Search Documents

By Matthew E. Meyer

Renovation, rehabilitation, restoration and expansion of existing residential, retail, commercial, hospital facilities and historic structures requires assessment and evaluation of foundation systems of various ages. The concept of demolition and reconstruction in urban areas is often more challenging, costly, and even prohibitive in some cases due to historic regulations. The authors have been involved with numerous projects related to existing foundation assessment and retrofit, including: hotel and hospital expansions, historic Art-Deco hotel renovations and expansions, garage structure expansions, additions to prominent auction houses, casinos, printing facilities; high-rise structure foundation retrofitting; and forensic evaluations of existing building and highway structure foundation systems, and marine bulkhead sheeting systems. The use of non-destructive testing techniques, high-strain dynamic load testing, full scale pile cap load testing and 3-D laser scanning technology has proved to be vital in the assessment and evaluation process, as well as design of foundation retrofit alternatives. This paper presents various methods and techniques to facilitate a phased approach for re-use of foundation systems. These methods and techniques are illustrated through the author?s experience and selected case histories from projects with varied foundation and geologic conditions.

Jan 1, 2009

By L. Lacerda, C. Rose, E. Zellers

Approximately six hundred air sample measurements were taken at several U.S. underground metal/nonmetal mines in 1998 and 1999. This air sampling effort was organized by the Nevada Mining Association to evaluate mining conditions and to evaluate the Mine Safety and Health Administration’s (MSHA) Proposed Rule on Diesel Particulate Matter Exposure of Underground Metal and Non-metal Miners. MSHA’s proposed air sampling method, NIOSH Method 5040, was tested under controlled conditions and under normal mining conditions. Unfortunately, NvMA sampling results have indicated that carbonaceous rock dust, oil mists and even cigarette smoking create severe sampling interference problems for NIOSH 5040.The main conclusion was that NIOSH 5040 did not distinguish between DPM and other airborne carbon particulate. Thus, it is not a reliable method of accurately and unequivocally measuring DPM in underground metal/nonmetal mines.

Jan 1, 2000

By Stephen G. Hardcastle

CANMET has developed a simple yet very effective tracer gas method to test the efficiency of stench gas emergency warning systems which can easily be performed by mine personnel. This test method uses sulphur hexafluoride (SF,) as a surrogate for such stench gases as ethyl mercaptan. The test has many advantages: it is non-disruptive to production because SF, is odourless, colourless; it is safe to use as it is inert and only a small volume, insufficient to reduce oxygen levels, is necessary to dope the air with a measurable concentration; and most importantly it provides definitive results to assess the adequacy of the warning system. Specific findings of these tests have included, over doping sections of the mine and subsequent production loss due to sickness, the warning being ignored, the injection period being too short, excessive dispersion, and inadequate notification times. The simple test protocol involves releasing a known volume of the SF, under similar circumstances to those of the stench gas, and then sampling for its presence downstream. These samples are collected in air-tight syringes which are then analyzed in a laboratory with a gas chromatograph. By direct proportion, between the size of the stench and tracer gas releases, it is possible to convert the SF, concentration into equivalent stench gas concentrations profiles. From these, it is possible to define, the initial arrival time of the gas, the time it takes to reach a "target" notification concentration, whether the gas peak will exceed TWAEV, STEV and CEV exposure limits, and the duration of the peak above these levels. Since 1993, this test protocol has been employed a total of eight times on four different Canadian mine properties and the results are being used to optimize the stench gas release system with respect to volume of gas used, duration of injection, and number of injection locations.

Jan 1, 1997

By Tom Treleaven

This guide presents numerous patterns that provide 8 millisecond separations between initiated charges. The guide is tabulated in seven sections to provide quick reference by number of decks or bunch blasting. The pattern is presented in the section where the highest number of decks works. It should be noted that patterns applicable to multiple deck shootings are also applicable for fewer decks.

Jan 1, 1997

By John Watson, Tom Treleaven

This guide presents nur-nerous patterns that provide 8 millisecond separations between initiated charges. The guide is tabulated in seven sections to provide Quick reference by number of decks or bunch blasting. The pattern IS presented in the section where the highe!$ number of decks works. It should be noted that patterns applicable to multipledackshwtings are alsoapplicsblefor fewer decks.

Jan 1, 1995

By Jae-Ho. Lee

For some electronic applications where a dispersed electrically-conductive particulate-phase is employed, the conductivity of the surface (or near-surface region) of the particles provides for the primary mechanism which determines its electrical conductivity. Particles of a less expensive material, which may have desirable thermal-expansion properties, when coated with silver offer a means of also obtaining desirable electrical properties and at low cost. The research conducted was focused primarily on the development of silver-coated tungsten particles for thick-film polymeric conductors. The ammoniacal electrolyte was formulated from silver-nitrate, glycine inhibitor and formaldehyde reductant. The reduction, and subsequent deposition, of silver occurred selectively on the surface of the tungsten particles. Coated particles were assessed by SEM imaging. The thickness of the silver coating was estimated to be approximately 100nm on the basis of a mass account and the coating being uniform. The electrical conductivity of a silver-coated tungsten-powder pellet was found to be similar to that of a silver-powder pellet, of identical geometry.

Jan 1, 1997

By R. Patrick

As a unique South African organisation, CSIR: Division of Mining Technology (Miningtek) strives to support the mining industry by improving health, safety and productivity through developing, adapting and transferring technology. Considerable effort is currently directed towards the development of potential non-explosive mining methods with the potential to allow continuous mining in narrow reef conditions. Besides improving productivity, continuous mining results in concentrated mining which has a significant impact on reducing infrastructural costs. Impact Ripping and Water Pulse Rock Breaking have been tried on gold mines, whereas Activation, Mini-Disc? cutting and the Plasma Holemaker are currently being tested on platinum mines. The organisation?s many years of experience in novel rockbreaking, together with its world-wide collaborator network, has placed it in a unique position to assist the mining industry and manufacturers in developing and/or adapting existing technologies for application underground. Currently a range of technologies are being investigated, which have reached different stages of maturity. The main technologies under investigation are; - Impact ripper system - Water pulse rock breaking - Activated undercutting rollers - Mini disc cutters - Electric rock breaking

Oct 1, 2001

By R. G. B. Pickering, H. H. Haase

CONTRIBUTION BY D. O'CONNOR Mechanical extraction of rock has been a goal sought after for some decades in the South African gold-mining industry. There are factors distinct from the mode of mechanical extraction that may have considerable influence on its prospects for extensive adoption; the rockburst factor is one of these. REPLY BY H.H. HAASE AND R.G.B PICKERING We agree with Professor O'Connor that, in conventional gold-mining operations, a disproportionate number of seismic events occur in the period immediately following a blast; rockburst activity follows the same pattern, and it has been calculated that, if the rockburst peak were spread evenly across the day, the rockburst exposure of stope workers would nearly double.

Jan 1, 1992

By G. H. Wigton

The oxidized ores of the Chief Consolidated Mining Co., in the Tintic mining district, have never yielded to metallurgical treatment by any standard method except smelting. These ores occur in comparatively small, irregular, siliceous replacements in limestone, and carry silver, lead, and gold as the principal valuable metals. But smelting methods are unsatisfactory, as the lead smelters heavily penalize the largc amount of silica in the ore, and the copper smelters do not pay for the lead in the ore; therefore, an alternative treatment method was sought. In 1916, a metallurgical research department was organized under the direction of the writer. Many standard metallurgical methods were investigated but, on oxidized ore, none yielded extraction great enough to make its use feasible. During some chloridizing-roasting experiments in 1916, made in an assay muffle, the writer noted that large proportions of the silver, lead, and gold were volatilized from certain oxidized ores. The possibility of volatilizing the metals and collecting them in the form of a concentrated fume was then studied. But, as it was shown that satisfactory chloride-volatilization would be limited to a furnace feed with a high fusing temperature of the non-volatilizable constituents, and as the results obtained in a rotary kiln with the admixture of common salt with the ground ore were inferior to muffle tests, further volatilization experiments were discontinued until 1920. During this internal, an expcrimental sulfidizing and flotation plant was operated. After the cessation of attempts to float the oxidized minerals, chloride-volatilization experiments .were resumed. The highly infusible flotation tailing from the operation of the flotation mill was used for furnace feed. The first tests made on flotation tailing mixed with 10 per cent, common salt showed nearly complete lead and gold volatilization but considerably less volatilization of silver than in muffle tests. In attempts to increase the silver extraction, the percentage salt in the furnace feed was varied, and it soon became apparent that the use of smaller percentages of salt raised the fusion temperature of the furnace charge and thus

Jan 1, 1926

By N. H. Jensen, B. L. Sackett, Carlos Bardwell, Simon Jacobson

Lead smelting has been an important industry in Utah for many years. The first lead smelting was done, over 60 years ago, at the Rollins mine in Beaver County, by burning heaps consisting of alternate layers of wood and high-grade carbonate ore. The lead thus obtained was molded into bullets. With the development of the mines, the problem of cheaper handling of the ore became important. The only outlet for this ore was Swansea or the Atlantic Coast but to ship to either cost $150 per ton or more for treatment and handling. From 1864 to 1871, experimenting was done with blast, Scotch hearth, and reverberatory furnaces, with the blast furnace surviving as the standard plant. The first crude furnaces were circular or hexagonal in shape, and were made of adobe and stone, which quickly burned out. They were small, about 21/2 ft. in diameter, and smelted from 3 to 10 tons in 24 hr. The metal had to be tapped from the bottom of the crucible, necessitating a shut down of the furnace during this process. This procedure caused salamanders to form around the tap hole when the furnace was started again, which frequently resulted in freezing. The campaign lasted until a tap of bullion was made. The first successful plant of the crude stone type was operated in 1870. From 1870 to 1872, there was a smelter building craze in the state. During that period, about 20 furnaces were built, chiefly near the mines, and their operation was limited and sporadic. The work was then placed in the hands of trained metallurgists, who standardized on the rectangular form of furnace. In 1871, Daggett, at the Winnamuck mine in Bingham, installed water-jackets around the smelting zone of the furnaces. These furnaces were circular; the diameter at the tuyere line was 3 ft. 6 in. and at the charge floor 5 ft. 3 in. The height from tuyere line to charge floor was 14 ft., height of tuyere line above top of crucible was 3 ft. 8 in. Furnace capacity was about 14 tons per day, with a campaign of about 16 days. Cost of smelting was about $44 per ton. The ores making the

Jan 1, 1926

By Edwards Wichers

The purpose of this paper is to set forth the matters of principal interest in connection with work done in the past few years on the purification of the metals of the platinum group, including the study and modification of methods already in the literature and the development of new procedures. For the most part, the results will be given in summary form, reserving the publication of detailed data and directions for a forthcorning paper to be issued by the Bureau of Standards. In recent years increasing interest has been shown in the preparation of the pure platinum metals, both by those concerned with the manufacture of the metals and their alloys for scientific and industrial purposes and those who are engaged in the study of the chemical or physical properties of the elements. The purification of the metals usually has been regarded as a matter so involved and difficult as to require the attention of specialists. It is hoped that this paper will show that any of the metals can be prepared in any desired degree of purity by relatively simple straightforward chemical methods. For the most part, it is thought that the methods given are suitable for small-scale refineries as well as for the laboratory; also, that they will bring the time required for the purification of any of the metals within reasonable limits. The new procedure suggested for purifying platinum should prove to be much shorter than any methods described in the literature. Treatment of Platinum Ore As is well known, the principal source of the platinum metals is a mixture of several native alloys of the metals, found chiefly in naturally concentrated deposits in stream beds or alluvial material. Without attempting to enumerate all of the minerals present, it may be said that the concentrated ore from such sources contains all of the six platinum

Jan 1, 1928

By J. O. Whiteley, C. Dietz

It is difficult to give a refining outline that may be followed for any and all combinations of the platinum metals; different combinations require different methods of attack. This paper does not pretend to go into all of the reactions of the metals of the platinum group, but will outline the commercial refining of platinum scrap. Typical Platinum Scrap As a concrete case, let us take 100 oz. of miscellaneous scrap, made up of jewelry scrap, dental scrap and laboratory ware. This lot will contain some platinum, palladium, iridium, ruthenium, rhodium, gold, silver and copper. The first problem is to get all of the metals in solution. If the scrap is principally platinum, palladium and gold, a treatment with aqua regia is the course to pursue; but if the scrap contains alloys high in iridium or ruthenium, aqua regia will act too slowly. In the case in hand, we are going to presume that we have scrap high in iridium and ruthenium, and proceed accordingly. Obtaining Residue A Place the scrap, together with six times its weight of granulated test lead, in a solid carbon crucible. This crucible may be placed inside a clay graphite crucible packed with charcoal, to prevent the excessive oxidation of the carbon crucible by the furnace blast. Place a tight cover on the carbon crucible; heat gradually to a good red heat and allow it to soak in the heat for 4 or 5 hr. After the leaded mass is cool, dissolve in dilute nitric acid (1-6) on a steam plate or sand bath. This dissolves practically all of the lead and most of the palladium, silver and copper, together with seme of the platinum and rhodium, and leaves the iridium, ruthenium, gold, and most of the rhodium and platinum as a finely divided residue. Siphon off the clear solution and treat the residue with another portion of dilute nitric acid to insure the solution of the lead and copper. The second nitric acid solution is added to the first, and the residue is filtered on suction and washed thoroughly with hot

Jan 1, 1928

By R. Hoffmann

The Waelz process produces oxides of volatilizable metals from ores, metalliferous products and residues. The process was originally used for recovering zinc and lead, where tailings and residues containing those metals had accumulated at mines or smelters, but it is applicable for obtaining tin, arsenic or other volatilizable metals. It is useful when other methods of obtaining the metals from the ores or residues are too difficult or expensive or show too low a recovery. The Waelz process was developed in 1923 for the treatment of large calamine dumps in Upper Silesia, which showed zinc contents of 8 to 10 per cent. and lead contents up to 3 per cent. The rapid development of the process, from the first trials up to the plants now working or in course of erection, is shown in Fig. 1. The first industrial Waelz plant was started in 1925. Within two years the capacity of the working plants reached 700 tons material per day of 24 hr. During the year 1928 the daily capacity of the plants now at work or in course of erection will rise

Jan 1, 1928

By C. H. Mathewson

MicrOscopic metallography has been exploited quite well enough to bring about a very general understanding that the typical metal or alloy is composed of minute crystalline particles blended into a coherent rnicrostructural rnosaic. One does not have to be a specialist in metallography to realize that the properties of such an aggregate are essentially a summation in appropriate form of individual effects derived from the shape, size, placement or orientation and cohesive characteristics of the component particles. It is clearly of great importance to consider the various forms of discontinuity which may occur at the boundaries between these crystalline particles. When a number of particles each possessing the same orderly arrangement of atoms are brought together into a close-fitting system of purely haphazard contacts, not unlike a handful of snowflakes compacted into a snowball, the particles are said to possess random orientation. There are no generally accepted views concerning the arrangement of the atoms or the constitutional reaction between atoms where one crystal meets another, but these contact regions are characterized by strength rather than weakness and it is customary to require the presence of many rather than few boundaries in preparing metal for useful service. Under certain circumstances all of the particles in a metal may be nearly alike in orientation. Other general tendencies of orientation may be associated with particular forms of mechanical and thermal treatment. In contrast with these cases of fortuitous or statistical diversity of orientation, we often find adjacent particles united along a plane which possesses a grouping of atoms belonging equally well to both structures. This, of course, determines a fixed relationship between the two orientatjions and it is always possible to derive one from the other by some form of- rotation or reflection prescribed by the symmetry of the crystal structure under consideration. Particles united in this manner are known as twin crystals although the term refers to the form of association rather than the number of individuals concerned.

Jan 1, 1928

By AIME AIME

THE session* on Non-ferrous Metallurgy held Monday morning was conducted in a most satisfactory manner with F. F. Colcord, vice-president, U. S. Smelting Co., in the chair. In spite of the early hour and the fact that members desired to register first, the meeting started quite promptly, with almost every chair in the room occupied. About 65 men were present and during the morning many more came but, not being able to find room, drifted away to other fields of activity. The first paper presented, "Lead Refining Practice of the Bunker Hill Smelter of the Bunker Hill & Sullivan Mining & Concentrating Co.," by Alfred F. Beasley (T. P. 303), was read in abstract by Edward H. Robie, and an animated discussion followed in which Messrs. Johnson (written discussion), Brewer and Jones and Professor Hayward participated. The discussion hinged principally on the liquation of the zinc crusts, but Professor Hayward called attention to the fact that the practice of keeping the gold and silver crusts separate was not new and the present scheme illustrated the axiom that processes based on fundamental principles should not be considered as extinct; one can never tell when it may be found advantageous to make use of them again.

Jan 1, 1930

By SAM YOUR

PROCESSING, technology and application of non- ferrous metals-copper, lead, zinc, aluminum, nickel, precious metals, foundry metallurgy, less common metals, secondary metals-are the special field of the Institute of Metals Division. New developments in this field during 1930 are more or less briefly out- lined in this review prepared by the papers and publications committee of the Institute of Metals Division as follows:

Jan 1, 1931

By J. U. MacEwan

THE basis on which the modern metallurgical industry is operated is the endeavour to attain maximum return in purchasing power for the least expenditure of energy. This has always been the general objective of the industry, as of all industries. In recent years, however, it has received a new emphasis. Today, as never before, increased attention is being directed to the detailed study of plant operations and the application of scientific knowledge and of business principles in order to achieve the maximum efficiency. This new emphasis is the result in large part of the new problems and conditions with which the industry has been confronted, chief among which are the following: (l) Development of new ore-bodies and the treatment of complex ores. (2) Necessity of achieving a greater degree of purity in some of the metals in order to meet the newly discovered demands for some of the industrial metals. (3) Discovery of new markets for many of the metals, either in pure form or in the form of alloys. ( 4) Change in values, absolute or relative, of some of the important metals. (5) Increasing scale of investment in expensive plant and equipment, which makes imperative most efficient utilization if total unit costs are to be kept to a minimum. (6) Increasing scale of operations in some important branches of the industry, which also makes essential maximum efficiency in organization, administration, and operation. The success with which the metallurgical industry has met the problems created by these changing conditions has been due primarily to the following factors: (1) Results of research and experimental work carried on by universities, government laboratories, and many private corporations in the industry itself. (2) Closet study of every detail of plant operation, both from the technological and from the economic point of view, with the object of increasing plant efficiency. (3) Interchange of information and experience amongst the operating companies. It is only by the concerted efforts of numerous investigators and experimenters that the underlying fundamentals of plant operations can be learned. The exchange of results permits their easy assembly and correlation with maximum benefit to the whole industry. Unnecessary duplication of research and experimental work is avoided and the industry as a whole is able to reap the fruits of this work with the maximum of-speed and efficiency. (4) Advances made in recent years in so-called 'scientific management' in industry as a whole and the application of the principles learned to the metallurgical industry. A review of the modern trends in extractive non-ferrous metallurgical processes illustrates the afore-mentioned new conditions and problems, and gives some idea of the methods by which they have been and are being surmounted.

Jan 1, 1937

By Tapani Järvinen

Non-ferrous metals and metals in general are considered as being non-renewable natural resources. Metals are needed because of their excellent and irreplaceable properties. The consumption of metals, with the exception of carbon steel, is steadily growing by 1-3 % annually, and that of stainless steel as much as 3-6 %. This is a general trend, which is periodically disturbed by cyclical variations. In recent years so-called "New Economy" has become prominent in the public media and the market value of the traditional industry has been well below its real value and importance. Nevertheless, the modem society requires metals today and also in the future, and the companies using the most modern technology in a responsible way and innovative solutions not only in technology, but also in everything they do will survive. This paper describes the role of Europe as a producer of primary base metals and as a supplier of technologies in the base metals industry. It concentrates on the development and commercialization of technologies and project implementation in the metallurgical industry. As one example ofa European approach to these matters the paper presents Outokumpu's response to the future challenges in the base metals industry. Outokumpu Oyj is one of the leading metals and technology companies in the world of stainless steel, copper, zinc, and sales of technology in metals and minerals businesses. Outokumpu applies its knowledge of metals and processing to generate value for its customers and shareholder. Everything we do, we do in an economically, environmentally and socially responsible way.

Jan 1, 2003

By Tapani Järvinen

Non-ferrous metals and metals in general are considered as being non-renewable natural resources. Metals are needed because of their excellent and irreplaceable properties. The consumption of metals, with the exception of carbon steel, is steadily growing by 1-3 % annually, and that of stainless steel as much as 3-6 %. This is a general trend, which is periodically disturbed by cyclical variations. In recent years so-called "New Economy" has become prominent in the public media and the market value of the traditional industry has been well below its real value and importance. Nevertheless, the modem society requires metals today and also in the future, and the companies using the most modem technology in a responsible way and innovative solutions not only in technology, but also in everything they do will survive. This paper describes the role of Europe as a producer of primary base metals and as a supplier of technologies in the base metals industry. It concentrates on the development and commercialization of technologies and project implementation in the metallurgical industry. As one example of a European approach to these matters the paper presents Outokumpu' s response to the future challenges in the base metals industry. Outokumpu Oyj is one of the leading metals and technology companies in the world of stainless steel, copper, zinc, and sales of technology in metals and minerals businesses. Outokumpu applies its knowledge of metals and processing to generate value for its customers and shareholder. Everything we do, we do in an economically, environmentally and socially responsible way.

Jan 1, 2003

By J. G. Peacey

"Canada has a special place in non-ferrous pyrometallurgy because it is the only country in the western world that is a significant producer of all the major non-ferrous metals; aluminum, copper, lead, magnesium, nickel and zinc. This large non-ferrous pyrometallurgy industry has developed because of Canada's abundant mineral wealth and energy resources. Table I summarizes the number of primary non-ferrous production facilities in Canada and their share of western world production.Production of non-ferrous metals is a mature, capital intensive business and its basic processes have been in use for many years. Nevertheless, these processes have continued to evolve in response to changing needs and external pressures; such as the energy crisis of the early seventies; historically low metal prices in the early eighties and the continuing pressure to reduce plant emissions and improve in-plant working conditions. Canada's major metallurgical companies: Alcan, Cominco, Falconbridge, Inco and Noranda have played a leading role in pioneering new process technology and continue to meet the difficult challenge of keeping their operations competitive in the global metals market. This paper will try to give an overview of the major developments in non-ferrous pyrometallurgy, largely from the Noranda and Canadian perspectives, highlighting the current status of process technology and possible future directions.AluminumCanada has the world's second largest aluminum smelting industry and its capacity has expanded rapidly in recent years with the completion of several large projects in Quebec. The location and capacity of the Canadian aluminum smelters are given in Table 2. All these plants use the Hall-Heroult process, that was invented over a century ago but over the last twenty years considerable improvements have been made to increase productivity, reduce power requirements and emissions.The developments in aluminum cell technology can be illustrated by the experience at Noranda Aluminum. In 1971, Noranda Aluminum started its first pot line using Kaiser's P69 prebake cell, which was considered, at that time, the best available technology. The P69 cell was designed primarily for high productivity, operating at 150 000 amps and high current density to produce just over tonne Al per cell-day. The P69 cell is a simple design, typically operating at about 88070 current efficiency and 15 800 kWh/tonne Al. When Noranda Aluminum decided to expand in 1980, the Alcoa 697 cell was selected as it then represented the most proven, stateof- the-art technology. This cell is similar to that installed at Alcan's new Grande Baie and Laterriere smelters and is designed to operate at 180000 amps and 93070 current efficiency, producing about 25070 more aluminum per pot-day than the P69 cell using about 15070 less power. The 697 cell has a much more sophisticated cell design, with very good balancing of the magnetic field giving a flat metal pad and allowing efficient operation at the higher amperage. Alumina is fed via point feeders that provide an almost continuous feed allowing close control of the alumina level in the bath and the use of low-ratio bath composition, giving much higher current efficiencies."

Jan 1, 1991