Search Documents

By Vladimir L. Konyukh

Robotics is topical for mining owing to deterioration of miner's safety as a depth of winning, limited functions of traditional mechanization and automation, rise of miner's labor cost. Mining robot is an autonomous mining machine with a free programmable control that provides a multifunctional use of working head. After analysis of world publications the database “Technological applications of robotics in mining" has been built. In most cases robots are suggested for imitation of miner's motions. The following shapes of robotics had been classified for mining: technological robot as a flexible controlled mining machine, remote manipulator, mine rescue robot. The problems of both non-repeated environment recognition and telepresence without direct visibility must be solved. The more a robots integration is the less investments and the more efficiency are. Computer simulation of robotics-based mining is founded on a base of 6 robots functional models, Petri nets and library of 30 robotized technologies. There are some examples of mine robotization in the paper.

Jan 1, 1996

By P. A. Corbeil, C. Swart, F. Miller, V. Falmagne

Automation technologies are increasingly adopted in different mines worldwide. This paper presents the technical aspects of vehicle automation applications at two Noranda operating mines. Teleoperation of 5 LHD’s at Noranda’s Bell Allard mine is used in order to meet aggressive mining requirements under difficult conditions. The equipment is performing under high demand for reliability and performance. In order to further increase performance, automated loading has been commissioned on one of the LHD’s and is being tested. Results to date indicate improved performance with respect to an operator through better filling of the bucket, fewer passes at the muck pile and shorter cycles. Noranda’s Brunswick mine is currently commissioning an automated haulage zone where two optically guided trucks transport ore from a remotely operated chute to two ore passes. Expected operational advantages include increased system capacity and enhanced safety and comfort for the operator. Monitoring to date indicates that the trucks can operate reliably under the conditions imposed by mine production.

Sep 1, 2001

Lieut. Louis J. Brunel, now in France, was commissioned on July 27, 1917, as Second Lieutenant in the Engineers Reserve Corps, assigned to the 7th U. S. Engineers, Dec. 10, 1917, and has been with the American E. F. since Mar. 26, 1918. He was assigned to the staff of the General commanding the 5th Field Artillery Brigade, as Engineer Officer, on Aug. 6, 1918. E. Ross Housholder writes that "the record for pontoon bridge building was broken Sept. 25, 1918, by Section A, Co. 4, 5th Engineer Officers' Training School, at Camp Humphreys, Va., of which I am a member. The time was 15 min. 11 3/5 seconds. We then proceeded to break the record for dismantling in 9 min. 57 1/5 seconds. The length of the bridge section was 200 ft. The post band was sent out to meet us, and we feel proud of this record. I have met quite a few A. I. M. E.

Jan 11, 1918

By Zamel G. I, Zenari L. P

Technological developments in modem Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) and associated back-up equipment are offering significant alternatives for mining operators to consider, in the selection of equipment for coal mine development drifts, roadways, longwall gate roads as well as metalliferous mining declines and development drives.Greater flexibility in handling variable ground conditions, muck disposal and radius of turn as well as advance rates, are just some of the areas where modem TBMs can accomplish the flexibility that mine operators require to achieve cost-effective developments.Compact TBMs are achieving this acceptance because of the fundamental design of a shielded machine containing electrics and hydraulics within the forward shell, ability to achieve tight radius of curvature and grades, and ability to provide highly flexible support systems to meet all possible ground conditions.However, a single TBM design will not suit all mine developments, as each development method - while having common goals with all mine developments - will also require certain unique criteria to be fulfilled.

Jan 1, 1993

From depths of 400 - 600 m, coal is transported by a conveyor in a drift or a bulk winder in a shaft, whilst men and/or materials are transported by a slope hauler or a cage winder. Assessment of the effect of alternative combinations on the key cost factors - output, capital, labour cost and construction time - allows the optimum choice for particular circumstances, there being no uniform solution.

Jan 1, 1976

By Paul Schmiesing, Matt Higgins

Central Oregon is a fast growing resort community centered in Bend, Oregon. Bend is bordered by the Cascade Mountains to the west and the high dessert to the east. Central Oregon is blanketed with lava rock with little topsoil. Ditch blasting is a staple in the area. Almost all utilities excavation (gas lines, sewer lines, water lines, and electrical lines) requires blasting. There is also a considerable amount of blasting required for site excavations and drywells. On average, there are over 500 blasts per year in Bend alone. All of this blasting is done using small holes, generally 2.5 inches in diameter. Typical ditches will have 200 holes, between 2-3 rows wide, with an average depth of 8 feet, and on 36 inch centers. Almost all shots are dry. Successful blasting requires careful control of drilling and loading. The vesicular basalt contains numerous lava tubes and caves making drilling and loading difficult. The rock conditions vary greatly from one side of town to the other requiring different powder factors and different scale of distances for vibration control. Caret%1 calculations of vibration predictions and use of site-specific seismic info is necessary. Marry shots will require deck loading and careful timing to ensure one-charge per delay. It is an every day occurrence to be blasting near residential and commercial structures or high pressure gas lines. Many times ditch blasting will incorporate excavation blasting. The different hole patterns used for the ditches and the excavation shots presents challenging timing sequences.

Jan 1, 2000

By A. L. Holley

THE members of the society are doubtless aware that the production of American Bessemer steel works is constantly increasing ; that the same converters and machinery are doing more work every year. This enlarged output is due to various causes, chiefly the following: 1st. Better organization-better knowledge on the part of both managers and men, of the plant and the process ; of the way to economize the more exhausting labor, and of the arrangement of the details of labor and operations so that they shall not conflict; also, more pluck-a greater willingness to take risks, or, more properly, such an intimate knowledge of the nature and capacities of the refractory tory linings in various stages of disrepair, and the probable be- . havior of the fluid metal at various stages of its treatment, that the precise nature of the risk may be better known, so that the works may be crowded to their full capacity. In the early practice, after getting four or five consecutive heats in a day, the men preferred to "let well enough alone," and to devote the remaining time to preparation for another turn. Now, thirty, and sometimes forty heats are regularly made during the twenty-four hours, day after day, without the frequent occurrence and without the fear of breakdowns or "messes," as the spilling of steel charges was graphically named in Sheffield. 2d. Although no new refractory materials have been developed, improved means of preparing such as we have, and of imbedding

Jan 1, 1874

By Peter W. Scott

The Caribbean islands, with their very diverse geology, are a source of several industrial minerals both for their own domestic consumption and for export. The geology of the Greater Antilles, which comprises Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, and Jamaica has a Mesozoic or pre-Mesozoic basement overlain by sediments and volcanics, the latter being dominantly island arc in character. Later granitoid intrusions were emplaced. Obduction of ophiolites also occurred variously from the mid- Cretaceous to the Palaeogene. Thick accumulations of limestones surround the older strata, along with Neogene and younger sediments. The Lesser Antilles islands form an arcuate chain, mainly of volcanic rocks of calc-alkali or sub-alkaline affinity with some younger limestones and siliciclastic sediments. Trinidad and Tobago have closer similarities with the South American continent in their geology. Tobago has a metamorphic complex, juxtaposed with a volcanic-plutonic complex, and limestones. Trinidad has very thick Cretaceous to Recent exposed sedimentary sequence. The current exploitation of industrial minerals in the Caribbean is dominated by construction raw materials (mainly sand and gravel, limestone, and cement), although there is extraction of gypsum, silica sand, marble, clay (almost entirely for construction use), pumice, and natural asphalt. Salt is obtained from solar evaporation of seawater. Limestone of high purity and high brightness, gypsum, pumice, and high-density igneous rock have potential for further development of their markets, particularly ex- ports. Potential new and undeveloped industrial-mineral resources include residual and sedimentary kaolin, bentonite, zeolites, magnesite, and talc. Cuba could be a source for many industrial minerals in the future.

Jan 1, 1999

By Roger E. Barthelemy

PRIMITIVE mining and metallurgy has today almost disappeared. Probably the only remaining tribal tin mining and smelting is practiced by the Laotian natives in one of the less known tin areas of the world. This district lies almost a thousand miles from the sea along the Mekong River, one of the longest rivers in the world, that marks the border between Siam and Laos, one of the five states forming French Indo-China. Less than twenty years ago it took more than two weeks' travel on elephant-back to reach the spot and today it still takes many days of travel, using all kinds of transportation from automobiles to native

Jan 1, 1938

Frothing in Seawater Flotation Systems

Sep 13, 2010

By P. H. Royster

For a number of years the Bureau of Mines has been investigating certain problems relating to the blast furnace. In the course of these investigations it was desirable to measure, with the optical pyrometer, the temperatures occurring in the hearth of the furnace. Since no systematic measurements of these temperatures have been published a statement of the results may be of interest. The data given in this paper were obtained it thirty-two blast furnaces operated by seventeen companies; twenty of these furnaces were making iron, eight ferromanganese, and five spiegeleisen. The collection of this information was made possible by the cooperation of the American Manganese Co., Bethlehem Steel Corpn., Brier Hill Steel Co., Buffalo Union Furnace Co., Clinton Iron & Steel Co., Donner Steel Co., John B. Guernsey & Co., Jones & Laughlin Steel Co., E. E. Marshall, the McKinney Steel Co., National Tube Co., New Jersey Zinc Co., Republic Iron & Steel Co., Seaboard Steel & Manganese Corpn., Southeastern Iron Corpn., the Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co., and the Wharton Steel Co.

Jan 9, 1919

By Zay Jeffries

THE object of the present paper is to enlarge somewhat on the general principles advanced in my discussion 1 of Mathewson and Phillips' article on. The Recrystallization of Cold-Worked Alpha Brass on Annealing.2 It will also serve as an acknowledgment of Prof. Howe's3 most important remarks on my contribution. In this paper the writer has adopted Prof. Howe's suggestion to substitute the term "germinative temperature" for "critical temperature for grain growth." Instead of being an exact or certain temperature it should be considered that the germinative temperature phenomenon exists throughout a small temperature range. Factors Influencing Fast Growth Phenomena The development of grains of macroscopic size at the germinative temperature should be considered the extreme condition of a general rule. When considered in this light it is not strange that the development of these large grains should be the exception and not the rule. The principal factors influencing the operation of the laws of fast growth temperature are as follows: 1. Rate of heating.

Jan 10, 1916

By Harry E. Krumlauf

The year 1957 was one of declining metal price and production. Many lead-zinc-copper mines were forced to close, and the remaining mines limited production to stay more in line with demand. High cost of labor, supplies, and equipment and high taxes aggravated the situation. Some operators postponed or abandoned expansion programs because of uncertain economic conditions. Output was curtailed by elimination of over- time employment and reduction of the working force. The number of employes laid off was small- reduction in the labor force was accomplished by not replacing those who left a company's employ.

Jan 2, 1958

By Richard E. Thill

Two Cross-borehole systems were developed by the Bureau of Mines, one operating at a central frequency of 20 kHz for close-in spacing between boreholes (2-20m) and another operating at a dominant frequency between 1-2 kHz for more distant range (40-300+m) between boreholes. The systems are specially designed for the expected ranges and high resolution required in mining applications. Potential applications of the crosshole systems are presented for a variety of geophysical measurements related to underground mining problems.

Jan 1, 1989

By J Paul Tidman, Stephen H. Chung

One of the requirements in open pit gold mines is to minimise the mixing of ore and waste. Dilution can be reduced by choke blasting and control of the initiating sequencing. The authors have used the DMC computer model (developed at SANDIA) to examine the effects of timing and charge distribution on ore dilution. The model has been calibrated by measurements of vertical uplift derived from high speed videos made at the Dome Super Pit in Timmins.

Jan 1, 1997

By Anders Nordqvist

LKAB operates an underground iron ore mine in Malmberget in the northern part of Sweden. Twelve different orebodies are mined today using both longitudinal and transversal sublevel caving as mining method. The town of Malmberget is located close to the mining area. The need for urban transformation, moving people and houses, is evident for many reasons. The mining methods used have inherent subsidence issues and there are also vibrations from blasting and mine induced seismic events.

Jan 1, 2018

By W. R. Ingalls

SOME months ago, I had occasion to make an investigation that introduced the subject of blue powder that is produced as a byproduct in zinc dis-tillation. Although every zinc smelter is aware that more or less blue powder production is inevitable and there is a common practice as regards the treatment of it, the specific and quantitative data respecting the subject were more imperfect than would have been expected. I had reports from eight important works. Some of the data were especially determined for my investigation. Speaking generally, there is a good deal of uniformity in the figures, all of which show that the blue powder product, bears a large proportion to the ore originally charged into the retorts; that a large proportion of the retort capacity is devoted to the redistillation of blue powder; and that of the spelter product of a furnace about 30 per cent. is derived from blue powder, i.e., it is zinc that has been distilled twice. The figures from the works are given in the following table:

Jan 4, 1922

Exploration requires a lot of skill, technical knowhow, and money; the money is usually less painfully available when provided by a profitable cash flow of an existing organisation that has income against which exploration cost is deductible. Planning the financing for development of a proven resource should begin at the earliest stages even while the mining plan is being formed up. The character of the participants has a bearing on the nature of the financing "package" and the structure that is to be selected for the venture. The security for borrowers in a remote mining resource is no better than the capacity of the participants to bring that resource to profitability in line with the findings of a thorough feasibility study. Taxation considerations related to the structure selected and the timing of the cash flow are of vital importance. Sales contracts have generally been a basic requirement of institutions financing mineral mining projects. Clauses relating to price, price escalation, and currency var- iations, are key factors in those contracts. Initial contracts have generally been required to cover initial overall costs.

Jan 1, 1974

By Milton E. Wadsworth

Hydrometallurgical processing of ore deposits by solution mining or in situ techniques requires the interfacing of technologies as diverse as hydrology, geology, chemistry, and rubblization. This synthesis represents one of the main challenges to in situ processing due to the inherent complexity and vocabulary of these well-developed technologies, and to the general lack of appreciation for the depth of knowledge and endeavor in each separate field. No better example of the need for such interfacing of technologies exists than that of solution mining. How well these technologies interface depends upon the size of the operation and its financial capability to use the information and technology available. It is inconceivable that any one individual can optimize each potential contribution alone; consequently, some areas are usually neglected or simply are not fully appreciated. When one examines what must be done at a future date to develop and exploit a remote solution mining system, it becomes obvious that each discipline must effectively communicate the needed background information to make the project a synthesized whole.

Jan 12, 1977

By Helmer Hedstrom

THE purpose of this paper is to direct attention to the importance and the usefulness of phase measurements in electrical prospecting for ore, a subject about which virtually nothing has been published. The paper describes a new field method for ore prospecting, the "Turam" method, which makes use of phase measurements, and which has been used with great success for five years. Of the principal geophysical prospecting methods, the gravimetric and magnetic methods determine the direction and strength of the static fields of force of the earth. By seismic and electrical methods, fields of force are applied to the block of ground under investigation. By these methods a third parameter can be measured, besides the direction and strength of the field; namely, the time of arrival of the applied field at the different observation points. This time of arrival has been practically the only parameter measured in seismic work, while in electrical pros-pecting it has generally not been considered, the measurements having been limited to determination of direction and strength of the applied field.

Jan 1, 1937