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By Paul Saxton

INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY This short paper deals with the history of the Nickel Plate Mine from 1898 to 1987, with the major focus on the time period 1984 to 1987. Operations from 1898 to 1955 are reviewed in a cursory manner with the emphasis on some interesting points in the early 20th century. A review of the major exploration work carried out in 1984 to 1987 is presented and the process of moving the project through feasibility, government permitting and construction is described. The Hedley gold camp is situated approximately 40 kilometres east-southeast of Princeton, in southern British Columbia. The area has had a long history of gold mining and between 1902 and 1955 approximately 1.5 million ounces of gold were won from several mineralized skarn orebodies. Most production came from the Nickel Plate and Hedley Mascot mines. AN EARLY TO MID 20TH CENTURY SUMMARY The Nickel Plate is one of the oldest mines in the province. The mine had operated from 1904 to 1930 and, after a period of shutdown, from 1934 to 1955. The mine was revived in 1967 for exploration and. will resume production during the first half of 1987. In the first period the Yale Mining Company and Daly Reduction Company operated for six years and Hedley Gold Mining Company for twenty-one. In the second period the mine was operated by the Kelowna Exploration Company Limited and Kelowna Mines Hedley Limited for twenty-one years. In the present period the mine has been revived by Mascot Gold Mines Limited.

Jan 1, 1987

By William R. Barton

The domestic portland cement industry consumes more than 12 million tons annually of raw materials chemically similar to fly ash. How these materials are used and how fly ash can serve in their place are discussed. Factors influencing whether or not a particular plant will use fly ash in place of an alternate material are discussed.

Jan 1, 1968

By C. J. B. Dreyer

In terms of resources of amphibole asbestos only South Africa can be considered. There are only two asbestos producing fields, one in the Northern Cape Province producing only crocidolite and one in the Eastern Transvaal producing only amosite. The banded ironstone sequence in which amphibole asbestos occurs is discussed, and the genesis of the fibre is briefly reviewed. The properties and characteristics of amphibole asbestos are discussed and compared to those of chrysotile. Approximately 300,000 tonnes of amosite and crocidolite are produced annually. Crocidolite has a potential for a fivefold increase of production, which could be sustained beyond the year 2000. An estimate of the resources of the various producing fields in South Africa is made. Mining methods are reviewed and evaluation techniques discussed.

Jan 1, 1978

By T. Gelpe

A digital simulator of classification and grinding circuits is used to evaluate the performances of various flowsheets. For a given flowsheet configuration, unit processes dimensions and operating conditions, the simulator calculates the steady-state values of the process variables. A supervisory algorithm is implemented in the simulator to determine the conditions which meet the required criterion on operation, tonnage and product quality. Calculation illustrations are proposed for the design of wet and dry grinding circuits. The performances of various arrangements of cement clinker and sulphide ore grinding flowsheets are evaluated and discussed.

Jan 1, 1983

By Kent E. McElhattan

The selection of efficiency machinery for an underground mining system is a highly skilled art. Modern techniques of mining, based on sound engineering principles, increase the probability of success. These techniques alone, however, will not guarantee maximum productivity. Human judgement, based on experience with mineral seams and geological conditions, remains the single most important input of the decision-making techniques in selecting high production equipment. The myth of a "Scientific Selection Factor" is absurd. The belief that such a factor exists can waste the time and resources of mining management. Until now, mineral extraction from the original desposit has defied all attempts to systematize the knowledge. Computerized programs are excellent for solving underground transportation and ventilation problems. The variables can be defined by mathe¬matical techniques in this type of problem. By the same, token, "Trial and Error" is not an acceptable method in today's technology-minded world. The candid truth of the matter is that practically nothing is known of the phenomenon of extracting a mineral from the solid. Likewise, local conditions make it nearly impossible to predict accurately the reaction of surrounding strata after the mineral has been removed. The unpredictability of the environment resulting from extracting minerals underground will remain a challenge to mining engineers for many years. In fact, we are barely beyond the trial and error stage at this point in time.

Jan 1, 1969

By R. W. Ballmer

Bingham Canyon lies in the heart of the Oquirrh Mountains, 25 miles southwest of Salt Lake City, Utah. In it is located the world's largest open-pit copper mine, owned and operated by the Utah Copper Division of Kennecott Copper Corporation. From the beginning of open pit mining operations in 1906 until 1963, the pit haulage, or materials transportation, was primarily by rail. In 1963, phase-in of a truck haulage system in the upper two-thirds of the pit was begun. The details of that conversion, its associated problems and the resulting pit operation have been covered in an earlier paper.1 The purpose of this paper is to discuss various factors for consideration in transportation system selection, and to discuss some of the alternatives considered prior to making the change from rail haulage to truck haulage for a portion of Bingham Canyon.

Jan 1, 1968

By A. Metzer

When paraffinic gases (ethane, propane, butane) are used as the gas phase in flotation systems, the initial rate of flotation and recovery are generally increased as compared with air. The mechanism of the effect of paraffinic gases in flotation was studied and it was shown that they co-adsorb with the collector ions on the mineral-aqueous solution interface. The effect of this co-adsorption was interpreted in terms of apparent increase of the effective chain length of the collector by the co-adsorbed gas. Adsorption densities, contact angles and flotation behaviour were studied on the following systems: a) Quartz - dodecyl ammonium chloride - ethane and propane b) Calcite - sodium oleate - propane and butane. The positive effect of the co-adsorbed gases is a maximum at low collector concentrations or where critical conditions for flotation with air prevail.

Jan 1, 1974

By James P. Connell

The Berkeley Pit of The Anaconda Company is located on the southeast slope of the Butte Hill, the legendary "Richest Hill on Earth," and is one of the largest pit operations in the world completely dependent on truck haulage. Through October 31, 1968, the Berkeley stripping and mining operations have moved more than 442,589,000 tons of material. Present scheduled production is at the rate of 260,000 tons per day, with a record quantity of 306,900 tons having been hauled on September 23, 1968. Although the Berkeley Pit has been in production only a little more than ten years, it has been the proving ground for many of the presently used large trucks. Beginning with the original R. G. LeTourneau 75-ton electric truck in 1960, Unit Rig 85- and 100-ton electric drives, Haulpak 65- and 105-ton electric drives, and Caterpillar 100-ton electric drives have all been tested under production conditions. In addition, engine development has kept pace with both 1000-hp diesel and 1100-hp gas turbine engines now under test. As the size of the Berkeley operation has grown, the truck fleet has changed in size and appearance in order to maintain economic mining costs. The original fleet consisted of forty-three 36-ton trucks with conventional mechanical drives. The present fleet is made up of eighty-nine trucks: nineteen 85-ton Unit Rig electrics with 700-hp diesel engines; sixty-nine 100-ton Unit Rig electrics with either 700- or 1000-hp diesel engines; and one 100-ton Unit Rig electric with an 1100-hp gas turbine engine.

Jan 1, 1969

By Doug Halbe

A number of CIP plants have been built in Western Australia in the past two years. The authors have surveyed several of these new plants and present drawings, data and discussion of operating and design innovations and areas of interest.

Jan 1, 1982

By J. Y. Hwang

Sands are utilized to make molds for metal castings in the foundry industry. Approximately a half ton of sand is disposed of for each ton of metal cast in this country. In Michigan, annual sand disposal amounts to about one million tons. A process has been developed in this study to reclaim sands from a steel foundry. Physical separations are utilized in conjunction with other operations (such as the removal of binder, metal, spruce, washes, etc.) to yield silica and chromite sands with desirable molding properties. Several different separation methods, including electrostatic, magnetic, and various gravitational approaches have been examined. Experimental results are presented. The applicabilities of these separation methods are discussed.

Jan 1, 1992

In a future world of 8.5 billion people in 2035, the Energy Information Administration's (EIA) projected 50% increase in energy consumption will require true "all of the above" energy resource use from oil, gas, renewables, nuclear, and coal. In particular, coal will continue to be the world's energy cornerstone, providing more incremental energy over that same time period than any other single fuel. Coal has long been a centerpiece of a low-cost, high-reliability electricity grid. Today there are 1.3 billion people across the globe without access to electricity and 2.7 billion people who do not have clean cooking facilities. The problem is spread across the developing world, but it is particularly severe in sub-Saharan Africa and developing Asia, which together account for 95% of people in energy poverty. Without a commitment to achieve universal energy access it has been estimated that by 2030, there will be an additional 1.5 million premature deaths per year caused by household pollution from burning wood and dung and through a lack of access to clean water, basic sanitation and healthcare. Modern energy sources are essential to meeting these challenges.

Jan 1, 2012

By R. H. Church

The Bureau of Mines' Tuscaloosa Research Center has developed a field test unit (FTU) which dewaters mine and/or mineral processing by-product slurries. The feed material (by-product slurry) is mixed with a known quantity and specific type of synthetic polymer (usually a polyacrylamide) to induce flocculation in a continuous operation. The flocculated material passes over a specific number and size of slotted stationary screens which separates the flocculated solid material from the "clean" water. The "static screens" are positioned at a fixed angle to maximize flow capacity and capture of the solids content. An investigation was conducted at an industrial crushed stone operation located near Birmingham, AL, to determine if the Bureau's FTU could successfully dewater the waste slurry generated during grinding and sizing operations at this facility. The investigation showed that waste slurries could be dewatered to 50 pct solids, at a polymer cost of approximately $0.85/ton of dry solids treated, and resulted in approximately 85 to 95 pct solids recovery. The dewatered material continued to consolidate and reached 69 pct solids in 24 h. Presently, the waste slurry generated at this facility is discarded into impoundments. However, this research has identified the recovered waste as an economically marketable product.

Jan 1, 1994

By David B. McWhorter

Conventional analyses of seepage through saturated media do not apply when tailings impoundments are located above a partially saturated zone. Three stages of seepage are identified and methods for estimating the seepage rates and duration of each stage, based upon flow in partially saturated and saturated porous media, are demonstrated. The effectiveness of earthen liners is discussed and procedures for estimating the required properties of the porous media are provided.

Jan 1, 1978

By S. Ford

The introduction of recent advances in molecular biology into the field of microbial ecology has made available a powerful set of analytical tools for dissecting the structure of microbial communities in natural environments. The use of these approaches, many of them based on DNA-DNA hybridization enables the researcher to assess the occurrence of specific DNA sequences among the natural bacterial flora (Ford and Olson 1987). These techniques promise to have wide application as tools for monitoring the spread of introduced microorganisms (Trevors, 198'): Ford and Olson. 1987) and have been used to examine the response of bacterial communities to environmental contaminants and stressors (Barkay and Olson. 1986. Olson and Ford. 1986. Olson. Ford and Lester 1987) The occurrence of heavy metal resistance among microorganisms has been discussed as a possible tool for the detection of pathfinder elements employed in mineral exploration (Olson and Barkay 1986). In addition, the occurrence of heavy metal resistant bacteria may be utilized in protocols for assessing the occurrence and biological impact of contamination occurring as a consequence of mining operations. In this context the use of DNA hybridization technology enables the investigator to directly quantify the number of heavy metal resistant bacteria by the use of genetic probes specific for those resistance genes. The implementation of a strategy for detection of heavy metal resistance genes by hybridization technology is dependent on the availability of data on the genetic systems which encode resistance The availability of extensive DNA sequence data on mercury resistance genes (Brown et a11986. Barrineau et al 1984) has lead us to use gene probes specific for mercury resistance within natural bacterial populations as a model system for investigating the response of these bacterial populations to the occurrence of mercury In the environment.

Jan 1, 1988

By J. R. Gaw

Recent events pertaining to U. S. energy needs and development of alternative energy fuel resources have made the American public more aware of past and present coal mining operations, and their impacts on the nation's economy and environment. This awareness has developed rapidly due to increased government involvement and consequent media coverage. This is true particularly in the Western states and in Texas. One of the consequences of this increased public awareness is public concern over the perceived and real consequences of mining operations. Emphasis has been placed on potential releases of toxic and hazardous substances, and possible carcinogens. The result of this public concern is a mounting effort at both state and Federal levels to promote stricter laws regulating the mining industry.

Jan 1, 1992

By Hugh R. Wilson

Echo Bay's Waste Management Program for its Lupin Mine was developed in response to the terms and conditions of the water license issued to the mine in 1981 by the Northwest Territories Water Board. The gold mine, located about 80 km (50 miles) south of the Arctic Circle, commenced production in 1982. The Waste Management Program was based originally on the total containment concept, contingent on future treatability testwork results indicating the best treatment method to ensure pond discharges would be in compliance with stated Northwest Territories Water Board discharge criteria. To assess the various treatment technologies, an investigative program was established to determine the most effective means for treating the tailings pond water. In the course of milling, about 850,000 m3 (11 million cu yd) of tailings are produced annually that require appropriate management to protect the environment. This annual tailings stream consists of about 175,000 m3 (229,000 cu yd) of solids and 675,000 m3 (883,500 cu yd) of water. Following the completion of the required waste management studies, a two-ponds-in-series concept of tailings impoundment was developed. To attain this concept, the tailings impoundment area would require modification and construction to enable the use of such a system.

Jan 1, 1991

By D. M. Jepsen

One of the first things we tell a potential new client is that they have only one chance to make a first impression with an Aboriginal community; all future communications and engagement will be predicated on that first impression. The key components of this most critical meeting are not your power point, your maps, or your draft plan for development ? they are instead a genuine, evident and clear demonstration of a sincere desire to develop a positive relationship that is based upon respect, and consideration and understanding of local communities and their interests, needs and desires. Relationship building is the foundation of proactive and positive consultation and accommodation with Aboriginal communities and the tone is set with the first meeting. C3 has refused more clients than we have accepted due most often to the fact that relationships between the company and the Aboriginal community have already devolved into a tense and toxic scenario. Land access and tenure certainty for exploration and mine development is critical to the foundation of a healthy, sustainable and environmentally and economically sound mineral exploration and mining sector. Without certainty confidence to invest in mineral exploration will be severely eroded. We all understand that substantive investments in exploration are required to increase the possibility of discovering, defining and developing new mines. The development of positive relationships based on a shared commitment of understanding, mutual respect and trust by Aboriginal Peoples and the mineral sector can provide the required business certainty and deliver social and economic benefits for local Aboriginal communities.

Jan 1, 2012

By D. A. Augenstein

Operators of coal preparation plants use equipment such as large-capacity dump trucks and bulldozers to haul, spread and compact refuse material to conform to federal and state regulations governing the disposal of solid waste. For example, federal regulations require that refuse be spread and compacted in layers not more than two feet thick. If the refuse layers or piles have poor load-bearing characteristics, movement of equipment over them becomes extremely difficult. The increasing cost and limited space for the construction of settling ponds extensively used for fine refuse disposal are leading to the growing practice of dewatering the fine refuse by means of vacuum disc filters and combining the resulting filter cake with coarse refuse for waste bank disposal. However, this filter cake usually contains more than 25% moisture. Therefore, when it is combined with coarse refuse, the moisture level of the total refuse may become high enough to impair the load-bearing strength of the refuse. Precisely this problem and the attendant difficulties of moving heavy equipment arose when vacuum disc filters were installed at a preparation plant in West Virginia. Combining the moist filter cake with the coarse refuse generally results in a 12% moisture level for the total refuse at this plant. At this moisture level, the refuse can still be handled with some difficulty by the equipment. However, the problem has frequently been compouned after rains.

Jan 1, 1977

By B. H. Kim, P. Zhang, M. A. Van Dyke, D. Su, H. Dougherty

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has been evaluating longwall mining-induced strata fractures and their impacts on casing stability of Marcellus shale gas wells located in longwall pillars. To understand the extent of overburden fractures after longwall mining, NIOSH researchers drilled a postmining corehole into the fractured strata above the Pittsburgh coal seam longwall gob. Knowing the extent of the fracture zone height will help gas operators minimize the hazards of drilling into longwall gobs. The core was retrieved from the surface down to the top of the gob void. Various fractures were encountered varying from 35 to 64 degrees, depending on lithologic type and relative closeness to the gob. The longwall panel dimension was 457 m wide and 3657 m long, in which the total fracture zone height was found to be at 141 m and the hydraulic connected fracture zone at 87.7 m above the top of the Pittsburgh seam. In addition to core drilling through the gob, FLAC3D modeling was also used to simulate the formation of fracture zone and the orientations of longwall-induced fractures. This study provides much-needed evidence on the fracture zone of Pittsburgh seam longwall gobs to help gas operators avoid potential hazards associated with drilling through highly fractured zones

Mar 2, 2022

By Douglas R. Shaw

Normal dodecyl mercaptan was evaluated as a collector for flotation of sulfide minerals and precious metals. The reagent is from the class of normal mercaptoalkanes (n-alkyl thiols), and is commercially available in the form of a mixture of n-dodecyl mercaptan and a dispersant, under the trade name Pennfloat(TM)3. Reported are results of bench-scale flotation experiments on many commercially treated base metal and precious metal sulfide ores. Dosages, points of addition, and flotation pH were among the uariables studied. Most notable results were increased copper, molybdenum, and precious metals recoveries. Dosages of dodecyl mercaptan on some ores were considerably lower than required for conventional collectors.

Jan 1, 1979