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By J. Bigu

A theoretical radiation mine model, suitable for underground uranium nines, has been investigated. In this model, the rate of ventilation and/or the radon (thoron) gas emanation from mine walls are time-dependent. Several cases of practical interest have been investigated including sinusoidal, linear, exponential, stepwise, or a combination of two or more of the above. Analytical solutions were obtained for the time-dependent radon (thoron) gas emanation rate. However, because of the extreme analytical complexity of the solutions corresponding to the time-dependent ventilation rate case, numerical solutions were found using a special Runge-Kutta procedure and the Hamming's modified predictor-corrector method for the solution of linear initial-value problems. The mine model makes provisions for losses of radioactivity, other than by ventilation and radioactive decay, by, say, plate-out on mine walls, and by other mechanisms. Radioactivity data, i.e., radon, thoron, and their progeny. obtained with the above mine model for a number of ventilation and emanation conditions, are presented. Experimental data obtained in an inactive stope of an underground uranium mine for a time-dependent air flow case are shown. Air flow conditions (ventilation rate) were determined by tracer gas techniques using SF6.

Jan 1, 1987

By W. J. Adamson

Strategic Data Planning (SDP) is an emerging technique for the analysis and design of information systems. This paper describes the use of strategic data planning in the formulation of a complete integrated set of mining technical systems for the Koolan Island iron ore mine. Applications covered include hydrogeology, geology, mine planning, surveying, quality control, laboratory and mine production recording. Koolan Island is 13 kilometres long and 5.5 kilometres wide at its widest point. Its sole industry is an open pit iron ore mine of 3 million tonnes annual capacity, owned and operated by BHP Minerals. Some of the production is used by BHP Steel International, but most is exported. The orebody is steeply dipping and is mined bench by bench. Outturn grades for run-of-mine product are iron 66.5%, silica 3.0%, alumina 1.0%. Computer systems are run on Data General equipment, currently an MV10000. Computer applications, which are shared across mine sites, are developed and maintained by BHP Information Systems in BHP's Melbourne Office.

Jan 1, 1986

By Arthur C. Pincomb, Alan R. Shapiro

A public awareness of and commitment to abate pollution of water, air, and soil continues to stimulate demand for industrial minerals and rocks capable of neutralizing strong and weak acids. The role of acid neutralizing agents is 1) to treat acidified water and soil until the desired pH is attained and 2) to remove acid-forming compounds from industrial processes to mitigate the formation of acidic discharges. Environmental applications for these agents include: acid rain mitigation, neutralization and prevention of acidic industrial process discharges, and treatment of acid mine drainage and coal refuse. Desulfurization of industrial flue gases involves removal of sulfate compounds capable of combining with hydrogen to form acids. Details of flue gas desulfurization are covered in the previous chapter on Flue Gas Desulfurization. Ideally, the neutralization of acids results in an upward adjustment of effluent pH 7, or neutrality. The final pH value for many acid treated wastes, especially industrial discharge streams, is commonly over neutralized to pH 8.5 to 9.5. The Clean Water Act sets the upper discharge limit at pH 9. ACID NEUTRALIZATION REAGENTS Acid neutralization is accomplished by adding alkali metal and alkaline earth metal compounds to acidic water or soil until the desired pH is attained. The commonly used alkali ions are calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), and potassium (K). Sodium hydroxide, high calcium and dolomitic hydrate, high calcium and dolomitic lime (quicklime), high calcium and dolomitic limestone, soda ash, and magnesium oxide are the compounds most commonly applied to raise the pH of acidic waters or soils. Limestone and dolomitic limestone, which are calcium and magnesium carbonates, and their equivalent oxides and hydrates formed by calcination, are the industrial materials most commonly used in the manufacture of reagents for acid neutralization. Approximately 327 kt of high calcium and dolomitic lime were consumed for acid neutralization purposes in 1988. Magnesite and brucite are industrial minerals that compete with dolomitic limestone for the magnesium-oxide market. Production of caustic calcined magnesia for neutralization purposes exceeded 6 kt in 1990. Soda ash is an industrial mineral gaining increased acceptance in the neutralization of acid waste discharges. Approximately 182 kt of soda ash were consumed in 1990 for acid waste treatment or acid prevention by flue gas desulfurization. Other mineral products either consumed in minor quantities or receiving attention as future neutralizing agents include zeolite and hectorite. In some cases, waste products have been found to be suitable and cost effective for neutralization of acids. Common wastes gaining acceptance include basic slag, phosphate mining refuse, cement kiln dust, fly ash, and mine tailings.

Jan 1, 1994

By D. W. Fuerstenau

The flotation behavior of quartz in the presence of alkyl ammonium acetates as a. function of alkyl chain length has been interpreted in terms of hemi-micelle formation at the solid-liquid interface. The van der Waals cohesive free energy that is responsible for hemi-micelle formation has been found from these results to be 1.02 kT per CH group. This 2 is in excellent agreement with literature values obtained from research on the properties of micelles in bulk systems.

Jan 1, 1964

By Kevin Schraden, Andrea Pezzi

environmental and social/political changes the world is currently experiencing. Three of major challenges facing the mining industry today are: water scarcity, unpredictable weather conditions that generate a risk of tailings dam failures as well as the correlating social pressure and government regulations that prevent the development of new or expanded tailings dam projects. It is estimated the total number of active, inactive and closed storage facilities globally is over 8,500 containing over 217 km3 of tailings (46% are from copper mining)1 which at some point will need to be addressed. Technologically, there are several solutions for tailings management, including conventional ponds, thickened tails, paste backfill and filtered dry stack tailings. The use of pressure filters, for tailings dewatering is currently being evaluated and often selected as the preferred technology where dry stacking is the chosen solution for residue disposal. This is mainly due to the pressure filters ability and flexibility to address and achieve the current challenging aspects of tailings processing including: • Extremely high capacities of >80,000 dry tons/day • Lower ore grades which require finer grinding and result in a higher amount fine fractions and clay content • Residual moisture targets required for the geotechnical specifications for dry stacking

Feb 1, 2024

By J. A. Herbst, L. B. Hales, R. Zaragoza

INTRODUCTION The Control Problem The need for automatic control in flotation plants stems from frequent and randomly occurring disturbances to the feed slurry. Typical disturbances occur in the solids feedrate, the slurry percent sol ids, and the mineralogy and flotability of the gangue and valuable minerals. In plants where semi -autogenous grinding mills (SAG) are used, feedrate changes are very large and changes in feed percent solids of 1m or more are common. Mineralogy changes between valuable minerals are common, as are changes in the host gangue rock. As these changes occur, the operator can attempt to compensate for them by making adjustments to the flotation cell levels, the dosage rates of the collectors and frothers, the pH, and in some cases the aeration rate of the cells. This problem is sometimes complicated by the fact that different sections of the flotation plant will be processing different ore types at the same time. Potential Savings with Control Flotation control brings about savings or plant improvements in two areas; the first is in improved metallurgy and the second is in reagent savings. Improved metallurgy includes increases in the average plant recovery and achieves target concentrate grade level s more consistently. Average recovery increases between 1.0 and 5.0 percentage points have been widely reported (Paakkinen, 1979; Sutherland, 1984). Reagent savings of up to 40 percent have also been reported (Hales, 1985). VARIABLES OF IMPORTANCE Control led, Manipulated, and Disturbance Variables The initial step in the analysis of the flotation control problem is identification of important variables which can affect the efficiency of separation. The efficiency of separation is represented by a group of controlled variables which can quantify the performance of a flotation circuit. This group includes variables such as grade, recovery, tonnage through- put, and circulating loads. The efficiency of separation of a flotation circuit may generally be defined by a grade recovery map, where each point on this map re- presents a set of operating conditions (see Figure 1). However, the combination of operating conditions must be set to operate close to the economic optimum. The group of operating variables which are changed in order to achieve desired circuit performance are called manipulated variables and can be classified into two

Jan 1, 1986

By S. Bassignani, D. Ippolito

In Italy at the moment there is a program which involves for the future the exploitation of two uranium mines which are now in the research stage. About one hundred and fifty workers are at present employed in those facilities. An health physics surveillance program is under way and has been designed to fulfill the requirements due to the future exploitation of the two mines. A complete evaluation of the total dose (external + internal) received by the workers will be given together with a detailed analyses of the technical methods employed for such evaluations. The external doses are evaluated on the basis of individual TLD dosimeters, while the evaluation of the internal doses is mainly due to an enviromental survillance program of the radon and radon daughter air concentration inside the mines. The criteria established for the assessment of the sampling procedures, sampling intervals and dose evaluation related to the radon doughter exposure are reported. The external dose received by the workers are lower than 0.2 m Sv~month and the internal exposure less than 6.4 IO-3 J.h.m-3 /year or using the old units 2 WLM/year.

Jan 1, 1981

By T. B. Acton

There are two types of ore transportation systems in use at Newmont's Magma Copper Co. San Manuel mine in Arizona-rail-mounted, box-type rotary cars and the newer rail-mounted, bottom-dumping ASEA cars. Though the cost per car for the ASEA units greatly exceeds the cost per rotary car, the advantages of the ASEA units, including much faster dump times, have made the ASEA system a successful alternative at the San Manuel mine. The rotary system of ore transportation has been in use at San Manuel since production began in 1956. The system employs 7.9-m3 box-type cars to transport ore by rail to shaft pocket areas. A rotating dumping mechanism turns three cars at a time upside down to empty them, and returns them to an upright position. Trains of 15 cars each are dumped in about six minutes. Each 15-car train is pulled by an 18-t rated trolley locomotive. There are about 400 rotary cars in service at San Manuel and the system is used for the majority of ore haulage. This well-proven rotary method was instrumental in achieving the December 1977 world record of 272 Mt hoisted from an underground copper mine. Magma Copper Co. began using ASEA cars in late 1977. Designed by ASEA of Sweden, the cars are built for San Manuel by Kasper-Hall Manufacturing Co. in Tucson. The cars basic design feature is a hinged floor that opens at the side as the car is pulled through the dump. As it passes over the dump, a fifth wheel attached to the hinged floor (opposite the hinges) travels along a rail in the dump. This rail dips down into the pocket and then returns to track level. As the fifth wheel travels along the rail, the car floor opens, the car dumps, and the floor is then returned to track level. As the car is dumping, the body remains suspended over the pocket by wheel rollers attached to each side of the dump. Trains of 10 cars each are emptied in about 45-50 seconds. Each ASEA train is pulled by an 18-t rated trolley locomotive, adapted at San Manuel to allow it to pass through the ASEA dump. At minimal cost, "wings" are welded to each side of the locomotive. These wings suspend the locomotive over the pocket as the train passes through the dump. Advantages of the ASEA System Major design characteristics of the ASEA and rotary systems are shown in the accompanying table. The comparison points out some of the following advantages demonstrated by the ASEA system. • Faster dumping-An ASEA train dumps in 50 seconds, while a rotary train takes at least six minutes. There is no stopping or starting when dumping an ASEA train. The train enters the dump area, dumps, and leaves in one continuous motion-in contrast to rotary trains which must stop and start five times to dump. With the rotary system, three cars are spotted in the dump mechanism by remote control. When the cars are in place, the train operator activates the dump, the cars are turned over, and then returned to an upright position. This process is repeated until all 15 cars in the train are emptied.

Jan 4, 1980

By Hubert E. Sherer

The mining industry is presently one of the most heavily capitalized industries in the U.S. (U.S. - Statistical Abstracts, 1979). U.S. sales of new mining equipment (not including environmental, preparation, or long distance transportation equipment) are projected to reach approximately $5 billion/year in 1980 (Frost and Sullivan, 1979). Of these new equipment sales approximately 30 to 40 percent of this equipment will be used to replace old equipment. Therefore, an increase of efficiency in the use of equipment replacement capital could have substantially positive effects for the U.S. mining industry. This is very critical in these times of restricted capital availability, double digit inflation, burdensome governmental regulation, and rising foreign competition in the mining industry. This paper examines the numerous factors that constitute the typical mine equipment replacement problem. A computerized, mathematical model is formulated to utilize historic cost and production information to predict equipment cost versus age for the existing and potential replacement machines. Another part of this computerized model determines the best equipment replacement strategy that accomplishes estimated production goals at a minimum discounted cost. This computerized model is an easily used, consistent method of determining the optimum replacement age for any equipment unit or fleet of equipment at a mining operation.

Jan 1, 1982

By A. L. Frank, Benton

INTRODUCTION The selective sensitivity of plastic nuclear track detectors (PNTD's) to low energy 4He particles in an environment which also contains gamma and beta radiations has made these detectors prime candidates for the dosimetric measurement of the concentrations of radon and its daughter products in mine air. Their passive, integrating mode of measurement, small size, low weight and inexpensiveness are attractive characteristics for large scale personnel dosimetry. The detectors can be used in either active or passive dosimeters. In active devices, the PNTD is placed in close proximity to a sampling filter. The filter collects, from a calibrated air flow, all the daughter nuclei which are in suspension. As the daughter nuclei pass through the decay chain, through 214Po, a fraction of the 4He particles emitted are registered as latent tracks in the plastic. In passive devices, the PNTD is placed in direct contact with the ambient air containing the radio-nuclei concentrations to be determined. The active dosimeters have the advantage of excellent sensitivity, and the measured track densities yield very close approximations to accumulated Working Level (WL)** exposures. They have the disadvantage that the simplicity of the passive PNTD is lost, since a battery-driven constant flow-rate air pump is a necessity. The passive dosimeters are simple in construction and use, but they have the disadvantage that WL exposures are not directly measured and certain assumptions concerning radon and daughter equilibrium conditions must be made in determining WL exposures from the measured track densities. Also the sensitivities, in track densities per Working Level Hour (WLH) exposure, are much less than for active dosimeters. Dosimeters of both types have been investigated. Passive devices have been tested extensively both in the laboratory and in mines. Active devices have been laboratory tested. In our earlier measurements, cellulose nitrate plastic detectors were used exclusively, since this material had the highest sensitivity of the PNTD's then in use. When the properties of CR-39 plastic were discovered (Cartwright, 1978; Cassou and Benton, 1978), this material was used, where possible, to take advantage of its superior sensitivity. The results of our earlier work have previously been published (Frank and Benton, 1977). * Research sponsored by the Bureau of Mines, U.S. Department of Interior, under Contract No. JO-188003. ** A Working Level is defined as any combination of the short-lived radon daughters containing 1.3 x 105 MeV of potential 4He-particle energy per liter of ambient air. PASSIVE DOSIMETRY In the earliest testing of PNTD's for passive WL dosimetry, a single strip of cellulose nitrate plastic was used to determine the total cumulative 4He-particle activity in the air of simulated uranium mine and uranium mine environments (Rock, 1968; Rock [et al], 1969; White, 1969). The measurements yielded a close relationship between track densities and WL exposures in a controlled, static environment, but poor accuracy in the active mine tests. It was assumed that equilibrium differences contributed largely to the variations found. The response of PNTD's to airborne 4He-particle emitters, derived by Lovett (1969), demonstrated that detectors such as cellulose nitrate, which has a sensitivity cutoff at 4He-particle energies below the emission energies of radon and its daughters, are equally sensitive to the activity concentrations of radon, 218po(RaA) and 214Po(RaC'). Since radon does not contribute to WL as it is defined, and since, under normal ventilated uranium mine conditions, the radon activity constitutes about 40% to 70% of the total 4He-particle activity, the WL exposures calculated from measured track densities are very sensitive to the particular radon daughter equilibrium conditions. Also, the detector does not weight the individual daughter activities in proportion to their importance to WL. The equation for WL is WL = 0.00103C2 + 0.00507C3 + 0.00373C4 (1) where C2, C3 and C4 are the activity concentrations of RaA, RaB and RaC-C', respectively, in pCi/[L]. The detector leaves C3 unmeasured and weights C2 and C4, equally. [This problem has been approached by Domanski et al (1975, 1979), for some non-uranium mines, by measuring equilibrium conditions throughout the mines to determine a mean value for A, the inverse of the Working Level Ratio (WLR = 100 WL where C1 is the activity of radon-222 in pCi/[L].) The distribution of values allowed Domanski to determine probable errors in calculating WL exposures from track densities. However, measurements of equilibrium conditions in U.S. uranium mines (Breslin et al, 1969; Holub and Droullard, 1978) indicate that this method would not be accurate enough for uranium miner personal dosimetry.] A two-element dosimeter was designed at our laboratory to compensate for equilibrium variations. The first element is a radon detector; the second is a detector for the total 4He-particle activity in the ambient air, just as in the single element dosimeters cited above. The addition of the radon detector allows the equilibrium conditions for the individual nuclei to be determined, given certain assumptions concerning the interrelationships between the nuclei concentrations in mine air. The two detectors and the problems involved in calculating WL exposures from their measurements are discussed below.

Jan 1, 1981

By Kazuya Naito, Nobuyuki Okamoto, Natsumi Kamiya

JOGMEC (Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation) became the first entity to sign an exploration contract for Cobalt-rich Ferromanganese Crusts (Crusts) with the ISA (the International Seabed Authority). The contract was signed on 27 January 2014, and 15 years exclusive rights for exploration activities had started in the contracted area, located in the North-Western Pacific Ocean. JOGMEC had already conducted basic scientific surveys around the contracted area from 1987 to 2012. Activities by JOGMEC that will be undertaken during the first 5 years of the contract include examination of geological and acoustic surveys, environmental baselines surveys, and undertaking basic studies of R&D in mining, processing, and smelting technologies. Geological surveys will include analysis of rock core samples, using BMS (Benthic Multi-coring System). Deep-towed TV Camera will be used to estimate the distribution of crusts deposit and to get basic environmental data of deep-sea megabenthos. Water sampling, marine sediment sampling, and installation of mooring systems on the seafloor will also be conducted as a part of environmental surveys.

Sep 1, 2014

By Thomas C. Shrake

The Lomas Bayas copper property is located93 km (58 miles) east of Antofagasta, Region II, Chile (Fig. 1). The deposit was discovered in 1880. The deposit produced intermittently until 1992. Production at Lomas Bayas took place in high-grade veins and breccias mined underground. During 1991, Empresa Minera Mantos Blancos SA (EMMB) optioned the property from Compania Doña Ada SA. Doña Ada maintained the right to continue mining the ores by open-pit and block-caving methods and hauling the ore to its plant located60 km (37 miles) to the north. EMMB conducted exploration and column test programs. On May 9, 1994, Compania Minera Gibraltar Ltda.(CMGL) signed a purchase option agreement to acquire the Lomas Bayas property. CMGL conducted 8,612 m(9,490 ft) of reverse-circulation drilling, 2,028 m (6,650ft) of diamond drilling, a series of metallurgical tests and geologic mapping. The company then decided to exercise its purchase option.

Jan 1, 1996

By B. L. Bessinger

Because of a, work stoppage at the Carlsbad plant, IMC faced the challenge of operating a 24-hour-a-day mine and plant with inexperienced maintenance and production crews. This is an underground mining operation, using the room-and-pillar mining- method. The mine was entirely, mechanized with conventional equipment, was hoisting an average of 13,539 tons off ore per 24 hours, and employed a, mine maintenance group of 100 men. The 100-man, mine maintenance group was equally divided between mechanics and electricians. In re-forming this maintenance group, two main objectives were to be achieved (1) a general upgrading off the intelligence level; and (2) the elimination of craft lines for greater flexibility.

Jan 1, 1966

By Ross W. Smith

In recent years there has been a considerable amount of research work done relative to the effect of pretreatment and aging in water on the surface properties of both simple metal oxides and more complex oxides such as the silicate minerals 1-6. Of particular interest is the work of Somasundaran6 who states that after preparing minerals by size reduction and washing with dilute acids "... it is essential to treat it (the mineral) with water in order to remove any effects of leaching itself." Somasundaran also states, "... it is advisable to use a solution close to the point of zero charge for conditioning purposes." Parksl notes that, "Dehydration, dehydroxylation, and increased crystallinity can be expected to decrease the PZC. The presence of anionic impurities or of pH-independent potential determining ions will decrease the PZC. Cationic species will increase the PZC." Healy and Jellett4 believe that in the Zn0-water system "the surface charge of Zn0 in water and each pH is determined by the concentration and adsorption of each hydrolyzed (charged and uncharged) Zn(II) species." Finally, according to Parks 2, "The PZC of an unaltered com¬plex oxide in a system devoid of specific electrolytes is approximately the average of the PZC's of its component oxides... Equilibration with water results in loss of mono and divalent cations by exchange with H+, thus a loss of influence on the PZC by those cations, i.e., a shift in the PZC with time in the direction of that remaining oxide. The present paper investigates the change of point of zero charge (PZC) of a number of simple oxides and several complex oxides as a function of aging time in water. In some cases acid pretreatment of minerals was performed. However, in most cases the minerals were not acid pretreated. In several systems pH change as a function of aging time in water was monitored.

Jan 1, 1972

By Brian J. Gorva

The key objective of forming a cartel is to increase profits to members of the cartel by taking the following action: a) control output; and b) control price. However, while attempting to obtain monopoly profits the cartel members have to contend with costs associated with cartelization and such costs include the following: political costs; the cost of coordinating output and price; organizational costs (such as cheating); and administrative costs (such as the cost of attending cartel meetings). The objective of commodity exchanges is to provide an open, free market where buyers and sellers may openly complete transactions and pricing information can be immediately disseminated. These transactions include the following: a) to provide facilities for "hedging", or transferring price risk from buyers and sellers of physical commodities to "speculators" through the medium of buying and selling futures contracts, and b) taking physical delivery of metal on due dates.

Jan 1, 1983

By J. J. Robertson, D. M. Polizzotti

Cement is used as an established agglomerating agent in gold heap leaching operations to maintain heap permeability and prevent migration of fines. In addition to agglomeration, cement provides protective alkalinity control. However, the amount of cement needed for agglomeration is usually very different from the amount necessary for pH control. As a result, cement is usually added in excess. Overdose of cement can result in reduced gold recovery and/or lengthy detoxification. Betz Laboratories has identified polymeric agents that provide the benefits of cement without negatively impacting gold recovery when used alone or with lime. Independent laboratory tests also strongly suggest that the polymer/lime system can significantly reduce heap detoxification time.

Jan 1, 1992

By Carlon C. Chambers

INTRODUCTION Manufacturer sponsored research over the past three years has proven the suitability of styrene-butadiene/ asphalt membranes in many waste disposal seepage control applications for the mining industry in general and uranium mining and milling in particular. The class of membranes that have been tested are SBR/asphalt blends containing up to 68 weight percent asphalt, the balance being elastomeric polymers, fillers and phase compatibility promoters. These membranes are classified as thermoplastic, elastomeric materials and can be hot spray applied to any moderately dry substrate at 177°C (350°F), and placed in service within one hour of application. The properties of this membrane that make it suitable for use as an engineering_ material in these applications are discussed. These properties include chemical resistance, bacterial resistance, UV light resistance, permeability, stress/strain characteristics and bonding data. The favorable economics of the system are also discussed. The preliminary raw test data on the above properties were reported in a previous paper, (Chambers, 1980) and most will not be repeated here. Instead, this report considers the original data in relation to subsequent data and concentrates on interpretation of the trends for engineering purposes. However, several of the pictures contained in the original paper are reproduced in this report for illustration purposes. BACKGROUND Asphalt alone has a long history of use as a water-stop material. Its limitations of becoming brittle when cold and soft when hot, however, are well recognized. The service temperature for common grades of asphalt is usually in the 4° to 49°C (40° to 120° F) range. Modifications to the base asphalt can generally improve its performance at the high end of the temperature range by raising its softening point, but only the addition of one class of modifiers, elastomeric polymers, improves low temperature flexibility as well and also adds resilience. Both of these properties are of extreme importance if the waterstop material is to maintain its integrity when used on substrates which are unstable, non-cohesive, discontinuous or have significant expansion/constraction coefficients. Although there are many elastomeric polymers which can be used with

Jan 1, 1980

By John C. Balla

The Troy deposit is located in northwestern Montana, approximately 17 mi south of Troy. The deposit is a stratiform, strata- bound, copper-silver deposit which occurs in the Revett formation of the Proterozoic Belt Supergroup. The Revett formation is approximately 1730 ft thick in the vicinity of the Troy deposit, and is divisible into three units. The upper Revett, approximately 250 ft thick, is the host for the orebody. The Revett represents a deltaic environment. The Troy deposit was discovered by Bear Creek Mining Company in 1 963 during the course of a reconnaissance stream sediment sampling program that was designed to discover strata-bound copper deposits. The deposit is approximately 7500 ft long, 1800 ft wide, and averages 60 ft thick. It is bounded on the north by outcrop, on the east by a post-mineral fault, on the south by diminishing grade and post-mineral faults, and on the west by diminishing grade. Ore reserves are 64 million tons with a grade of 0.76% Cu and 1.58 oz Ag per ton. The mine is presently operating at a production rate of 4.2 million oz of silver and 20,000 tons of copper per year.

Jan 1, 2013

By R. Hogg, E. Kaya, H. Cho

Investigations were performed on fine grinding of bituminous coal in a laboratory-scale pulverizer. The results indicated that the breakage behavior at relatively coarse sizes (i.e., greater than about 20 µm) is essentially "normal." However, at fine sizes (i.e., less than about 10 m), there is clear evidence of reagglomeration. A simplified population-balance model for simultaneous growth and breakage is formulated. Breakage rates and breakage distributions were assumed to follow the patterns typically observed in simple grinding systems. It is recognized, however, that solid particles and agglomerates may exhibit different breakage behaviors. Agglomeration rates are assumed to be determined by contact probability, i.e., by the relative numbers of interacting particles. Based on comparisons between model simulations and experimental data, it appears that agglomerate rebreakage rates and fragment size distributions are quite different from those for solid particles. The result is that product size passes through a minimum and then increases with time as agglomeration begins to dominate.

Jan 1, 1998

By D. L. Petersen, C. R. Nelson, B. K. Nelson, B. D. Wagener

The Lafayette Bluff tunnel, currently under construction for the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), will be among the widest highway tunnels in the United States. The 199-meter tunnel is being constructed in a closely jointed, variably weathered diabase rock mass. Cover above the tunnel crown ranges from 4 meters to 27 meters, and is less than the tunnel excavated width of 18.3 meters for about 60 percent of its length. These factors dictated special support and lining design, limitations on excavation sizes and required sequences for support installation. Tunnel excavation is by controlled blasting, with multiple top headings and bench. Rock support and lining consists of external portal beams, rockbolts and reinforced shotcrete. A final concrete lining provides structural support for the rock mass and the membrane waterproofing system.

Jan 1, 1991