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By K. W. Edwards

The formulation of a theoretical basis for the evaluation of in-situ coal through the use of geophysical logs is outlined. This involved the development of an approach to the interpretation of resistivity in environments having multiple conductive and non-conductive components. Utilizing this approach and other conventional interpretation techniques, a program was developed yielding accurate determinations of the in-situ percentages of coal, water and ash for the evaluation of coal deposits. Basic information obtained from the CWA program can be utilized in numerous aspects of total mine planning . Some examples of the practical application of this method are included.

Jan 1, 1978

By Y Wang

Inadequate goaf gas control may lead to gas exceedances in the ventilation return air, which will trip power in longwalls and cause production stoppage. To effectively control gas emissions, Australian mines heavily rely on drilling vertical goaf holes to capture coalmine methane before it migrates to mine openings. The wide application of goaf gas drainage may change the goaf pressure distribution, lead to more ventilation air leakage, and consequently increase gas explosion and spontaneous combustion risks. This paper focuses on analysing goaf gas drainage production data from a case study longwall mine in Australia. The correlation between suction pressure, total flow rate, gas flow rate and air leakage rate were analysed in detail as the face-to-hole distance changes. Suction pressure is found to be positively correlated with total flow rate, and their correlation also varies at different goaf locations due to various goaf compaction and flow resistance. This paper also proposed a theoretical method to calculate the goaf resistance of ventilation air leakage pathways. Based on several basic assumptions and different goaf drainage scenarios, the leakage airflow pathway resistance in the goaf at different face-to-hole distances can be calculated. The model results suggested that the resistance of air leakage pathways from the working face to individual goaf holes increased with the face-to-hole distance. The resistance results can also be used to calculate the corresponding permeability at the same position, which can be used as input data for CFD or Ventsim models.

Oct 12, 2022

By A. Baydusa, K. Barron

A theory for cutter roof failure in coal mines has been developed. It is shown that the key parameters influencing the likelihood of cutter roof failure are the rock strength, the vertical stress (depth) and the horizontal to vertical stress ratio. The support force necessary to prevent the development of this mode of failure is, in most cases, so high as to make it impractical to apply a force of such magnitude. It is, therefore, better to allow the failure to occur and to design a bolting system to support the dead weight load of the failed block. This is probably best achieved by using a yielding bolt system (such as split set bolts) which is anchored well beyond the top of the potential failure block. The maximum potential caving height determined from this theoretical approach compares favourably with field observations reported in the literature.

Jan 1, 1999

By C. P. Crawford

Bureau of Mines Technical Paper 172, by S. H. Katz and H. C. Porter, entitled "Effects of Moisture on the Spontaneous Heating of Stored Coal", says at the outset, "Spontaneous fires in storage piles of bituminous coal' have been the source of trouble and loss since the industrial utilization of coal began. In Europe the idea arose that spontaneous combustion is more liable to happen during wet weather than during dry. Statements favoring or opposing this idea have crept into the literature. Conflicting conclusions, based on experiment as well as opinions based on observations of various degrees of reliability, are given in most of the recorded discussions of the subject. "Because of the uncertainty of the effect of moisture and its seeming importance among the conditions that affect spontaneous combustion in stored coal, the work described in this paper was undertaken by the Bureau of Mines. The experiments showed that a coal from Illinois oxidized faster when dry, whereas a sample of Pittsburgh coal oxidized faster when moist. These discordant results and similarly inconsistent results from the observations of different investigators may be coupled with the fact that under actual conditions of, storing, both coal and air always contain a considerable amount of moisture." The foregoing report of the investigations of the Bureau demonstrates that the mystery of spontaneous combustion has not yet been solved. This fact adds to the fascination of the subject. I became interested in the matter about ten years ago in observing what was probably one of the best exhibitions of this phenomenon. The old dump at Castle Gate No. 1 Mine contained boney coal and track cleanings generally. In winter when snow fell upon this old dump, the snow was soon melted by the heat of the dump which was comparatively warm at all times. Within 48 hours afterward little blue flames were in evidence on the surface of the pile. Few of the gas feeders were sufficiently constant to maintain a steady flame at any given point, but shifting emissions of gas were ignited one by another, resulting in a continuous popping and apparent running about of the flames. Another interesting exhibition of spontaneous heating was to be seen a few years ago in the storage coal piles of the local sugar factories. This coal was piled in concrete lined pits and the latter were filled with water. However, or this occasion the coal extended above the surface of the water. At every plant where this condition existed the coal was affected heating, and in each case the affected area was in a plane horizontal to and from 8 to 1.4 inches above the water level. The height of the hot area above the surface of the water appeared to be affected by the fineness of the coal. It is well known that oily rags have a tendency to heat when allowed to accumulate in some location protected from free air circulation. For some reason, as yet unknown, this does not apply to petroleum or its derivatives. Now, the most common explanation of spontaneous combustion is that the combustible material oxidizes by being brought into contact with air in the presence of moisture, the theory being that the moisture acts as a catalytic agent. My theory is that spontaneous combustion is due to oxidation of combustible matter by free oxygen carried in solution by a liquid, the oxidation taking place only as, when, and at the place where this oxygen is released from solution by the evaporation of the liquid. Also, this oxidation takes place to some degree regardless of the condition of the combustible-whether it be lump coal, coal dust, straw, wheat flour, coke, or any other combustible but, as the speed of oxidation is directly influenced by temperature, it follows that spontaneous combustion only becomes noticeable or serious in cases where the resulting heat' cannot escape as fast as it is generated.

Jan 1, 1925

By A Kamaraj, M Mohanasundaram, R Kumar, P Tikare

This study presents a comprehensive thermodynamic optimisation and sustainability analysis of the secondary copper smelting process for Waste Printed Circuit Board (WPCB) recycling. The study investigates various scenarios with different proportions of WPCB in the input stream, ranging from 0 per cent to 100 per cent. Through thermodynamic modelling using FactSage™ version 8.1, the optimisation process is conducted in three stages. The results of the thermodynamic modelling indicate that the best-case scenario for WPCB recycling is achieved with a 40 per cent proportion of WPCB in the input stream. This case exhibits a maximum copper recovery of 99.93 per cent while minimising the formation of other waste. In addition to the thermodynamic analyses, environmental factors such as the carbon emission index and resource utilisation efficiency are studied. The 40 per cent WPCB recycling case exhibits a resource utilisation efficiency of 93.055 per cent and a carbon emission rate of 0.133. The present investigation highlights the significant benefits of a 40 per cent WPCB recycling scenario through a secondary copper smelting process in terms of base metal recovery and energy efficiency, thus emphasising its potential for sustainable PCB waste management and resource utilisation.

Aug 21, 2024

By Kavetsy A

In surface mining operations, the ease with which a muckpile may be dug is a dominant factor in mining efficiency. Within broad limits this is largely independent of the fragment size dis- tribution, since the equipment used to move the broken rock is generally larger than in underground mines. In such cases, muck- pile shape and voids ratio within a muckpile heavily influence mine productivity. In a particular operation, the muckpile shape after blasting should be tailored to the digging equipment being used. A front- end loader is best suited to a low, flat-lying, loose muckpile, because of its fairly good mobility and small break-out force with its bucket. In contrast, a rope shovel lacks mobility, generates a much larger break-out force with its bucket, and fills its bucket in a vertical filling motion. Therefore, it is ideally suited to well fragmented, steep faces. In situations where a dragline is used, the requirement for a suitable muckpile depends on the operat- ing scheme of the dragline. For a conventional highwall key method the preferred work- ing level of the dragline is the same as the highwall, so that the dragline may sit over its key. In this situation, the ideal muck- pile shape involves relatively little displacement of the fragmented rock, with a minimal "power trough" at the back of the blast. In throw blasting, on the other hand, it is desirable to cast as much of the spoil as possible across the pit. It is then necessary to optimize the blast design by maximizing the throw percentage under any necessary constraints (e.g. damage, vibration, flyrock, explosive cost).

Jan 1, 1988

By James J. Scott

Three dimensional photoelastic techniques have been developed which provide information on the state of stress at any point in a model investigated. This investigation utilizes these techniques to determine the stress distributions in the pillars and the roof of a room and pillar mine model. Castolite plastic was used for the construction of the model in which a stress pattern was developed by the stress freezing process. Analysis of the stress pattern was accomplished by use of data obtained by observing points in slices from the model with a polariscope and solving data obtained by' the shear-difference method. Slices through the centerline, edge of pillar and centerline of span were investigated. Results of this work provide information on the overall stress distribution on points of stress concentration in compression, shear and tension, show relative magnitude of stress throughout the model and indicate directions of the most important stress values. A generalized roof bolt pattern is developed for room and pillar mines based on the stress distribution. A digital computer was used in the reduction of data and proved to be extremely useful for investigation of this type.

Jan 1, 1963

By Kavetsky A

In surface mining operations, the ease with which a muckpile may be dug is a dominant factor in mining efficiency. Within broad limits, this is largely dependent on muckpile shape and looseness within a muckpile. Moreover, prediction of grade boundary movement and subsequent dilu- tion is of interest to most open cut mines. Such a predictive tool would enable blast design changes to be made to reduce mixing of certain grade regions. At the very least, a good knowledge of post-blast region bound- aries can reduce layout of the grade boundaries and decrease grade dis- crepancies between pit and plant. The model presented in this paper is able to consider various options for a production blast and predict consequent muckpile shapes and grade boundary movements in a three dimensional manner. The overburden geometry, hole patterns, hole inclination and charge distribution are all explicit model inputs. The model divides the rock mass into blocks and calculates a velocity for each block. Three controlling parameters are used in the model, which are related to the explosive energy per unit length of blast hole, energy attenuation of the rock mass and inter-row delay, respectively. The output of the model is a 3 dimensional muckpile shape (contour or any cross section) and a contour map of grade distribution within the muckpile. The model parameters are site specific, since their values depend on the rock condition and explosive-rock interaction which varies from site to site. In order to "tune" the model to a particular site, parameter values must be found which reproduce an observed muckpile profile shape from a given blast design. This calibration of the model requires at least one surveyed muckpile profile shape from a production blast. The model parameters which best reproduce that shape are found by a pattern search technique, and may then be used to predict the effect of changes in blast design on muckpile profile shape and grade boundary movement.

Jan 1, 1989

By J. N. Van der Merwe

"The probability of survival of coal pillars is a more rational indicator of stability than the safety factor. Over time, pillars undergo reduction in size by progressive scaling of the sidewalls. The probability of survival is therefore not constant but reduces over time. The rate of scaling can be quantified, and the reduction of the probability of survival as a function of time can therefore also be quantified. The paper describes the link between the factor of safety, probability of survival, and reduction of the probability of survival. Using the safety factor, probability of survival, and the time at which the probability of survival will reduce to 50% is proposed as a more rational method of evaluating pillar stability than the safety factor alone.IntroductionCoal pillar strength has long been the subject of research in South Africa and several other coal-producing countries. However, it began receiving serious attention only after the Coalbrook disaster in 1960. The most important outcomes of the initial investigations were the groundbreaking research by Salamon and Munro (1967) that resulted in the well-known power formula for pillar strength, and the work by Bieniawski (1969) that resulted in a linear formula for strength. The former approach was based on empirical back-analysis of failed and stable pillar cases, and the latter on in situ strength tests on large specimens.The Salamon and Munro (1967) formula has been widely used in South Africa and even adapted for application to hard rock pillars by researchers such as Hedley and Grant (1972).At the time of the initial work by Salamon and Munro, there were only 27 failed pillar cases suitable for analysis. It was not possible at the time to determine site- or seam-specific strength, and the result was a general formula for use in all seams in all mining districts. Since that time pillars have continued to fail and the database continued to grow – as of 2013, there were 85 cases in the database. Using the additional data, there have been a number of re-evaluations of the strength formula and it has also become possible to differentiate between the different mining seams and areas."

Jan 1, 2016

By I. M. Marshall

SOME years ago the writer had the opportunity to plumb a number of mine-shafts, each of which presented various conditions and difficulties. This afforded the chance to compare several methods of shaft plumbing in the light of ease and rapidity. This comparison led to the development of an adaption of the Weisbach, or approximate alignment, method, to three wires in a single shaft. Professor Weisbach, some time prior to 1850, introduced his method of shaft plumbing by triangulation on but two wires, and was the first to show that a triangle of very narrow shape is the best for this purpose. THE WEISBACH METHOD The two-wire method, using a Weisbach triangle, is described in several .English text-books on mine surveying and is used frequently in various parts of the world, but in Canada it is almost unknown. The writer has described an example of this two-wire method (1), but a brief resumé here may clarify the explanation of its application to three wires. In this two-wire method, instead of endeavouring accurately to align the instrument with the wires, it is set only in approximate alignment, and the small angle formed at the instrument is measured. This is expressed graphically in Figure l, where C represents the position of the instrument and A and B the positions of the wires. The sides of the triangle are measured as well as the angle ACB, and the angles at B and A are found by applying the Sine Rule or the formula

Jan 1, 1938

By Thomas M. Keevin, Gregory L. Hempen

"Natural resource agencies, under various regulatory authorities, are challenged with permitting underwater explosive use while at the same time protecting aquatic resources. Deciding on whether or not to allow use of explosives requires striking a balance between development and aquatic resource protection. A company’s goal in underwater explosive use is to select methods that are both expedient and cost effective. The use of explosives is often the best alternative for engineering reasons or economic considerations. Over and above legal requirements, indiscriminate destructionof fish and other aquatic resources is not in a company’s best interests because of concerns relatingto public image, as well as the need to secure future contracts."

Jan 1, 1995

By Thomas M. Keevin, Gregory L. Hempen

Natural resource agencies, under various regulatory authorities, are challenged with permitting underwater explosive use while at the same time protecting aquatic resources. Deciding on whether or not to allow use of explosives requires striking a balance between development and aquatic resource protection. A company's goal in underwater explosive use is to select methods that are both expedient and cost effective. Use of explosives is often the best alternative for engineering reasons or economic considerations. Over and above legal requirements, indiscriminate destruction of fish and other aquatic resources is not in a company's best interests because of concerns relating to public image, as well as the need to secure future contracts.

Jan 1, 1995

By E. J. Sides

In this paper, the argument is put forth that the codes used for public reporting of mineral resources and mineral reserves have some significant limitations with regard to the information provided to investors on the short- to medium-term value of mining properties. Such limitations include a) failure to explicitly incorporate a time element and b) failure to state explicitly the quantity and quality of mineral product that will be produced for sale. A time-value framework for reporting mineral assets is proposed in order to overcome these limitations. The proposed system is based on two classification axes: a) an X-axis representing time in years during which the value of the asset is likely to be realized and b) a Y-axis representing the value identified by a mining or exploration company\u2019s activities. The potential benefits of this system are discussed, including the ability to incorporate factors, such as permitting and construction times, directly into the magnitude of the reported mineral assets. The proposed framework would assist in the standardization of mineral assets reporting in such a manner that they could eventually be more readily included in financial statements. Year of Publication: Not explicitly mentioned in the document.

Jan 1, 2010

By K. J. Stanaway

Environmental pressures on waste disposal are forcing pigment producers to use higher content TiO2 feedstocks with lower levels of trace elements. Despite this, 50% of the worlds TiO2 comes from ilmenite concentrates with only 37 -54 % TiO2 An industry growth rate of 25 % in the next ten years combined with trends to diminishing resources and lower grades for rutile (95 % TiO2) and leucoxenized ilmenite (55 to 90% TiO2) mean that unless new discoveries are made soon, the industry will become even more reliant on ilmenite. A hypothetical ideal feedstock is presented and strategies to obtain it are suggested. Reasons for some of the mineral specifications are given.

Jan 1, 1994

By N Burgio

Block cave mines are often thought of as rock factories where high volumes of production are mined from a fixed area suggesting little requirement for geological input and control. Yet caving operations have peculiar and specific technical requirements from prefeasibility through to post-mining reconciliation. Whilst essential elements such as resource definition, geological interpretation and sampling strategies are common to all mining methods, planning for a block cave requires a different emphasis and philosophical approach in how we deal with these issues. We will examine why a geoscientist’s input is critical towards the successful planning, design and monitoring of a caving operation.

Aug 22, 2011

By Leon Lorenzen, Victor E. Ross, Anton W. Kleingeld

Key to successful innovation, whether at organization, industry or national level, is the alignment and utilization of resources in the most appropriate and efficient way. Innovation needs to be directed strategically, and it needs to be auditable in a systematic and integrated fashion. In the light of these considerations, this paper describes the construction and use of a topographical map of the innovation landscape. The purpose of the map is to provide a holistic view of the key factors that enable innovation (the so-called ’landmarks’), how well they are aligned to support a particular type/nature of innovation in the organization, and to identify possible gaps. The significance (importance) and height (performance) of the landmarks in supporting and enabling innovation within the organization is determined by means of a selfappraisal audit. The topography of the landscape derived thus is subsequently interpreted in terms of the organization’s particular innovation strategy and environmental context. The application of the Innovation Landscape Methodology is illustrated in a number of organizations within the Mining and Minerals Industry of South Africa. Important observations and conclusions regarding the strategic alignment of enabler strengths within these organizations are made.

Jan 1, 2003

By Chee Theng

"What do you think are the most important topics in mineral processing today? It is a question that begs to be asked when more than 100 of some of the best and brightest in Colorado mineral processing and their invited guests are gathered in one room. They are there for the 66th Annual Colorado MPD Meeting held at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs: three days of finely curated talks and social events where participation was strong, and information was exchanged and connections forged in a relaxed, informal atmosphere.Water, tailings and social licenseNot surprisingly, water management, with the associated issues of tailings and social license, was high on the minds of those present. The Mount Polley and Samarco tailings dam failures have had repercussions across the industry. “There are big challenges with respect to tailings, and social and environmental pressures to find better ways to treat them,” said Steve Hearn of Huntsman Corp., a view echoed by Bob Kilborn of Kilborn Group LLC. Metso Minerals director Keith Butler said, “Water conservation is a key issue today. Many mining activities are now located in remote areas, so it has social and economic impacts on mining operations.” For Brian Olson of Samuel Engineering, wastewater and reclaimed-water treatment is interesting.Fittingly, the first talk of the meeting was on dry stack tailings by Michael Blois of Takraf USA, who went over both the advantages and disadvantages. “The average now is over one tailings dam failure a year,” Blois said, “and that is one too many.” But the technology may not be the right fit for all projects. In his talk on the KSM project, Jay Layman, president and COO of Seabridge Gold, showed how it isn’t practical for KSM and how Seabridge reached the decision on a cyclone sand tailings managementfacility as the preferred management strategy.The luncheon keynote also dealt with a tailings pond spill, but of a different kind. Bob Schafer, chief executive of Eagle Mines Management, spoke on the federal missteps that led to the spill into the Animas River from the Gold King Mine, a mine that had been a dry mine throughout its life and up to the 1990s."

Jun 1, 2016

Develop a training program to help mine workers effectively fight small fires in underground Goal mines. Training would enable miners to make rapid judgments on whether to attempt extinguishment, and how best to use the firefighting equipment on hand. Approach Fire reports were analyzed to define and delineate physical and behavioral variables which affect firefighting activities, and to determine effective procedures for extinguishing small fires. A course was then designed to train miners in such procedures. Finally, the course was reviewed by industry experts and administered to a group of miners to determine needed revisions and to validate the course. How It Works Analysis of fire data showed that six items should be emphasized in teaching proper fire response: 1. Alertness to fire potential. 2. Immediate power cutoff. 3. Internal, external communication. 4. Teamwork in fighting fires. 5. Role of ventilation and position of men inby the fresh air side. 6. Effective use of fire suppressant materials.

Jan 1, 1983

By T Ireland, B Wright, S Weaver

All tunnels have unique characteristics that result in different fire and life safety risk. The fire safety systems for each tunnel also give different benefits at different costs. It is therefore neither pragmatic nor cost-effective to prescribe specific fire standards requirements for all tunnels. Each tunnel needs to be assessed individually but using a common process.The owner/client is normally the risk owner and needs to make the decision on what fire and life safety provisions will be provided within the tunnel. To make this decision they need to be appropriately informed. The low probability and high consequence nature of fire events creates a challenge such that traditional analysis processes, which tend to focus on a major event after it has happened, are not easily applied and do not give the best value for money. Therefore a process is required that provides the relevant information to the owner for decision-making.A quantitative risk assessment (QRA) provides a process and framework for the consideration of fire life safety risk when applied properly. This involves a risk assessment of the ‘do nothing’ option together with assessments of improvement options and their costs. It also involves consideration of benchmark safety levels for other tunnels and the open road.This paper will outline a QRA process for assessing fire and life safety risk in tunnels and how this has been used for three existing tunnels, Homer Tunnel, Lyttelton Tunnel and Mt Victoria Tunnel. Key challenges include determining an acceptable safety level, defining realistic inputs, providing sufficient complexity to get meaningful results but not so complex that transparency is lost and interpretation to enable decision-making by non-technical personnel.CITATION:Weaver, S, Wright, B and Ireland, T, 2014. A transparent and pragmatic quantitative risk assessment process for assessing fire safety in New Zealand tunnels, in Proceedings 15th Australasian Tunnelling Conference 2014 , pp 121–128 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Sep 17, 2014

By A. P. Purgin, M. G. Viduetsky, I. F. Garifulin

"The combined treatment process for mine, tailings storage facility, quarry, circulating, and waste water in the mining and metals industry brings together the conventional chemical treatment processes and pneumatic flotation cells of the KFM series. The key principle of the process is preparing the water for treatment by saturating with finely dispersed air bubbles in the flotation cell blowers. Gas-air lift dispersers located in the lower part of the cell body additionally saturate the cell’s contents with finely dispersed air. Due to the residual content of flotation agents in the treated water, hydroxide ion-air aggregates form at the aerator outlet, supporting the efficient precipitation of hydroxide ions of heavy non-ferrous metals, calcium and magnesium ions. This process was tested in the pilot plant KFM-180 with a raw (untreated) water capacity of up to 18 m3/h per 1 m3 of the flotation cell volume using a mixture of the tailings storage facility and mine water from JSC Safyanovo Copper. The treatment process included raw water treatment with lime, aeration in KFM cells, and filtration in a sorbent bed. The content of metal ions in the treated water is lower than in the feed water by a factor of up to 170,000 and approaches the standards: aluminum 0.016-0.02 mg/l, copper 0.0043-0.0045 mg/l, zinc 0.049-0.052 mg/l. circulating water of Soryin Tailings Storage Facility at JSC Svyatogor. The treatment process included raw water treatment with lime and alkali, aeration in KFM cells, and filtration in a sorbent bed. The content of metals in the treated water is lower than in the feed water by a factor of up to 9000: copper 0.022 mg/l, zinc 0.012 mg/l, iron 0.012 mg/l, manganese 0.015 mg/l, nickel 0.132 mg/l, arsenic 0.016 mg/l. Water hardness is significantly lower: calcium - 12.6 mg/l, magnesium - 1.1 mg/l. This process can be used in the treatment of mine, quarry, tailings storage facility, and circulating water at mining and non-ferrous metals projects."

Jan 1, 2018