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By J. D. Lane

The U.S. Bureau of Mines is conducting research on guidance systems for computerized haulage in underground mines. This report describes the process of component selection, installation and testing, perception algorithm development, and steering control algorithm development, to produce a real-time steering control system for an articulated haul truck for underground mining. Ultrasonic transducers were mounted on the truck to provide perception data by measuring the distance to the ribs. Linear potentiometers mounted inside the steering cylinders measured the steering angles. Algorithms, implemented on an inexpensive, robust onboard computer system, analyzed the data and controlled the steering via an electro-hydraulic proportional valve. The steering algorithm presented follows a zone defined by the relative position between the truck and a rib. Experimental verification of the ability to follow the zone in a test corridor on the Colorado School of Mines campus is presented. The automatic steering system successfully negotiated straight sections, curves, and the transition zones between straight and curves with the truck in first and second gears. The resulting real-time automatic-steering system can be applied to many underground articulated machines.

Jan 1, 1994

.MAX ROESLER, Firmeza, Oriente, Cuba (communication to the Secretary?).-It is substantially admitted by all who have recently been in touch with these deposits that the orebodies lie in the fine-grained dark-green rocks, called diorite by most writers and diabasic by myself. The three points of disagreement concern the agency of included limestone blocks as causes of deposition, the agency of the

Jan 5, 1917

By Rob Herr, Irwan Halim, Heather Marsh

This project will expand sanitary sewer within the City of Columbus. It consists of 2.5 mile long, 72-inch finished diameter pipe grouted inside 10.8-foot diameter tunnel excavation in shale. This paper describes the multi-faceted geotechnical exploration to minimize the underground risks. The tunnel will cross below a buried valley with minimum cover of highly weathered rock. The risk mitigation to cross the valley includes contingencies and cost allowances. Provisions to prevent impact on adjacent groundwater resources will be described. Latest construction updates will be provided including contractor alternate shaft support and pre-excavation probing to mitigate tunneling risk below the valley.

Jun 23, 2024

Arsenic.--Inorganic arsenic has been added to the Environmental Protection Agency's list of hazardous air pollutants because of a high probability it can cause cancer. EPA estimates that inorganic arsenic emissions into ambient air total more than 6,000 tons per year, with about 65;L of this coming from the operations of copper, lead, and zinc smelters. Asbestos Detection.--In June 14, the President signed S. 1658 providing $172.5 million to detect and remove asbestos hazards in schools. Asbestos Use Must be Reported.--All firms using asbestos in the manufacture of some 30 categories of products must describe in detail how they use the mineral to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, for all manufactures since January 1, 1977.

Jan 1, 1980

By Ahmad Rahbar-Kelishami, Zahra Karimi

When alumina is extracted from bauxite ore, one of the environmental pollutants created is known as red mud (RM). This study clarifies that the RM obtained from the Iran Alumina Company has a significant proportion of iron oxides (24%), alumina (19%), silica (17%), and calcium (21%), as well as trace amounts of other minerals. The elements in the RM can be removed and utilized again to reduce environmental pollution. Acid leaching is one of the best ways to selectively exclude some minerals from the RM. In this research, the RM is exposed to different inorganic acids, including HCl, HNO3, H2SO4, and H3PO4, and their binary mixtures. By comparing the results obtained from XRD, EDX, and SEM, it was discovered that CaSO4 crystals are formed by exposing the RM to sulfuric acid. Besides, phosphoric acid was only able to destroy the surface of RM particles. The XRD analyses of acid-washed residues demonstrated that except for the residue of HCl 5 N, all residues contain hematite, showing that inorganic acids cannot easily extract hematite from the complex phases of red mud. While the dissolution of RM with HCl or HNO3 will remove most of the calcium content of RM texture, increasing its iron oxide percentage, which may subsequently be utilized to make colors and pigments.

Mar 29, 2024

By X Yu, Y Shen

The iron ore products should be assessed in terms of in-furnace behaviour and overall furnace performance, their operation should also be optimised under industry-scale blast furnace (BF) conditions, in order to be sustainable and competitive, especially in the context of decarbonisation efforts in ironmaking. While lab and pilot-scale experiments can provide useful kinetics, they are expensive and risky and cannot replicate industry-scale blast furnace conditions for proper assessment and optimisation. In this paper, we review our recent progress at Shen Lab of UNSW in using state-of-the-art Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) models to assess iron ore products and examine the effects of their operations on BF behaviour in basic terms, including in-furnace phenomena (flow field, temperature field, species distribution fields etc) and overall BF performance (coke rate, reduction efficiency and top gas temperature etc). We have developed state-of-the-edge CFD models for different purposes, ranging from the static-state BF model featuring unique layered burden structures for offline assessment and optimisation knowledge building-up for iron ore products, to the transient-state BF model for online assessment and optimisation of iron ore productions by describing the transient behaviours of iron ore productions under industry-scale conditions. First, we have studied several iron ore products including the iron ore products used in the present BFs and emerging iron ore products like carbon composite briquette and iron-coke. Second, several iron ore operations are studied including optimisation of conventional burden operations like oxygen enrichment, batch weight tuning and new operations like coke central charging and hydrogen injection in BFs. Third, some time-sensitive operations are also investigated including the use of wet burden materials and the drop in blast temperature on BF performance. These CFD models offer cost-effective research tools for understanding the effect of iron ore products on BF performance and serve as a reliable marketing tool for existing and emerging iron ore products under a wide range of BF conditions.

Sep 18, 2023

By X. L. Wang

Hydrothermal method was applied in the preparation of calcium sulfate whiskers in airtight re-actor using gypsum as primary materials. The optimum conditions of preparation are as follows: pH value 9.8~10.1, concentration 5%, material size 18.1µm, which were determined by the analysis of the diameter of CaSO4 whiskers through SEM. On these conditions a product of ultrafine CaSO4 whiskers with diameter of 0.19µm and aspect ratio of 98 is obtained. Ultrafine CaSO4 whiskers with different concentrations, modified by titanate NDZ-401, were added into polypropylene as intensifier and composites of Ultrafine CaSO4 whiskers/ polypropylene were prepared by melting-extruding method. Mechanical performance of the composites was tested and surface morphology of the composites was observed by SEM. The results indicated that impact notched izod of the composites was enhanced by 49.5% compared with pure polypropylene when 10.0% Ultrafine CaSO4 whiskers were added into polypropylene and toughening effect was very remarkable. Dispersion behaviour and interface phenomenon of Ultrafine CaSO4 whiskers in polypropylene matrix were investigated by SEM. The results indicated that Dispersion performance of Ultrafine CaSO4 whiskers modified by titanate NDZ-401 in polypropylene matrix is good, which improved mechanical performance of composites to some extent.

Jan 1, 2014

By Sharma K. K.

India is the third largest producer with accounting to fifth largest reserves base of coal in the world. Indian coal has high ash content (15-45%) and low calorific value. The basic processes being used in India at different places for coal washing adopts old techniques. Much of the valuable part is being lost during washing processes. With enhancement of the available techniques and use of new processes like flotation process indicates better recovery of carbon values during washing stage. The same will increase the reserve base, improve economy of operation and alleviate environment related problems. In the above backdrop this paper portrays the case study of an existing coal processing plant in India. The case study includes the modifications being incorporated in the existing process to enhance the product value. The existing practices and the future trend of process technology that could be adopted to meet the requirements in this country are also discussed. Keywords: washing, dense media cyclone, magnetite media, flotation

Sep 1, 2012

By P. G. Comba

Many gold producing states are requiring rinsing of spent heaps to render the leached ore compatible with the environment and are placing restrictions on effluent pa, cyanide, and metals concentrations. Parameters which may affect efficient rinsing of heaps have been investigated by the U.S. Bureau of Mines in laboratory column studies. Rinse profiles for cyanide, metals, and pH as a function of the volume of water passed through the spent ore are presented. Fresh water rinsing of spent ore in columns showed that rinsing of cyanide was not affected by the rinse solution application rate. Interrupted rinsing with a rest period between applications reduced the volume of water required to meet effluent cyanide concentrations. chemical oxidation of the effluent with recycle of the rinse solutions reduced effluent cyanide concentrations and the volume of waste solution generated. Water rinsing was not successful in reducing the alkalinity of the cement agglomerated ore. A dilute acid solution had to be applied after cyanide removal to reduce effluent pa levels to specified limits.

Jan 1, 1992

"D bed, Ky., coaL, washing characteristics RII 5140coking coal, reserves, estimate RI 5037Pa., coal, washing characteristics RI 4834, 4941D bed mine, Ky., coal, washig characteristics"

Jan 1, 1960

A working understanding of present coal mine communications equipment and its usage is an essential prerequisite to the determination of future communications systems needs. As a means of gaining this understanding, a field survey program was planned and implemented. The plan formulated called for obtaining both qualitative and quantitative data from three main areas of interest: the types, physical condition, and performance characteristics of equipment presently used in the sample of mines to be visited; the relationship present communications has to safety and productivity; and the practical, future communications needs as derived through interviews with present mine management. In compliance with the original plan, the type and physical condition of equipment in use was found through at-mine interviews of personnel responsible for installation and maintenance. Further evaluation was made through the review of equipment instruction books and maintenance manuals and through in-mine inspection of communications equipment and signal distribution networks. The performance characteristics were determined through listening to conversations and noise levels and by talk-testing from randomly selected stations throughout each mine. System operation was evaluated by asking communication system users their opinions and by noting any difficulties personnel had using the systems.

Jan 1, 1974

By M. Sagedahl

The off gas from a smelter is cooled and dust removed in an electrostatic precipitator before approximately 95% of the sulphur dioxide (S02) is converted to sulfuric acid. However, the tail gas may need to be polished to remove the rest S02 to meet demands. A flue gas desulphurization (FGD) system, as usually applied to S02 removal on coal and oil fired Power Station, is suitable for polishing tail gases from copper smelters. The ALSTOM Seawater FGD process makes use of the alkalinity in the seawater to absorb and neutralize S02. Before being returned to the sea, the seawater is treated to comply with environmental regulations. As the ALSTOM Seawater FGD process uses no reagent and produces no byproduct, it is extremely cost-effective for coastal installations. The first SWFGD plant started operation in 1968. Over 60 of these units have been installed worldwide. The ALSTOM Seawater FGD process removes S02 from flue gas flows corresponding to a total of 70,000,000 Nm3 /h. Suitable for thermal power stations, smelters and oil refineries, ALSTOM Seawater FGD plants efficiently treats flue gases in the range of 300,000 Nm3/h to 2, 700,000 Nm3 /h per FGD plant, containing 20 - 6,500 ppm of S02.

Jan 1, 2007

This report covers the results of an industrial engineering study that assessed the safety and efficiency of underground ore handling in U.S. metal mines. Significant conclusions that will be of benefit to the entire mining industry are the following: It appears from the study that the productivity of the slushing equipment itself cannot be substantially increased using the existing technology; the unsafe situations associated with slushers can be improved by better anchoring practices, by providing better work station layout that incorporates improved clearances and protected walkways over the ore pocket, by lighting the slusher drift, and by improved operator training; improved technology needs to be applied to the movement of broken ore in the stopes; and slushers will continue to be used in the mining industry in certain spedial and unique situations outlined in the report.

Jan 1, 1974

By Daniel P. Stare, Lucian P. Spiteri, Christopher M. Hallahan, James C. Myers

Buckeye Lake Dam was substantially remediated between 2015 and 2018 as a result of unacceptable dam safety performance. A permanent seepage cutoff, consisting primarily of a soil mixed cutoff wall (SMCW) with occasional sections of steel sheet piling, was constructed along the dam alignment. Closures were required at the terminus of the soil mix elements with existing structures or coffer cells, and at locations where new sheet piling was constructed parallel to the new soil mixed cutoff wall, creating a short circuit seepage path. The original proposed design to construct these closures included permeation grouting methods with chemical grouts. However, a combination of multiple chemical grout types, multiple grout pipes, and an extensive post-grouting verification program was required to ensure the design intent was achieved. After award of the project, the specialty grouting contractor elected to evaluate jet grouting as an alternative closure construction method. The advantages of the jet grouting option offered potential schedule and cost savings to the project as well as a superior product for seepage reduction, given the mixed soil conditions at the site. This paper presents an examination of the site conditions and project goals for the construction of the proposed closure elements for the rehabilitation of Buckeye Lake Dam. Descriptions of the original and alternative treatment methods are provided, with expected performance results. A description of the relative strengths and deficiencies of each method, as well as the feasibility and constructability of each method is provided. The implementation of the jet grouting program is presented, including a discussion of the design elements, quality control test methods, movement monitoring, and verification test methods. This paper also examines the risks associated with jet grouting and how those risks were mitigated during the grouting operations. HISTORY Buckeye Lake is situated approximately 28 miles east of Columbus, Ohio and is managed and operated by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) as part of the Ohio State Parks system. The lake is impounded by natural features that exist along the south and east banks of the reservoir, and by the embankment structure constructed along the north and west banks of the reservoir (see Fig. 1). The reservoir site was originally a natural swamp and the original purpose of the constructed dam and reservoir was to provide water to the Ohio and Erie Canal System. Several dam alignments and configurations were constructed during its early history; however, the original embankment is comprised of homogeneous earthen fill. The embankment is 15 ft (4.6 m) high and extends 4.1 miles (6.6 km) from the North Shore abutment along the east, continuing to the abutment at Lieb’s Island to the West. Several spillway and outlet structures exist along the embankment alignment. Most noteworthy are Seller’s Spillway and Amil Spillway. Fig. 2 is a Plan View of the embankment alignment and appurtenant structures at Buckeye Lake.

Jan 1, 2019

By John S. Brown

The northeastern United States embraces that area of the Appalachian Mountains, and adjacent territory, beginning on the south at the Potomac River. It thus extends from the flat-lying Paleozoic terrane of the Appalachian plateau on the west, across the folded Paleozoics of the Great Valley and adjacent ridges (Paleozoic and Precambrian), over the Piedmont and New England metamorphic complex (mixed Paleozoic and igenous rocks), broken by the great Triassic rift remnants, onto the subdued coastal plain of Cretaceous and Tertiary sediments. Although not noted as a metal mining region, the area does contain numerous substantial and several outstanding mines, chiefly of the more prosaic metals, particularly iron, zinc, and copper, as well as many minor occurrences of these and a few additional items. These deposits occur to some extent in every subdivision of the area. The region to date (1966) has produced almost 500,000,000 tons of medium to lowgrade iron ore, especially magnetite, including ilmenitic magnetite; 50,000,000 tons of highgrade zinc ore; and 5,000,000 tons of lowgrade copper. In the past, it has yielded small amounts of chromite and nickel, and at present is a large producer of titanium. Precious metals are conspicuously absent, and so also are the Tertiary or Mesozoic igneous phenomena so commonly associated with mines of the West. Hence, a survey of the extensive mineralization · of this region should be instructive

Jan 1, 1968

By C. Thomas Hillman

The practical concern of economic minability of large, high-grade manganese nodule deposits in the northeast Pacific Ocean is addressed in this Bureau of Mines report. Principal objectives are to (1) estimate tonnage and grade of deposits with significant potential and (2) describe and estimate profitability of operations designed to mine and process deposits with greatest apparent potential. Analysis of data from over 800 ship stations identified three areas for detailed study. Average metal contents of these areas range from 1.30 to 1.45 wt pet nickel, 1.00 to 1.24 wt pct copper, 0.21 to 0.26 wt pct cobalt, and 26.8 to 27.8 wt pct manganese. Estimated recoverable nodule resources are 67.0, 66.9, and 148.8 million dry metric tons (t). A system to mine, transport, and process nodules from the three sites is described and costed. Although hypothetical, the system utilizes hydraulic mining and Cuprion (Kennecott) processing, which have been successfully tested at pilot scale. Nickel, copper, and cobalt are the three primary products, but ferromanganese is a considered option. Estimated capital requirements are approximately $1.5 to $1.7 billion for three-metal production. If ferromanganese were recovered, an additional investment of about $130 million would be required. Operating costs range from $71 to $83 per dry metric ton of nodules without manganese, and from $103 to $123 per dry metric ton with ferromanganese. Discounted cash flow analyses predict low returns, ranging from 2.7 to 5.2 pct with ferromanganese and from 4.1 to 6.0 pct without.

Jan 1, 1983

By C. P. Manning

This paper reports recent progress in the development of a unique metal extraction technology utilizing zirconia-based inert anodes for the electrolytic reduction of metals from their oxides. In this process, the target metal oxide is dissolved in an ionically conducting liquid solvent phase. An extended anode consisting of an oxygen-ion-conducting stabilized zirconia membrane in intimate contact with a catalytically active electronic phase and an inert electronically conducting cathode are inserted into the molten flux containing the oxide. When the appropriate electric potential is applied between the electrodes the target metal is reduced at the cathode and oxygen ions are selectively transported across the stabilized zirconia membrane and oxidized at the anode. When the process is conducted at temperatures between 1200-1400°C, the ohmic resistance drop across the stabilized zirconia membrane is low, and high current densities on the order of I A/cm2 or greater can be obtained. In addition, the process efficiency can be increased further by directly reforming hydrocarbon fuel over the anode. Laboratory experiments at Boston University have demonstrated the technical viability of employing zirconia-based inert anodes for environmentally sound production of metals such as magnesium, tantalum, aluminum, etc., directly from their oxides. Significant progress has been made in the application of this concept to the electrolytic reduction of magnesium at 1300°C. The research topics covered include stability of the zirconia membrane in the selected molten solvent (flux), volatility of the flux, electrochemical characterization of the electrolytic cell, and analysis of the metals produced.

Jan 1, 2003

Domestic Production and Use: In 1976, 12 companies operated 31 primary aluminum reduction plants, with 3 firms accounting for 63% of production capacity. Washington, Oregon, and Montana accounted for 36% of the total production; Gulf Coast States 19%, Northern States 29%, and other Southern States 16%. Based on published producer prices output of primary metal in 1976 was valued at $3.8 billion. Aluminum consumption by 25,000 firms was centered in the East Central United States. Of aluminum consuming industries in 1976 building accounted for about 25%; packaging 22%; transportation 19%; electrical 13%; , consumer durables 8%; and other uses, 13%.

Jan 1, 1977

By Dewey W. Geary, Rachael V. Bisnett, R. Michael Bivens, Thomas G. Andrews

"The powerhouse for the Red Rock Hydroelectric Project is being constructed at the toe of the existing U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Red Rock Dam immediately adjacent to the existing stilling basin retaining wall. The powerhouse excavation extends though overburden and 40 feet into rock. Prior to rock excavation, a grouting was performed around the excavation for the purpose of increasing the strength of zones of fractured rock. For the majority of the perimeter, the rock was fairly tight and grout takes were relatively low. However, for a 160 foot extent along the landside of the excavation, extensive grouting was required to treat a two to five foot thick zone characterized by artesian flows from grout holes on the order of 20 gallons per minute (gpm) or higher from a voided zone in rock that was partially filled with sand, clay, and rock fragments. This paper discusses the treatment measures used to fill and improve the strength of this zone, which ultimately entailed a combination of thick cement grout and polyurethane grout, holes spaced as close as 18 inches on-center, and two additional rows of grout holes.IntroductionThe Red Rock Hydroelectric Project (Project) is currently under construction at the existing U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) Red Rock Dam on the Des Moines River near Pella, Iowa. At peak generation, the Project will generate up to 55 MW with an average annual energy output of 178 gigawatt-hours.The powerhouse for the Project will be located at the toe of the existing dam immediately adjacent to the existing stilling basin retaining wall. The powerhouse excavation extends up to a depth of 40 feet into rock through the St. Louis Limestone and terminates in the Warsaw Limestone. Prior to rock excavation, grouting was performed around the excavation for the purpose of improving the strength of zones of fractured rock. An auxiliary benefit of the grouting was reducing seepage into the excavation. Grouting began on July 20, 2015 and ultimately concluded on September 26, 2015.Drilling and grouting occurred as planned on the riverside (southwest) of the excavation along the cellular cofferdam and stilling basin wall (grout holes P-1 through S-13) and on the upstream (northwest) side of the excavation along the secant pile excavation support wall (grout holes P-14 through S-19) (refer to Fig. 1). The rock in these areas was generally tight with relatively low grout takes. However, on the landside (northeast) of the excavation (grout holes P-20 through P-28), partially infilled voids and artesian flows were encountered during drilling generally between depths of about 28 to 40 feet."

Jan 1, 2016

By S. Schade-Dannewitz

In terms of a sustainable waste management, high recycling rates and purities of the different collected waste components are very important. Especially the recycling of used packaging materials with valuable components like plastics, ferrous and non-ferrous metals and liquid cartons (light weight packaging) requires a complex technology. In plants to recycle those light weight packaging materials films cause problems and often manual sorting is necessary to remove them. The Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences together with the company Schulz & Berger from Altenburg tries to replace manual sorting with fully automated technologies. The objective is a technology that can enable a high recovery of recyclable film and satisfy the maximum purity requirements for the film fraction. For that purpose, a new machine called Low-pressure Separator was developed. The test materials used consist of separately collected recyclables from the yellow recycling bins or bags in Germany?s Dual System (Duales System Deutschland ? DSD), the recyclable waste collection system. First tests show that high purities of the film-fraction, for example the required 92% or higher, can be realized. Next to the film-purity, furthermore the mass yield and the recyclable yield are discussed because they play an important role to evaluate the efficiency of the recycling process. Further activities to improve and establish the developed technology are mentioned.

Sep 1, 2012