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By Byron K. nelson, David Mathieson

Until quite recently concentration of free gold in gravity circuits ahead of froth flotation and/or chemical treatment was considered an uneconomical pursuit in many gold pi.ants in Australia. Over the past 10 yenrs since initial introduction of the Knelson Gold Concentrator, over 600 hnvc been surpl led world wide and they have been developed to the stage that Lhey can now be utilised in almost all instances where free gold appears in significant quantltles ln grinding circuits. They out perform and displace more conventional gravity sepnration equipment such as spirals, tables, sluices, jigs, drum separators etc.

Jan 1, 1991

By Hans von Michaelis

Very little has been published about Cia de Minas Buena­ventura. Don Alberto Benavides Quintana, now in his seventies, founded the company in 1953. This venerable gentleman is a Doyon of the Peruvian mining industry and more has been known about him than about his company. Buenaventura is a highly profitable gold producer with excellent potential to expand gold production in joint ventures with Newmont, Southern Peru Copper (ASARCO), and BRGM as well by developing their own new gold mines. On September 15, The Wall Street Journal published an article titled "Peru's Big Rebound Sets Off Foreign Investors' Enthusiasm."

Jan 1, 1995

By H. S. Rathor

In a major hydropower project in the Himalayas, during excavation of tunnel, hydrothermal gradient line appeared and caused extremely unfavorable conditions with rock and water temperature varying between 55°–66°C and nearly 100% humidity. Major changes in method of excavation, schedule of works, deployment of additional equipments and acclimatization of personnel were made to complete this unfavorable stretch of world’s longest Head Race Tunnel. The case study covers the various aspects of tunneling in geothermal rocks, inhuman working conditions, loss of production, cost overrun, contractual claims and strategy to manage such unfavorable working conditions.

Jan 1, 2003

By D. D. Harbuck

The US Bureau of Mines investigated germanium and gallium extraction from an ore containing 0.089% Ge and 0.036% Ga. While previous researchers concluded that a reducing agent, such as SO2 is needed to extract germanium and gallium from such ore, this research showed that high extractions (87% Ge, 97% Ga) were possible using sulfuric acid alone, if the acid concentration were properly controlled. This control was achieved using a two-stage countercurrent leach circuit. Microprobe analyses revealed that the non-extracted germanium is in solid solution with quartz, and therefore cannot be leached with SO2 or sulfuric acid.

Jan 1, 1991

By J. C. Judd, D. D. Harbuck, M. D. Odekirk

The US Bureau of Mines investigated germanium and gallium extraction from an ore containing 0.089% Ge and 0.036% Ga. While previous researchers concluded that a reducing agent, such as SO2 is needed to extract germanium and gallium from such ore, this research showed that high extractions (87% Ge, 97% Ga) were possible using sulfuric acid alone, if the acid concentration were properly controlled. This control was achieved using a two-stage countercurrent leach circuit. Microprobe analyses revealed that the non-extracted germanium is in solid solution with quartz, and therefore cannot be leached with SO2 or sulfuric acid.

Jan 1, 1992

By C. R. Jenkins, G. S. Taylor

Three sedimentation ponds had their performance evaluated before and after installation of modifications. Each pond had a floating baffle installed, two had siphon outlets, and one had a floating outlet device. Baffles inhibited short circuiting, and the outlet devices retarded flow following a rainfall event and drained the pond, creating a large storage volume to maximize detention time. Total suspended solids and settleable solids tests were measured on samples of influent and effluent to evaluate pond performance. Particle size analyses were conducted on samples containing measurable amounts of solids. Performance improved in each pond, with baffles providing the major improvement.

Jan 1, 1987

By C. Alexander

Stillwater Mining Company is developing a second underground palladium and platinum mine approximately 21km (13 miles) west of their existing Nye operation in south central Montana. A 5650 meter (18,550-foot) tunnel is required to gain access to the ore bearing horizon (J-M Reef). Access and primary mine development can be accelerated through the use of two 4.6 meter (15-foot) diameter tunnelboring machines (TBM). One TBM was purchased new while the other was purchased used. Machine specifications, site support facilities, portal/launch chamber construction, TBM assembly, startup and operation are discussed in this paper.

Jan 1, 1999

By R. J. Wesely, A. D. Zunkel, Tracy B. Braun, Philip L. LeHoux

An overview of gold processing operations at Barneys Canyon Mine is presented with particular emphasis on ore agglomerating experience, leaching and metallurgical accounting practices, and carbon column plant operating approach. The mine, located thirty kilometers from downtown Salt Lake City, is just eight kilometers north of the Bingham Canyon copper mine. Mining was initiated in February 1989 and the first gold was poured in September 1989. Through year-end 1992, approximately 7 million tonnes of ore have been processed and 12,000 kg of gold have been produced. Gold recovery is in excess of 85 percent.

Jan 1, 1993

By D. C. McDonald, P. R. Whincup, H. Duke

Due to grade, overburden depth and stability and the presence of groundwater it was considered impractical to recover gold contained in unconsolidated palaeochannel sediments by conventional mining, dredging or borehole mining techniques. A series of field experiments was conducted to determine the feasibility of recovery of gold by in situ leaching from sediments located at a depth of about 80 metres. The test wellfield site and plant are described together with field test procedures, results and wellfield rehabilitation procedures. Choice of sodium cyanide as leachant and laboratory testing are discussed in relation to groundwater and sediment chemistry and problems encountered in field tests.

Jan 1, 1989

By J. M. Dean, R. L. Grayson, R. D. Begley, G. L. Winn

Evidence has accumulated indicating that cultural change toward safer workplace behaviors is beginning to occur systematically in the coal industry. Through a range of programmatic mining company successes, enforcement and litigative actions, economic responses to competition and integrated efforts by federal and state agencies, a broader participation of safety and training professionals is being achieved to address prioritized workplace problems at mines. Small steps in workplace-related improvements have been realized already, but the trends in industry safety statistics, coupled with focused programmatic initiatives, indicate that more definitive and systematic steps are occurring to improve safe behavior in the workplace routinely.

Jan 1, 1998

By R. L. Virta

Four companies mined ball clay in four states during 2005. They included H.C. Spinks Clay (owned by Franklin Minerals), Kentucky-Tennessee Clay (owned by Imerys), Old Hickory Clay and Unimin. Production was estimated to be 1.32 Mt (1.45 million st) valued at $53.3 million, based on the results of a preliminary survey of the ball clay industry. Production in 2004 was 1.22 Mt (1.34 million st) valued at $54.1 million. Tennessee was the leading ball clay producer state with 61 percent of domestic production, followed by Texas, Mississippi and Kentucky.

Jan 1, 2006

By Charles Schmidt

Phalabonva (Figure 1) is situated in the northern province of South Africa adjacent to Kruger National Park, about 500 km from Johannesburg. The nearest South African port to Phalaborwa is Richards Bay about 700 km distant by rail.

Jan 1, 1999

By Rosa H. Harris

The world's largest gold dump leach operation, Minera Yanacocha S.A., has installed community assistance programs in Peru concerned with health, education, electrification, agricultural assistance and road improvements. The programs are conducted in a joint venture fashion in association with various organizations.

Jan 1, 1998

By S. Michael Feroz, Paul Gribbon, Jan Rosholt

Approximately six billion gallons of combined sewage are discharged annually into Willamette River and Columbia Slough through Portland’s combined sewer system. The Columbia Slough Consolidation Conduit (CSCC) is an important element of mandated Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) abatement. It includes2,548m (8,361 ft.) of 3.7 m. (12 ft.) internal diameter tunnel. The CSCC alignment traverses the UP railroad, Columbia Boulevard and parallels an old sewer. Geologic conditions include river alluvium and fine to coarse-grained flood deposits containing cobbles and boulders. This paper describes design and construction of a tunnel in soft-ground, with shallow cover and close to an old concrete sewer.

Jan 1, 1999

By Hidehiko Nakazaki, Sakuro Murayama, Mitsuo Miura, Masaaki Endo, Yoshiaki Hurukawa

This is a detailed report of construction experience of a tunnel built by a shield of rectangular cross section with reinforced concrete segments. In case of tunneling by a rectangular shield, there were the following problems to be overcom by technical developments; (1) structural joints between segments, (2) complexity in erector handling, (3) exact steering operation of shield and perfect filling of tail void left around the lining erected. Such rectangular shape of cross section has various advantages comparing the conventional circular shape as follows; (1) effective utilization of excavated space, (2) greater overburden depth, (3) stability of lining against unbalanced earth pressure caused by neighbouring construction.

Jan 1, 1979

By I. J. Jansen, C. L. Hooks

Successful soil construction involves prepa¬ration of an adequate base, selection of high quality soil ma¬terials, and placement of those materials by means which will establish a continuous macropore network and modest to low soil strength. Where such has been accomplished, experi¬ments reveal row crop productivity on reclaimed land which is very competitive with that on undisturbed land. Inferior productivity and sensitivity to drought stress are experienced where the soils are excessively compacted during construc¬tion. Some deep tillage practices have been quite successful in improving the compacted soils, but it is preferable to avoid compaction as the soil materials are handled.

Jan 1, 1987

By J. W. Craven, M. Katom, K. M. McCaffery

At Ok Tedi, ore type and SAG feed size distribution vary widely and frequently. This makes control of the SAG mills by application of the power/pressure relationship difficult. Power logic has traditionally been conservative due to power spikes associated with rapid size-distribution changes. A new expert system was installed in early 2000. The system incorporates multiple state fuzzy logic to deal with frequent and radical ore type and size variations, along with monitoring of motor temperatures. A short-term power spike no longer warrants immediate radical action. This has resulted in increased mill throughput and improved circuit stability. Key words: SAG mills, Mill control, Fuzzy logic

Jan 1, 2003

By Lynn B. Hales, Randy A. Ynchausti, Robert W. Colby

Process control systems have evolved from single loop control to distributed control with computer based expert control strategies. The next step is to add adaptive control to the expert control strategies. An object-oriented intelligent adaptive optimization approach is defined and simulated results are presented.

Jan 1, 1995

By K. K. Bhattacharyya, S. Bhattacharya, S. Dey

Coal batch flotation tests were conducted both with and without collector and with one- and two-stage additions of frother. The recovery of combustibles and the flotation rate constant were found to be higher with two-stage frother addition, both with and without collector.

Jan 1, 1998

By Michael Honerkamp, Clemens Mann

A quarry is not a static, but a dynamic structure that greatly affects the appearance of the surrounding area. Excellent planning is required today to cope with this continual change. In this paper several case studies are presented where computerized three-dimensional visualization has been successfully applied.

Jan 1, 1996