting is required downstream from the milling plant or if organic carbonaceous matters and sulfides are the primary reasons for the refractoriness. Since dry ore can be fed to the roaster, a dry grinding mill can advantageously be applied. In cases where d1y grinding could be applied advantageously for instance if the ore contains water soluble material and wet grinding is not possible there are serious concerns prevailing within the industty against this technology due to several reasons. Besides of the aspects as discussed later in this paper, there are several plants in operation with little success and considerable operational prob­lems. The reasons for this often lie in the fact that the several com­ponents of such a plant are bought from independent sources with­out considering the system requirements. It is essential that the dry grinding plants require accurate design between drying, pneumatic transport and grinding of the ore in the circuit. This paper will address some of these concerns raised in the industiy from a mill vendor's view along with discussing the development for the selection and configuration of the various dty grinding circuits.

Jan 1, 1998

By Drupad B. Desai, C. C. Ku

INTRODUCTION The Laurens Street section of the Northwest Line of the Baltimore Region Rapid Transit System, located along Pennsylvania Avenue between Pitcher Street and North Avenue is situated in material which cannot be definitely categorized as soil or rock. However, in the area of residual soils in which these tunnels were constructed, considerable attention was required to determine the character of the ground so that the designers and the constructors could properly evaluate the behavior of the ground and plan their respective efforts accordingly. The Laurens Street sections structures consist of twin rock tunnels, station structure, traction power substation, vent shafts at both ends of the station, the midline vent shaft, and the twin mixed-face tunnels. This paper concentrates on the mixed-face tunnels which extend from Station 99+67.03 (O.B.) to Station 102+49.00 (O.B.) at the southern end of the section. Since the completion of the design of this project, the Laurens Street section has been renamed the Upton Station. (See Figures 1 and 2). SUBSURFACE INVESTIGATIONS At early stages, three preliminary studies were performed by the General Soils Consultant (Ref. 1, 2, & 3). The purpose of the first study was to ascertain the generalized geological and subsurface conditions which might be encountered in the region. No borings were performed for this study. A limited number of test borings were performed for the second study, which included subsurface data for the Northwest and South Lines of the Transit System. Three borings were

Jan 1, 1981

By Ned M. Smith

The Mississippian Salem Limestone, from which dimension stone is quarried in Indiana, is principally a calcarenitic rock formed of fossil bryozoans, echinoderms, and specimens of Endothyra. Numerical associations of the fossils, binding materials, oölitically coated fossils, and voids were determined by counting points on the surfaces of 278 thin sections of the limestone. Median sizes, coefficients of sorting, and skewness numbers were computed from measurements made of constituents in these thin sections. Many other samples and numerous exposures of the Salem and contiguous parts of adjacent formations also were studied. The organisms that furnished the skeletal material for formation of the Salem Limestone were chiefly gregarious and communal. Salem rocks are formed of nearly whole skeletons, of dismembered or slightly damaged skeletons, and of skeletons thoroughly ground up, because currents in the Salem sea varied in their ability to move and damage these materials. Locally the sediments are of uniform grain size because of sorting by currents and because related organisms grew to similar sizes. Rocks of the formation contain different proportions of the fauna both because the animals lived in these proportions and because their skeletons were mixed together by currents. The proportional relationships between members of the fauna were constant locally and for short periods of time. Study and mapping of the faunal associations, numbers of oölitically coated fossils, bedding structures, and size parameters enables geologists to suggest sedimentologic histories and sequences in areas of various sizes. Interpretations based upon such areal studies are necessary for evaluation of the dimension-stone potential within the Salem Limestone.

Jan 1, 1966

By S. Zendejas-Mendivil, E. Pérez-Segura

The Cananea porphyry copper-deposit is the site of the second largest mining operation in Mexico. Mineralization is related to quartz-monzonite Laramide stocks that intrude volcanic and volcaniclastic Mesozoic rocks. The ore deposit is a stockwork and breccia-pipes system with Cu-Mo sulfides and pervasive quartz-sericite hydrothermal alteration. A study was made of the arsenic distribution in the mine and the ore-dressing plants. The arsenic (As) in the mine is related to a feldspathic quartz-porphyry type rock associated mainly with the breccia pipe structures (100-700 ppm As in the Veta 7 Breccia). There is vertical zoning, with As decreasing in the deepest part of the breccias. This As mineralization corresponds to a later sulfide hydrothermal stage. The concentrates are made of Cu, Fe and Mo sulfides and some minor quantities of As minerals. The most important copper minerals are chalcocite-covellite, bornite and chalcopyrite. Some of these minerals have 390-880 ppm As. The main As mineral is enargite[ [Cu2.97Fe0.06(As0.90 Sb0.01Pb0 01 )0.92 S4 051 and there are traces of stibioluzonite-luzonite I Cu, .95(Aso.4vSbu.49)0.9rfS4.07-Cu2 93(Aso.H4Sba.10)0.94S4.13] and of another stibioluzonite mineral type with substitution of As by Bi[Cu,96(Ascr,,'Sb0ccrB'OJ3jI~6S] These minerals contribute 80% of the As in the concentrates.

Jan 1, 1992

By Ananda M. Wijesinghe

The manuscript of this paper was not available for publication when the Proceedings went to press. Should the author elect, he may distribute copies at the time of the Symposium.

Jan 1, 1986

By Harry Sutcliffe

The paper discusses the nature of mixed face tunneling and suggests courses of action in planning, exploration, design and contract conditions to minimize problems inherent in this type of excavation.

Jan 1, 1981

By C. DeW. Van Siclen

A simple mathematical description of the settling behavior of monosized particle suspensions is derived by consideration of the physical processes involved, and applied to data recently published in this journal.

Jan 1, 1995

By Dominigue Francois-Bongarcon

This paper presents a step by step vulgarized review of the applications of geostatistics to the estimation of the mineable, recoverable reserves of the Cinola gold deposit in British Columbia.

Jan 1, 1988

The following list is a representative sample of the types of software available to the mining industry. For additional information concerning software packages for your minicomputer, contact equipment manufacturers or software suppliers.

Jan 11, 1981

By Matthew J. Hrebar

A comparison of hydraulic shovels (HS) versus front-end loaders (FEL) is commonly made when an excavator with some degree of mobility and medium reach is required. These applications are often found in hard rock open pit and surface coal mining applications, among others. The purpose of this paper is to present a comparative economic study of the two excavators. Production data was collected from both HS and FEL manufacturers as well as operating mines. Availability, operating costs, and estimated operating life were gathered from operating mines, while capital costs were obtained from manufacturers. The data was limited to studies and operations which included both types of mid-size excavators. The economic study is followed by a discussion of other factors considered by mine operators in excavator selection. The study was originally made for a presentation at the 23rd Intermountain Minerals Conference at Vail, CO.

Jan 1, 1992

By Paul D. Tomlingson

Editor's note: This is the second of two articles on maintenance. Part one: "Downsizing maintenance to improve performance: Defining the downsizing task," appeared in the September issue of MINING ENGINEERING, pp. 1065-1066. Part one explained that downsizing must he an organizational change in which the mine moves to a more efficient, smaller maintenance organization. But the new, smaller organization must operate more productively. Determine initial reduction targets Reduce the workload - The initial reduction target can be determined by projecting manpower reduction as a result of discontinuing or deferring work. Start these reductions by not replacing personnel who retire or are disabled. Observe the right craft mix during this initial reduction. Improve productivity - Further reductions can come from better productivity. But achieving the higher productivity level will require a year or more. During this transition, the efficiencies of a well-defined program and a team organization must take hold.

Jan 1, 1994

By D. Marinakis

Gas hydrates (GH) are crystalline compounds consisting of a water molecule lattice, in the cages of which suitably sized molecules, such as methane or other light hydrocarbons, are confined. Although this solid phase looks similar to common ice, it contains substantial amounts of natural gas. The necessary conditions for natural gas hydrate formation exist in some deep-sea marine environments and in permafrost regions. Despite the extensive research, which has been conducted in the fields of exploration and exploitation of natural gas hydrate deposits over the last decades, there is still great uncertainty over the estimated amount of hydrates that these reserves bear. The present work examines some key features of sediments which affect their capacity to host gas hydrates. The hydrate content of a natural hydrate formation is correlated qualitatively with factors such as temperature, effective porosity, mineralogical composition, bio-surfactants, pore pressure and compaction pressure.

Jan 1, 2006

By Cherie M. Tilley

The Stillwater Mining Company has acquired a Tunnel Boring Machine to expedite the mine development operations at its Stillwater Mine. The machine purchased by Stillwater was previously owned by Melbourne Metropolitan Board of Works, Melbourne, Australia. The machine was manufactured by Robbins Co. of Kent, Washington. The Stillwater Mine has an extensive system of footwall laterals which are required by the mine development scheme. The initial mine plan called for in excess of 30,500 linear meters (100,000 linear feet) of footwall lateral drifts at a cross section of approximately 3.0 meters in width by 3.75 meters in height (10 feet x 12 feet). A Tunnel Boring Machine was selected for this work. The Robbins machine number is 146-193. This machine is approximately 4 meters (13 feet 5 inches) in diameter. The machine was modified extensively prior to commencing operation at the Stillwater Mine.

Jan 1, 1989

By A. A. Kornyshev, M. Burstein, S. T. Hall

The surface "roughness" of mineral particles has long been known to influence the fundamental process of particle-bubble attachment and other subprocesses in froth flotation. The physical nature of the surface of fine mineral particles can be analysed by determining their fractal geometry. A number of techniques are available to measure the fractal properties of mineral particles, these include gas adsorption, mercury porosimetry, neutron or X- ray scattering and image analysis. From the resultant Richardson plots or their Fourier-space analogs, the fractal dimension of flotation feed and product samples can be determined. Textural characteristics of particles have an influence on the stability of 3-phase flotation froths and the selectivity of recovery in the froth. Decrease of the equilibrium froth height for particles of higher fractal dimensions was experimentally established. The induction time of quartz particles of different fractal geometry has also been studied.

Jan 1, 1995

By Half Zantop

While the Andean belt of Chile contains porphyry copper deposits of considerable economic importance, only one major and several minor deposits of this type have been discovered in neighboring Argentina. There are no obvious geologic reasons for the country's apparent paucity of important porphyry copper deposits. Instead, a lack of exploration because of poor accessibility and past inadequate mining legislation may partly account for this situation. Western Argentina has porphyry copper prospects ranging in age from late Paleozoic to Pliocene. Many of these prospects have host rock and alteration characteristics that are very similar to those of large Chilean deposits. The economic potential of many of these prospects has not been tested adequately by geoehemical, geophysical, or chilling programs. A recently enacted mining promotion law and updated mining code removes some past exploration obstacles in Argentina, and makes in-depth exploration and evaluation of' the county's porphyry copper potential attractive.

Jan 2, 1981

By J. David Lowell

The discovery of the Kalamazoo (Arizona) ore body was a comedy of errors and coincidences and luck -as most discoveries probably are. The story began in early 1965 when Quintana Petroleum decided to diversify from petroleum into minerals and decided to do this by the route of minerals exploration. Quintana Petroleum is owned by the Cullen family of Houston and has Geen successful over the years in discovering oilfields. In 1965, the president and general manager was Corbin J. Robertson, son-in-law of Harry Cullen, founder of the company and a famous Texas wildcatter. But, in 1965, Quintana's financial advisors suggested that the company go into several mineral commodities, including copper, with Tucson, AZ, as the jumping-off point for copper exploration, and with a geological consultant (me) as the point man. The stage was now set! (See Fig. 1, location map of the San Manuel District, Arizona.)

Jan 1, 1991

By Gregg E. Korbin, Robin B. Dill, Corey T. Dare, Tor L. Brekke, Larry R. Myer

A study was conducted to develop a fundamental understanding of the relationship between the size of an advancing tunnel face, the rate of excavation, and stand-up time in squeezing ground. Stand-up time is defined as the time elapsed after excavation that an unsupported tunnel face will remain stable. Squeezing ground is argillaceous rock or soil that exhibits pronounced time dependence of deformation and strength properties in-situ. A case history study documented the nature, causes, and solutions of several cases of stand-up time problems observed in the field. Then, in the laboratory, a series of physical model tests were performed in which model tunnel size, face advance rate, material properties, and pressure (representing overburden pressure) were varied. Stand-up time was found to increase as advance rate was increased or tunnel size decreased. In addition, an influence of advance rate on the definition of stability ratios was established.

Jan 1, 1981

By H. L. Ford

Flocculant testing should be initiated for economic or performance reasons. When the decision has been made to test, the laboratory can provide valuable information concerning the various products under consideration. Properly conducted laboratory tests can determine: 1. If two flocculants are needed to achieve clarity or density. 2. Ease of mixing. 3. How quickly the material goes into solution. 4. Stability of prepared f locculant solution. 5. Stability of the floc formed. 6. Amount of mixing required for proper floe formation. 7. Optimum flocculant concentration. 8. Optimum pulp density. 9. Approximate location of the point of addition. 10. Single or multiple addition points. When a flocculant shows promise in the laboratory, a plant test should be scheduled. During the plant trial, arrange for normal conditions and start testing with a crew that is most familiar with the unit operation where the flocculant will be applied.

Jan 1, 1986