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By M. D. G. Salamon

If a transition from one equilibrium state to another occurs during the course of mining, energy transfer takes place in the rock mass, which is assumed to be an elastic continuum. The energy components are defined as follows: the work done by external and body forces, W; the increase in stored energy in the mass, Uc; the strain energy in the rock mined during the transition, Urn; the work done on mine support or backfill, Ws; and the released energy, Wr. The energy balance is defined as (W + Urn) - (Uc + Ws) = Wr> 0, where the first set of components in parentheses represents the sources of energy, while that of the second corresponds to the known modes of energy expenditure and the component on the right is the unaccounted-for energy surplus, which must be released and dissipated in some form. The inequality Wr ~ Urn> 0 applies. Expressions for the energy components are derived first for the general case and then for the 'slit' modal used to simulate tabular excavations. Through specific examples, the importance of the progressive nature of mining is emphasized. The size of the steps used to enlarge the excavations appears to play a significant role in the mode of energy transfer. This observation forms the basis of the second paper in this series of two papers.

Jan 1, 1984

I am honoured, deeply honoured, that so distinguished a group has assembled to acknowledge the signifi- cance of the work of my Melbourne flotation research laboratory, to review progress since Principles of Flotation (Wark, 1938) was published, to highlight the present state of knowledge, and to point the way for future research. The flotation research which began in 1929 was sponsored by a group of mining companies2 at the instigation of Harry Hey of the Electrolytic Zinc Company of Australasia Limited. There were never more than three of us work- ing in rather cramped conditions in a laboratory made available by the Department of Chemistry at the Uni- versity of Melbourne, but what we lacked in space was more than offset by a freedom unparalleled in indus- trial research in Australia at that time. I pay special tribute to my first colleague, Alwyn Cox; to my wife who worked with us for several years; and to Keith Sutherland who followed Cox in 1936. They were my sole colleagues up to 1938 when Principles of Flo- tation (Wark, 1938) was published.

Jan 1, 1984

Renison Goldfields Consolidated Limited (RGC) and Consolidated Gold Fields Plc (CGF) purchased New Guinea Goldfields Limited (NGG) in 1982 as an exploration venture. Following an intensive drilling programme in the Upper Ridges area sufficient ore reserves were outlined to justify the installation of a new 700 tonnes of ore per day gravity gold extraction plant. Major considerations in the design of the new plant were to minimise production inter- ruptions in the existing plant and to include simple, but technically efficient, equipment that could be operated and maintained by a workforce with limited experience in modern technology. These goals were achieved over a six month period, commissioning being carried out in April, 1983. Mining the epithermal gold deposit is by open cut benching and truck haulage. The gravity concentrator includes a scrubber, wet hammer mill and rod mill, to crush, grind and prepare the ore for sizing and desliming. Gold recovery units consist of a jig, spirals, shaking tables and amalgam barrels. Although the majority of the gold is in the minus 100 plus 20 microns size fraction a recovery of 63 percent, from a head grade of 2.0g/tonne, is Achieved.

Jan 1, 1984

By W. H. Andrews

DEFINITION OF BAUXITE The term "bauxite" (1) dates back to 1821, when it was assigned to a deposit of red earthy material outcropping near the village of Les Baux in Southern France. Chemical analysis indicated the presence of aluminium oxide, iron oxide and water. Deposits of bauxite are widespread throughout the world although the major developments occur within 30 degrees of the Equator. Essentially bauxite is the product of weathering and leaching of a variety of sediments or rocks, generally in a high-rainfall tropical or sub-tropical climate, resulting in the enrichment of the aluminium oxide content. It is characterised by the presence of one or more of the minerals, gibbsite, boehmite, and diaspore. The other constituents are usually clay, (typically kaolin), hematite and/or goethite (iron-oxides), anatase (titanium oxide), and possibly silica as quartz. A variety of minor elements may be present, such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, vanadium, gallium, manganese, and many others in very small quantities. Organic compounds are normally present from development in association with a soil horizon where vegetation may be encouraged by the high rainfall necessary for bauxitisition. The physical form depends upon the geological history of the deposit and correlation also exists with the mineralogy. Older deposits which have been subject to burial are invariably hard and compact with the alumina predominantly occurring as boehmite or diaspore, while the more recent, surface deposits are frequently less compacted and gibbsite is the dominant alumina mineral. In these later deposits, the physical form can vary from the fine red soil (terra rosa) of Jamaica to the Weipa pisolites to the cemented Arkansas type. The presence of concretionary structures is an important aid in identification in the field.

Jan 1, 1984

By Robert W. Row

The run-of-mine coals in the U.S. being fed to coal cleaning plants have become increasingly finer due to the adoption of modern, mechanized mining methods, and economics are dictating that finer fractions, as well as the coarser fractions, be cleaned. Traditional dewatering methods (vacuum disc filters and centrifuges) are proving inadequate for preparing fine refuse for disposal or fine coal product for downstream handling. The Electric Power Research Institute has been supporting research into the nature and limitations of mechanical dewatering, and novel ways of improving it. The efficiency of various silicone-based chemicals at aiding dewatering was investigated, and it was shown that the final moisture content of hydrophilic coals after vacuum Filtration could be reduced by 1 to 5% with up to 40% increase in filtration rate by addition of one of several of these silicones. EPRI also has an on-going program at its Coal Cleaning Test Facility to investigate the performance of the Larox pressure filter in comparison with that of the disc filter and solid bowl centrifuge. While improvements to the dewatering performance currently being obtained in existing operating plants by such means are achieveable, a fundamental study has shown that, regardless of changes in operating conditions, there may be a limit to the lowest cake moisture content attainable by mechanical dewatering of a given sample of coal fines. Determination of this limit for a specific coal would be useful in designing facilities to dry and handle it.

Jan 1, 1984

By Dr. O’Neil Thomas J., Donald W. Gentry

"If you can hold a board of cross directors In happiness against their gauzy schemes; If you can dodge the wrath of the electors Till dividends will flow as in their dreams; If you can make a mine pay from the grass roots No matter what the time or place or year; Then on my soul until the final blast shoots We'll add the title "MINING" when we call you "ENGINEER. " -From Wayne Darlington, "The Mining Engineer, " The Engineering and Mining Journal, Vol. 98, Sept. 26, 1914, p. 587. REASONS FOR THIS CHAPTER Up to this point in the book the material presented has addressed the fundamental parameters associated with the evaluation of mining ventures and other investment alternatives. The procedures and techniques illustrated represent the basic approach to project evaluation, particularly when considering the normal engineering economic analysis of investment proposals. The evaluation procedure is complicated, however, when dealing specifically with mining-related investment proposals. These complicating factors are invariably directly related to the many special characteristics of the mining industry. Many of these special features such as tax policies, revenue and cost estimation, and ore reserves have been addressed in previous chapters. In addition to the many special features of mining which directly impact, in a quantitative manner, the various line items in the pro forma income statements of a cash flow analysis, other features of mining affect evaluation procedures in a more general manner. The main purpose of this chapter, then, is to provide an exposition of some of these more qualitative factors. We hope this will enable the reader to recognize these factors in mine evaluation practice and to make suitable adjustments in his or her analysis.

Jan 1, 1984

By A. Y. Lee

Prior work at the Bureau of Mines resulted in the successful development of a bench-scale, combination electrorefining-electrowinning method for recycling the lead from scrap batteries using waste fluosilicic acid (H2SiF6) as electrolyte. This paper describes larger scale experiments. Anodes cast from scrap battery lead were electrorefined in a 20-L multielectrode cell for 3 to 7 days. The anodes, containing 2 to 2.5 pct antimony, were ideal for obtaining firm and adherent slime blankets. Cathode deposits, assaying 99.99 pct Pb, were obtained, with current efficiencies near 99 pct. Sludge leaching was done in 100-L tanks followed by filtering in 61 cm square vacuum pan filtersu Lead of greater than 99.99-pct purity was recovered from the filtrate by electrowinning in a 20-L multielectrode cell using insoluble Pb02-Ti (lead dioxide-coated titanium) anodes and pure lead cathodes. The fluo-silicic acid electrolyte depleted in lead was repeatedly recycled to leach more sludge, and there was no problem with impurity buildup. The amount of Pb02 formed on the anodes during electrowinning was less than 1 pct of the total lead deposited on the cathodes, as long as the phosphorus concentration in the electrolyte was greater than 1.3 giL. Emissions of lead in air were less than 10 ~g/m3, well below the proposed OSHA limit of 50 ~g/m3.

Jan 1, 1984

By C. S. Desai

INTRODUCTION Behavior of joints in rock and interfaces in structures and geological media subjected to static and cyclic loading play an important role in analysis and design of structures founded on rock and soil foundations. The objectives of this paper are (1) to describe a device that can permit laboratory testing of joints and interfaces under translational and torsional motions, (2) to present procedures for constitutive modelling of joints and interfaces with a typical example of modelling of a concrete-sand interface, and (3) to give brief details of the proposed research plans for cyclic testing and modelling of joints in concrete as a simulation of joints in rock. The subject of testing and modelling of interfaces and joints is wide in scope, and in view of space limitations, it is not possible to provide a comprehensive review herein. Hence, only a few references, particularly relevant to the ongoing research by the authors and co-workers are included; a review of the subject can be found in (Desai, 1981) and (Heuze and Barbour, 1982). Although there can be (minor) differences in modelling for the behavior of joints and interfaces, the basic procedures can be considered to be essentially similar. Now onwards in this paper, the term joints will be used to imply both joints and interfaces. TESTING DEVICE Appropriate laboratory (or field) testing is an important and indispensable ingredient for constitutive modelling of joints. A new device has been developed for static and cyclic testing of

Jan 1, 1984

By William A. Gibson, Kenneth P. Neumann

In 1967, development of the Cyprus Thompson Creek molybdenum deposit began near Challis, ID. The first mining claims were staked on an intrusive rock out-crop. Exploration continued for 14 years. In 1978, the decision was made to develop the deposit. In Dec. 1980, approval was received for the environmental impact statement and facilities construction and waste rock removal began. By the middle of 1983, 126 Mt (139 million st) of rock had been removed and all facilities completed. Location The Thompson Creek project is located about 58 km (36 miles) southwest of Challis in Custer County, in south central Idaho. The mine and mill are situated between 2.2 and 2.6 km (7,217 and 8,530 ft) in elevation. The project is located in an isolated area. Surrounded by mountains, it is adjacent to the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. The Salmon river is 8 km (5 miles) south of the project. The project claim block is lo-

Jan 1, 1984

By B. A. Chomyn, P. Lapointe

Current work within the Magnetic Properties Task of the Canadian Nuclear Fuel Waste Management Program has indicated that a relation exists between the measured bulk magnetic susceptibility and fracture and lithological characteristics of granitic cores from the Lac du Bonnet batholith in Manitoba. Susceptibility minima correspond to fractured and associated altered rock; uniform background levels coincide with unaltered, non-fractured homogeneous rock; and susceptibility maxima denote the presence of xenoliths and intervals of core containing large and coarse-grained magnetic minerals. The observed variation in bulk susceptibility is largely controlled by the gram size and the relative abundance of iron-titanium oxide minerals of which magnetite is the most important. The magnetic minerals occur as monomineralic grains of magnetite and hematite, as aggregates of magnetite and ilmenite, hematite and ilmenite and as examples of either of these two categories but exhibiting evidence of oxidation and alteration. The degree of alteration of the oxides is commensurate with the alteration of the enclosing rocks. Susceptibility minima characteristic of fractured rock reflect decreases in oxide gram size and abundance, as a result of the oxidation of magnetite to hematite and the development of titanium-rich phases. Correlations between boreholes indicate the possibility of continuous fracture zones at 80 m and 150 m from the surface and another one at a greater depth.

Jan 1, 1984

By Peter L. Swanson

A microcrack process zone is frequently suggested to accompany macrofractures in rock and play an important role in the resistance to fracture propagation. Attenuation of surface waves propagating through mode I fractures in wedge-loaded double-cantilever beam specimens of Westerly granite has been recorded in an attempt to characterize the structure of the fracture process zone. The ultrasonic measurements do not support the generally accepted model of a macroscopic fracture that incrementally propagates with the accompaniment of a cloud of microcracks. Instead, fractures in Westerly granite appear to form as gradually separating surfaces within a zone having a width of a few millimeters and a length of several tens of millimeters. A fracture process zone of this size would necessitate the use of meter-sized specimens in order for linear elastic fracture mechanics to be applicable.

Jan 1, 1984

By James H. McCutchan

The small and remote mine operators must comply with the Federal Mine Safety and Health Administration regulation requiring them to train and maintain mine rescue teams. The alternative is for the operators to contract with established teams within two hours travel time of their mine. Many of these remote operations are too far away from established teams and have too few employees to make up the necessary teams. Many cannot comply with the regulation either from a manpower or economic standpoint. The Office of Arizona State Mine Inspector, under the direction of the Honorable James H. McCutchan, State Mine Inspector, entered into a contract with the Bureau of Mines to develop the concept of a volunteer mine rescue program. This program with the assistance of the mining industry and volunteer rescue organizations, has planned and instituted a statewide volunteer mine rescue organization. The trained and equipped volunteers are stationed throughout the state and can respond to a mine emergency within the time constraints.

Jan 1, 1984

By Zden[e]k P. Bažant

Due to their heterogeneity, most rocks fracture with a zone of distributed cracking ahead of the fracture front. This makes linear elastic fracture mechanics inapplicable. The present study describes a mathematical model in which the progressive microcracking is taken into account by strain-softening stress-strain relation. In a simpler version of the model, the triaxial strain-softening stress- strain relation is obtained by direct adjustment of the elements of the compliance matrix. This formulation is rigorous only if the principal stress directions do not rotate during fracture formation within the fracture process zone. As a more sophisticated and generally applicable model, the so-called microplane model which is an analogue of the slip theory of plasticity is outlined. Comparison with fracture data for various rocks are given.

Jan 1, 1984

By J. F. Cuderman

A technique using propellants has been developed for producing multiple fractures about a wellbore. The use of propellants having a range of burn rates permits precise control of combustion gas release and thereby of borehole pressurization. The pressure rise- time is the key variable governing fracture behavior. The peak pressure attained is of secondary importance and appears to be a function of in situ stress and loading rate. The fracture geometry is governed by the in situ stresses and pressure risetimes. The major fractures occur along the principal planes of stress and along apparent planes of maximum shear stress.

Jan 1, 1984

The economics of gold differs from that for base metals mainly because a large component of gold demand is investment or stock demand whereby the metal is purchased and stored for monetary or anxiety motives rather than fabricated into industrial products.The second major component of gold demand is fabrication, principally into jewellery but also, to some extent, into industrial products.Supply to the Western private- gold market comprises non-Communist mine production, Communist sales (chiefly from the USSR), and, finally, net sales by the Western Central Banks, which have total stocks of about 35,000 tonnes and which are sometimes net buyers as well as sellers.The different components of demand and supply fluctuate from year to year.

Jan 1, 1984

Some of the major factors affecting ore reserve estimation in gold mines are discussed together with their impact on computational methods.The major priority in ore reserve estimation is to get sampling and geological problems resolved. Poor basic information cannot be remedied by mathematical methods.Generally the more complex a deposit becomes the greater the need for subjective assessment and the less applicable are more complex ore reserve methodologies.

Jan 1, 1984

By S. C. Rhoads

The Bureau of Mines is investigating low-chromium alloy substitutes for type 304 stainless steel (type 304 SS). The purpose of the research is to reduce the chromium content in austenitic stainless steels used for corrosion-resistant applications. Nine Fe-9Cr-12Ni alloys containing additions of 0 to 5 pct Mo, 0 to 2 pct V, and 0 to 2 pct Cu were selected for evaluation. All of the experimental alloys containing 5 pct Mo and an alloy containing 2Mo-2V-2Cu possessed structure and tensile strengths similar to those of type 304 SSe Alloys containing SMo-2V and SMo-2V-2Cu had ac-ceptable welding properties as measured by the Varestraint test. Alloys containing at least 2 pct Mo had cQrrosion resistance comparable to that of type 304 SS in solutions of nitric acid, phosphoric acid, acetic acid, and citric acid. In chlorides, all the experimental alloys were susceptible to localized corrosion and stress corrosion cracking similar to that of type 304 SSe The corrosion properties were established by weight-loss tests, electrochemical polarization tests, and stress-corrosion cracking tests. An Fe-9Cr-12Ni-SMo-2V alloy and an Fe-9Cr-12Ni-SMo-2V-2Cu alloy had a combination of welding properties, tensile properties, and corrosion resistances that were most comparable to those of 304 SS.

Jan 1, 1984

By M. J. Scoble, N. Rowlands, L. Piciacchia

Pronounced non-linear behaviour of mine backfill arises from the influence of confining pressure, cementing agent content, curing time, void ratio and water content. Past research into backfill behaviour under stress is reviewed and related to the needs for constitutive laws which can be integrated into numerical modelling for mine design where structures employ backfill support. A method for representing non-linear backfill behaviour is proposed, which is based upon numerical regression treatment of triaxial laboratory data. The non-linear behaviour observed from a program of laboratory triaxial testing of cemented hydraulic backfill is presented. The particular influence of confining stress and curing duration is high- lighted. The paper concludes by considering the alternative means of accounting for such behaviour in mine design.

Jan 1, 1984

By K. Osseo-Asare

The DIAGRAM computer program has been used to develop stability diagrams such as Eh-pH, log [CNI-pH, and log [Me]-pH for the systems Me-CN-H 0 where Me = Au, Ag, Fe, Zn, Cu, Ni, Co. More complex 2 diagrams involving sulfur- and arsenic-containing species are also presented. With the aid of these diagrams, a discussion is presented of the solution conditions (e.g. pH, [CN], [CNS], Eh) vhich influence gold and silver extraction in cyanide solutions. Special emphasis is given to the effects of ore minerals or calcination products, such as pyrrhotite, pyrite, arsenopyrite and hematite on gold-silver dissolution. Application of the stability diagrams to solution treatment operations such as cementation is also indicated.

Jan 1, 1984

By Rodrigo Jerez

This paper describes a Mixed Integer Linear Programming model that was developed for planning the coal operations at Mountain Coals, Inc., in Kentucky. The model incorporates the use of stockpiles as practiced and allows the operator to find the least cost combination of raw coal feeds, washing densities and blending to produce the different quality coals as required by the coal contracts.

Jan 1, 1984