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Pillars with width to height ratios of less than 1.0 are frequently created in underground hard rock mines. The strength of slender pillars can be estimated using empirically developed equations. However, the equations can provide variable results when the width-to-height ratios approach 0.5. This paper investigates some of the issues affecting pillar strength at low width-to-height ratios in hard brittle rock. The investigation includes an evaluation of empirical pillar strength data presented in the literature and observations of pillar performance in underground limestone mines in the eastern United States, supplemented by numerical modeling in which failure processes and sensitivity of slender pillars to variations in rock mass properties are evaluated. The results showed that the strength of slender pillars is more variable than that of wider pillars. The numerical model results demonstrated the increasing role of brittle rock failure in slender pillar strength. The absence of confinement in slender pillars can result in a fully brittle failure process, while wider pillars fail in a combined brittle and shearing mode. The onset of spalling in slender pillars occurs at or near the ultimate strength, while this is not the case for wider pillars. Slender pillars are shown to be more sensitive to the presence of discontinuities than wider pillars, which can partly explain the increased variability of slender pillar strength. Two examples are presented, which illustrate failure initiation by brittle spalling and the sensitivity of slender pillars to the presence of discontinuities.

Jan 1, 2006

By Craig J. Brown

Despite its great potential utility, ion exchange has only achieved limited application in hydrometallurgy. To a significant extent this is due to the limitations of conventional ion exchange process design as well as the properties of the ion exchange resins themselves. Over the past decade several new ion exchange resins have been introduced with properties that make them potentially very useful for various hydrometallurgical separations. In addition, a novel ion exchange process called Reciprocating Flow Ion Exchange or Recoflo, which has been employed in the metal finishing industry for the last dozen or so years for chemical recovery and effluent treatment, has been shown to offer a number of unique and significant advantages over conventional I.X. technology.

Jan 1, 1984

By J. T. Carlson

Dolomite is an objectionable impurity in phosphate ores, due to its MgO content. Even though dolomite and apatite liberate at a coarse size, the very similar densities of dolomite and apatite makes density separations difficult. However, if operated correctly, jigging can be a very efficient process. This has led to the development of a unique laboratory scale jig that allows for easy alteration of effective jigging properties. Key jigging parameters have been investigated for the separation of dolomite from phosphate ores. It was found that a pulsation rate of approximately 200 pulses/minute worked best for separating dolomite from apatite.

Jan 1, 2010

By D. H. Davidson

The basic principal in the ISL process involves the recovery of metal values by moving fluids through rock instead of moving rock. The process combines surface and sub-surface operations, with the economic performance controlled by four major factors; rates of fluid injection and production from wells; the rate of mineral solubilization; the volume of rock swept by the fluid; and the volume of solution processed through the system. This paper discusses various technical and economic parameters affecting these four factors and how they impact project costs.

Jan 1, 1985

By Andrea Koschinsky, Peter E. Halbach, Margret Halbach, Andreas Jahn

"Ferromanganese crusts contain hydrous Mn and Fe oxides as main metal compounds together with some economically interesting minor elements such as Co, Ni, Ti and Cu and trace metals such as Mo, W, Nb, Te, Ga, Pt, and REEs. Some of these metals or semimetals have a great future potential as innovative high-technology constituents. All of them are highly enriched in the crusts compared to seawater composition.The Mn in the crusts mainly originates from the O2 - minimum zone in the oceanic water column. The agent for Mn2+ oxidation is dissolved oxygen, transported upwards from colder deep water layers by turbulent eddy diffusion. The Mn itself descends from surface waters and is carried down to the O2-minimum zone by fecal pellet transport. In contrast, Fe is mainly supplied from carbonate dissolution of planktonic skeletons in the water column. These relationships result in the fact that the oceanic water depth strongly controls the metal composition of ferromanganese crusts: the Mn - group metals are more enriched in shallower water, whereas the concentration of the Fe - group metals increase with water depth. The REEs play a very important role with regard to the trace metal composition of the crusts: their concentrations increase with water depth mainly controlled by a decreasing Mn/Fe ratio.In seawater, REEs occur as carbonate complexes; preferably, the light rare earth elements (LREEs) form REECO3 +(aq) and the heavy Rare Earth Elements (HREEs) REE(CO3)2 (aq) complexes. The REEs are transition metals, their 6s orbital of the outermost shell is filled before the filling of lower 4f electron shells is completed, thus the configuration of the valence electrons is similar in all the REEs, and all REEs exhibit similar chemical behavior and exist, dominantly, as 3+ cations. The ionic radius decreases progressively from La3+ (1.18 Å) to Lu3+ (0.97 Å), this phenomenon is called "lanthanide contraction". Due to the fact that REEs in seawater form cationic and anionic carbonate complexes, the two main hydrogenetic constituents, hydrous !-MnO2 and Fe-oxyhydroxide, fractionate the group of REEs by surface absorption processes. According to the pHZPC-concept the ?- MnO2 phase has an electronegative surface, and Fe-oxyhydroxide a slightly positive surface charge at seawater pH. These relationships are the main reason for the observed REEs fractionation."

Sep 1, 2014

By Shawn Boltz, Erik Westman, Derrick Chambers, Xingdong Zhaoa, Qiankun Zhua

Microseismic passive velocity tomography is becoming an effective technology for large-scale mining-induced stress monitoring in underground mines, especially in the field of early warning of mining-induced hazards. Aiming at the problems of missing low-magnitude events in traditional microseismic monitoring, as well as the potential to increase the resolution of the tomograms in both time and space, a microseismic passive velocity tomography analysis method based on the template matching method was proposed. First, the template matching method was used to pick microseismic events. Then, the probabilistic, non-linear, global-search earthquake location method was used to locate the events and calculate travel time and travel distance. Finally, the fast-marching method was used to carry out passive velocity tomography analysis to image the movement of the abutment stress associated with the longwall. The results show that the selected templates can identify more microseismic events than the traditional microseismic analysis, and the variation trend of events in each day is consistent with the data from the traditional analysis. Using microseismic event locations, travel times and travel distance can effectively complete microseismic passive velocity tomography analysis in each day during the study period and can effectively identify the forward and side abutment stress zones of that longwall panel. This study provides a reference for the identification of mine-induced high stress zones, which has implications for hazard identification and mitigation, with increased resolution of the tomograms in time and space.

Jun 25, 2024

By K. O. Groves

Although chlorine oxidation has been found to be effective in destroying the CN ion, an excess of chlorine is needed to drive the reaction to completion. This often results in the formation of residual chloramines, which are toxic to aquatic life and often regulated by various states. The interhalogen, bromine chloride (BrCl), has been found to be just as effective but without the formation of persistent, residual chloramines. The hydrolysis and subsequent disproportionation of the highly-polar BrCl molecule essentially yields a solution of hypobromous acid (HOBr) and nonoxidizing hydrochloric acid (HC1). Studies have been carried out to directly compare the mechanism of CN destruction with chlorine and bromine chloride.

Jan 1, 1982

By Herman L. Bauer

The Robinson Mining District near Ely, Nevada, is one of the major porphyry copper districts in the world. Within the district is an east-trending zone of altered porphyry, metamorphosed sedimentary rocks, and sulphide mineralization surrounded by Paleozoic limestone, dolomite, shale and sandstone, Tertiary volcanics, and Quaternary alluvium. Six major disseminated ore deposits have been exploited in this eight-mile zone. About 20% of the district production has come from disseminated ore in metamorphosed sedimentary rocks found adjacent to altered quartz-monzonite porphyry. The following brief statements summarize the inter-relationship of porphyry, alteration, metamorphism, and mineralization: 1. Disseminated copper ore does not occur in unaltered porphyry or in unmetamorphosed sedimentary rocks 2. Sedimentary rocks have been only weakly metamorphosed where intruded, by unaltered porphyry. 3. Intensely metamorphosed sedimentary rocks are found only adjacent to, altered porphyry. 4. Many hydrothermal minerals are common to both altered porphyry and adjacent metamorphosed sediments. 5. Disseminated ore is found in altered porphyry and adjacent meta¬morphosed sedimentary rocks. 6. In general, there is a direct correlation between grade of ore in porphyry and copper content in the adjacent rocks. 7. Chemical changes in the altered porphyry facies and metamorphosed rock facies appear to be related:

Jan 1, 1963

By D. M. Thayer

Dry magnetic separation of feebly magnetic minerals and wet magnetic separators suitable for highly magnetic minerals have been commercially utilized for a number of years. The beneficiation of magnetic taconite ores by conventional, low intensity magnetic separators in combination with flotation is well established technology (1). However, over the past decade much effort has been expended in developing techniques for the upgrading of feebly magnetic oxidized iron ores (2,5). Such research and development have been stimulated by the limitations of the above-mentioned techniques in application to ores containing fine material; for example, ores requiring fine grinding for liberation or slime-forming ores such as the oxidized taconites or semi-taconites. Wet separation has allowed the reduction of the minim particle size that can be effectively treated from that allowable for high intensity dry magnetic separation. Consequently, the development of high intensity wet magnetic separation methods has received much attention in the search for an effective method to treat the weakly magnetic minerals. Recently Lawver and Hopstock (5) have provided an excellent review of the state of know- ledge of this technology. In addition, a valuable compendium of available laboratory and commercial devices is included. Nonetheless, the feasibility of the use of high intensity magnetic separation in a particular application is largly empirical in nature and requires experimentation to chazacterize the response of a particular ore. The purpose of this paper is to assess the incorporation of high intensity magnetic separation for the beneficiation of a non- sliming specular Michigan hematite. Particular attention is focused on the existence of a lower limit of particle size that can be treated effectively and is inherent in the use of these techniques. Additionally, a rationalization of various models presented in the literature is attempted.

Jan 1, 1979

By M. D. Flavel

My paper relates to bond's third theory of comminution and suggests work be used as a basis for designing crushing and screening plants, this will give more accuracy than existing methods, As stated in the abstract, this paper is only a synopsis of my official paper, many of the questions that might arise in this brief address will be answered by referring to the detail i n the main paper $ Because of the limited time available and the fact that many people here do not need to study the aspects of crushing and screening in depth, i will highlight-those sections of the paper which show how major capital, operating and energy cost savings can be achieved in the process, I will develop the theme in the following manner, Firstly, pointing out, why a new approach is needed to the fundamentals of crushing and screening, Secondly, by setting forth some theory to describe what we are trying to accomplish, Thirdly, by looking at important factors which need to be observed in designing plants and applying machines to comply with this theory, Lastly, i will put forth some ideas on how we might develop this theory to make the industry more efficient, At the outset, i have to say my approach to this process is entirely new, for those used to applying machines and designing plants on existing criteria, they will find this theory easier

Jan 1, 1977

By Pablo Hadzeriga

There are two places in the world where potash, trade name for potassium chloride, is economically recovered from naturally occuring brines by solar evaporation. One is at the Dead Sea and the other at Wendover, Utah. American Potash and Chemical at Trona, California recovers potash from natural brines, but uses fuel to accomplish evaporation. Under proper meteorological conditions the use of solar evaporation might be desirable from the economical standpoint. Of course, this may not be true when, if by artificial evaporation, a group of very valuable salts are recovered. This is the case of the American Potash operation at Trona. Solar evaporation has its limits. The working temperature is low. We may say, just to cover most areas of the world where solar evaporation may be practical, that it will take place between 18°C and perhaps around 45°C. In most cases the average working temperature expected will be around 25°C.

Jan 1, 1963

By James J. Scott

Shale formations are the Nemesis of the Mining Engineer. Shales react to changes in environment in the most unusual and unpredictable manner. Increase in temperature may cause spalling, increase moisture and compression induced fractures may occur, and if a full face is exposed it may deteriorate due to atmospheric exposure. Combine only small amounts of shale in layered fashion with hard brittle competent rock and the whole structure may be fractured and fail due to stresses generated in and around the shale. In this paper the author will discuss failure mechanisms encountered under various field conditions and remedial action which may be employed by the engineer.

Jan 1, 1969

By S. B. Castor

Although production generally satisfies demand for rare earths, new markets may make undeveloped resources, particularly those rich in yttrium, more interesting. A Precambrian carbonalite orebody at Mountain Pass, California, has been the world's largest rare earth producer. Minor rare earth production comes from titanium placer mining in Florida and uranium mining in Canada. Prior to operations at Mountain Pass, North American production was mostly from placer deposits that constitute large, low-grade rare earth resources. Newly discovered North American rare metal resources in peralkaline igneous rocks are potential yttrium producers. Most of these resources are in a continent-wide belt of anorogenic magmatic rocks approximately coeval with mineralization at Mountain Pass. Other untapped rare each resources in North America are generally light rare earth-dominated and small or of low grade.

Jan 1, 1991

By E. Kurt

The field of percussion rock drilling is subdivided into two areas of application; that which takes place on the surface and that which takes place underground. Surface drills are used in quarrying, highway construction, and maintenance work; underground equipment in mining and tunneling work. Two basic principles are involved in the operation of all percussion drills. First, the principle that reciprocates the impacting piston and second, the principle that causes the drill steel and bit to rotate. The back and forth motion of the piston is accomplished by a self-acting automatic valve that admits air alternately to each end of the piston (Figure 1). Drill steel and bit rotation is imparted by an integral ratchet mechanism (Figure 2) in the so-called "rifle bar" machines (Figure 1) or by a separate pneumatic motor in "independent rotation" drills (Figure 3). While rock drills are subject to all kinds of physical and operational abuse, they are most sensitive to faulty lubrication. Proper lubrication is the single most important factor in the longevity of a percussion drill.

Jan 1, 1970

By CASSANDRA L. HOEBBEL, Emily J. Haas, MARGARET E. RYAN

Researchers examined datasets from two separate studies that measured common demographic variables but different safety performance outcome variables. Of specific interest was how types of experience might relate to workers’ preparedness to effectively mitigate or respond to both routine and nonroutine risk in the mining industry. The results suggest that individual factors such as length of job, industry, and mine experience are predictive of routine safety performance — as measured by self-reported proactive and compliant safety behaviors — and/or nonroutine safety performance — as measured by perceived competence in self-escape knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) — in significant and sometimes unexpected ways.

By D. M. Range

Exxon is reclaiming an 80-hm2 (200¬acre) Wyoming uranium tailings basin in accordance with US Nuclear Regula¬tory Commission (NRC) requirements. The reclamation plan is designed to control the tailings and their radioactive emissions for at least 1000 years. Rigorous modeling and analyses of potential erosion by wind and water were used in planning. The use of riprap was minimized and the need for long¬term reclamation maintenance was eliminated. The resulting design is simi¬lar to regions stable from erosion cre¬ated by nature. The concepts used in the design and implementation have wider reclamation application. Highland history Exxon operated the Highland uranium operations from 1972 until mid-1984. Open pit and underground operations mined the roll front, sandstone ore body. The 2.5 kt/d (3000 stpd) mill employed conventional crushing, grinding, sulfu¬ric acid leach, CCD, SX, precipitation, and drying circuits. The mill produced 10 Mt (11 million st) of tailings. An¬other operator began commercial scale in situ leach operations in 1988. The tailings basin was constructed by deposition of mill tailings in a natural ravine dammed with a 30-m (100-ft) high by 1050-m (3400-ft) long clay core earthen dam built entirely downstream of tailings. Figure 1 shows the layout of the tail¬ings basin in 1984. Tailings were de¬posited along the dam face on the east side of the basin as well as in the west end and along the south edge until the early 1980s. This left a deep water pond in the middle of the basin. The deep pond was largely filled with tailings during the last four years of mill opera¬tions by the construction of two tailings causeways and the operation of a float¬ing tailings line. The pond water volume was mini¬mized by recycling tailings water to the mill and by operating a 32-L/s (500¬gpm) evaporation enhancement spray system during the last few years of mill operations. Regulatory requirements Several conceptual tailings basin rec¬lamation plans were prepared during the mine life. In September 1984, Exxon began preparation of a detailed plan in response to an NRC request. Water, Waste and Land Inc. (WWL) of Fort Collins, CO was selected to help pre¬pare the plan that was submitted to the NRC in December 1984. The design had to meet the require¬ments found in NRC regulations (NRC, 1985). These were based on regulations prepared by the Environmental Protec¬tion Agency (EPA, 1983) at the man¬date of federal law (UMTRA, 1978). The NRC regulations contain strict primary standards and a somewhat more flexible set of secondary standards. The primary standards include requiring that: • radiation from tailings be reduced to background levels; • radon gas emitted by the tailings be reduced to 20 pCi/m2/s from the surface of the reclaimed tailings pile; • tailings not be dispersed into the environment; and • these conditions endure without routine maintenance for at least 200 years and for 1000 years to the extent reasonably attainable. The lengthy time requirements pre¬sented a large engineering challenge. Radon is a radioactive, chemically inert gas with a 3.8 day half-life. It is released from uranium tailings by the radioactive decay of radium, which, in turn, is a radioactive decay product of uranium. Radon emissions from ura¬nium tailings can be controlled with an earthen cover thick enough that the radon gas decays to its solid, short-lived radio¬active daughters before the radon dif¬fuses through the cover material into the air.

Jan 1, 1989

The prediction and control of ground deformations due to underground mining are important considerations in the permitting, planning, and monitoring of coal mining operations. The prediction of mining-induced ground movements using the influence function method is a mature technology and is widely used in many coal basins around the world. Such movements mainly include subsidence, horizontal displacement, and horizontal and/or ground strain. Predictions can be accomplished using regional subsidence parameters and site-specific data.

Jan 7, 2020

By Barbara J. Arnold

A coal's size distribution, clay content and moisture content can affect its handling behavior, but the combined effects of these properties and the effects of other properties are not known. Research underway at CQ Inc.' s (formerly EPRI' S) Coal Quality Development Center (CQOC) and at Iowa State University (ISU) will answer these questions as part of a four-year project to develop a coal handleability index for utilities to use when specifying coals. This paper will present preliminary data from the first year of the project, which focused on obtaining data on the chemical and physical properties of various coals and their measured handling properties. Additionally, size, ash and moisture analyses and shear test data for several coals used at one power plant will be presented along with correlations between these physical and chemical properties and the measured handling properties. These data lead to the conclusion that, while moisture content-is the most important variable, the amount of -325M (-0.044 mm) coal fines is a significant factor in determining coal handling behavior.

Jan 1, 1990

By Cliff Holloway

The past year has been difficult for Canada's primary industries. The mining, oil and forestry industries have been hit by low prices and a reduced demand for natural resources. Foreign competition, militant environmentalists, the breakdown of the Asian and European economies and Canada's shrinking dollar have all put additional pressures on the commodity purchaser to buy smarter. It is easy to appreciate why operations and maintenance supervisors want the best performing product. It makes good sense. The challenge is to source that quality product while staying within the budget. The bottom line (price), however, often becomes the control- ling factor, usually at the expense of quality and performance. This is short-term thinking, often with expensive consequences.

Jan 1, 1999

The properties of interfacial water at hydrophilic surfaces are of great importance in many technological areas including flotation, solid-liquid separation, dispersion and emulsions, flocculation, adsorption, corrosion, and soil contamination. This paper examines the use of FTIR/internal reflection spectroscopy (FTIR/IRS) to study the spectral characteristics of interfacial water at silica surfaces. FTIR spectra were characterized by consideration of the OH stretching region (3000-3800 cm-1) associated with the vibrational spectra of interfacial water. The broad peak in this region was deconvoluted in order to isolate overlapping spectral features that describe the nature of hydrogen bonding in interfacial water. Three distinct bands were found; -3600 cm-1 (free OH), -3400 cm-1 (incomplete tetrahedral coordination), and -3240 cm-1 (complete tetrahedral coordination) and the variation of their intensities with pH was found to be significant. This spectral information helps to explain orientation and bond ordering of interfacial water molecules at hydrophilic surfaces.

Jan 1, 1998