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By R. Asamoah, P. Forson, S. Xu, W. Skinner, M. Zanin

In most auriferous hydrothermal deposits, gold is preferentially associated with pyrite and arsenopyrite minerals, with higher economic gold values noted for the latter and arsenian pyrite minerals. In this paper, surface (Cryo-XPS) and solution (EDTA extraction) analysis were used to characterise pyrite and arsenopyrite minerals under different aqueous conditions involving electrokinetic study and collector interactions to better understand ways of improving the separation of pyrite and arsenopyrite. The evidence showed higher surface oxidation at solution pulp pH values in the range of 4-11 for arsenopyrite relative to pyrite. The observed highest ratio of pyrite to arsenopyrite selectivity was 1.7 at collector concentration of 50 g/t and decreased with an increase in collector concentration. Keywords: EDTA extractable iron, selectivity index, differential flotation, grade engineering

Jan 1, 2020

By T. D. Teimann, R. L. Stone

The rate of extraction of silica from certain Wisconsin and Minnesota taconites was investigated by autoclave digestion in sodium hydroxide solutions over the temperature range from 296° to 416°F. Rates obtained were from 7 to 254 g mol per cm2 per sec giving activation energies from 15,000 to 19.000 cal per mol. Activation energy was found to increase with increase of sodium hydroxide concentration. Digestion of different forms of quartz indicated the rate of extraction to be solely a function of surface area under similar conditions of digestion. The results of an experimental investigation on the caustic extraction of silica from certain Wisconsin and Minnesota taconites were presented in a recent publication.' It was shown that residual concentrates containing as much as 65% iron can be produced by this method. The occurrence of silica as a micro-crystalline variety of quartz with high specific surface area gave correspondingly high mean rates of extraction in solutions of sodium hydroxide. The present paper extends this previous work by presenting the results of a study of the specific rates of extraction of silica from these ores as related to temperature, sodium hydroxide concentration and variety of quartz. Calculated activation energies for the dissolution of silica are presented and some possible mechanisms are discussed. TACONITES The low-grade siliceous iron ores investigated included taconite from the Wisconsin Gogebic range and a semi-taconite2 from the Minnesota Mesabi range. These are adequately described in the former paper1 and by the U. S. Bureau of Mines. The principal iron minerals are hematite (Fe2O3) and goethite (Fe2O3 . H2O), while the gangue is essentially a microcrystalline variety of quartz. Minor amounts of other minerals are present. Typical analyses show the Wisconsin taconite to contain approximately 28% Fe and 54% SiO2 and the Minnesota semi-taconite 39% Fe and 39% SiO2. Analyses of the actual samples used are given in Table I. The taconite samples were prepared for digestion by reducing the original ore to minus 200 mesh in a Braun pulverizer. QUARTZ Three varieties of quartz were studied in the investigation: Ottawa sand, chert and chalcedony. The Ottawa sand was obtained from the Ottawa Silica Co. The chert and chalcedony came from Wards Natural Science Establishment. A minus 200 plus 400 mesh fraction of the Ottawa sand, used as a surface area standard, was repeatedly washed in hot concentrated hydrochloric acid followed by distilled water before autoclaving. The other two varieties were used directly after grinding through 200 mesh in a laboratory hammer mill. Analyses of these samples appear in Table 11. Microscopic examination of the silica samples by the oil immersion method showed that the Ottawa sand consisted of clean, uniform spheres of quartz with little deviation in size from a mean diameter of 82µ determined by a distribution count. The other two varieties consisted almost entirely of microcrystalline aggregates of quartz crystals; the aggregates ranged from 10 to 70µ. The individual crystals in the chert aggregates were estimated to be of the order of

Jan 1, 1964

FOR some time it has been recognised by the Metallurgical Staff that the presence of pyrite in the ore was adversely affecting the grades of the flotation concentrates.Following experimental work, it was decided to change over from the acid circuit in the mill to an alkaline circuit. The following description sets out the procedure adopted, -and the results obtained when such change-over was made.The Zinc Corporation ore consists mainly of galena, marmatite, calcite, and quartz, with smaller quantities of pyrite, fluorspar, and rhodonite.A clean specimen of marmatite picked from the ore assayed 53.4% zinc, and 10% iron, with no lead or insoluble. However, as zinc concentrates have been, at times, produced in the plant assaying over 53% zinc, and with only 8.7% iron, apparently the picked specimen of marmatite did not represent an average composition.The average would probltbly be between 8 and 9% of iron, and from 53.5 to 54.5% of zinc. It is obvious, therefore, that from this ore it is not possible to produce zinc concentrate of a higher grade than this average figure.In the Colorado School of Mines Quarterly for April, 1928, Vol. 23, No. 2, on page 47, we find the following statement:As the zinc in the ore exists as marmatite, which contains approximately 54.5% zinc and 10% iron, 49% zinc in the concentrate may be considered high.This statement refers to the ore treated in the Sullivan concentrator, owned by the Consolidated Mining and Smelting Company of Canada Limited.

Jan 1, 1930

By A. A. Bilgin

The prevention of acid mine drainage (AMD) in situ is more attractive than down-gradient treatment alternatives that do not involve source control. AMD source control can be achieved by shifting the microbial activity in the sulfidic rock from pyrite oxidation to anaerobic heterotrophic activity. This is achieved by adding biodegradable organic carbon amendments to the sulfidic rock. This technique was applied to an abandoned coal mine pool in Pennsylvania. The pool had a pH of 3.0 to 3.5. Following treatment, near-neutral pH and decreased effluent heavy metal concentrations were achieved. In situ bioremediation by the enhancement of bacterial iron and sulfate reduction is a promising technology for AMD prevention.

Jan 1, 2007

By M J. Sale

The Epithermal and Mesothermal Gold Prospectivity Modelling Projects recently completed by Crown Minerals provided explorers in New Zealand with a new compilation of historical exploration data combined with new geological information from the GNS QMap 1:250 000 scale mapping project. These data were used to produce predictive mineral potential maps for gold mineralisation in New Zealand. The aim of these projects, which was to stimulate mineral exploration and investment in exploration, has been successful with new companies acquiring new tenements and committing significant exploration expenditure to exploring in New Zealand in the coming years. The projects were undertaken at a national scale and consequently not all exploration data were compiled into the prospectivity models. HPD New Zealand Ltd recognised the value of the prospectivity modeling work and committed exploration funds to continue the modelling process started by the projects. They recognised the need to compile the remaining data and run the models again to allow detailed exploration targeting.

Jan 1, 2004

By G. L. Kothny

Developments of well-surveying instruments, coring .and core orientation, were in an advanced state when drilling for oil began—these developments actually originated with the mining industry.' Surveying of oil wells was not generally used in the United States until Alexander Anderson2 disclosed that the majority of wells drilled with rotary tools were crooked, with average horizontal drifts of about 516 ft. for holes 5000 ft. deep and about 793 ft. for holes 6000 ft. deep. This disclosure brought about the development of many additional instruments for surveying oil wells during the progress of drilling and after their completion. Surveying of boreholes, during the process of drilling at regular depth intervals, became a standard practice in the petroleum industry. Some producing states even established laws making check surveys mandatory, during drilling and under certain conditions also after completion. The surveying of boreholes also brought about changes and improvements in drilling practices. It provides information for the guidance of the hole while drilling, and for plotting the course as the work progresses, enabling the driller to take corrective measures immediately and with the least expense. The reasons for drilling straight holes are too well recognized to warrant any full discussion of them here. Straight holes are less costly to drill, because they reach the object on the shortest course. Table I shows the horizontal drift and loss in vertical depth for various angles of inclination. It is not surprising, therefore that many drilling contracts for oil wells today limit the drilling contractor to a maximum inclination off the vertical of 2° or 3O. In the mining industry the reasons for drilling straight holes are still more serious. A crooked hole may miss an ore body underground or provide incorrect information regarding an ore body. Types of Surveying Instruments The surveying instruments used in oil-well drilling may be classed in two types: I. Inclinometers, recording inclination only.

Jan 1, 1949

By K. C. Corin, M. S. Manono, R. M. Manenzhe, J. G. Wiese

"Environmental concerns necessitate the recycling of process water within mining operations. Given that recycled water is chemically different from fresh water, and collectors are added such that they adsorb at the liquid-particle interface, changes in the aqueous phase are expected to affect collector adsorption. A Finnish nickel-copper ore was floated in synthetic plant waters of varying ionic strengths and plant waters obtained at Boliden Kevitsa Mine, with aerophine and sodium isopropyl xanthate as collectors. Of the tested waters, the copper thickener overflow was the least conducive to xanthate adsorption and valuable mineral recovery. The nickel thickener overflow, standard process water, and raw water were the most conducive to xanthate adsorption. For the raw water and nickel thickener overflow, increased adsorption correlated with increased valuable mineral recovery. Further, recycling xanthate retained in water affected the selectivity of the collector and hence the concentrate grades.INTRODUCTIONFlotation is a separation process that exploits the differences in the surface properties of the particles being separated. The efficiency of separation is dependent on the degree of hydrophobicity achieved by the particles meant to be floated, which are, in most cases, valuable minerals. The hydrophobicity is in turn dependent on the adsorption of the chosen collector onto the surfaces of the floated particles (Fuerstenau, 1984; Taggart and Hassialis, 1946). Empirical findings suggest that species dissolved in solution strongly influence collector adsorption and overall flotation response (Fuerstenau and Chander, 1986). Due to environmental concerns, it is becoming more pertinent for mining plants to recycle process water and hence limit the usage of potable water. There is an interest to ensure minimal discharge of plant water into the environment, as this water is typically polluted with process reagents that may render it toxic (Levay et al., 2001).Recycled water, however, has been shown to adversely affect flotation. Reagent efficiency can be reduced due to increased suspended solids. A loss of mineral recovery can occur due to competitive adsorption between reagents and other dissolved species, loss of reagents due to precipitation, and unwanted reactions. Further, a reduction in grade can occur due to non-selective coating of reagents on valuable and gangue minerals, and hydrophobic coating of microbiological material on gangue, causing unwanted flotation. Yet despite these drawbacks, water reuse has the advantages of minimal fresh water use and reduced reagent consumption by recovering the unconsumed reagents retained in wastewaters (Bruckard et al., 2011; Levay et al., 2001; Shengo et al., 2016; Slatter et al., 2009)."

Jan 1, 2018

By Simon C. Dominy, Ian M. Platten

"Abstract - Gold-bearing quartz reefs commonly show extremely erratic and unpredictable grade variation, although gross geological continuity may be good. This type of variation is often described as being nuggety or having a high nugget effect and can be measured quantitatively using the semivariogram. Understanding of geological features such as reef texture and structure will provide improved models for the interpretation of assay data, drill core descriptions, etc. In this paper, a case study from the quartz-hosted gold occurrences in the Gwynfynydd mine, United Kingdom, is described. The work provides a starting point for models of lateral variation and demonstrates the types of structural and textural features that may be sought to give clues to the prediction of gold distribution in similar deposits. Gold deposition at Gwynfynydd is primarily associated with the reef footwall. The host veins form a discrete group of structures that may have been emplaced early in the sequence of quartz veins forming the reef. This potentially exposes them to a maximum number of dissection events during repeat dilations of the lode. Gold was deposited in the local porosity at extreme concentrations, equivalent to kg/t grades, when the host fissure had become filled with a porous framework of crystalline quartz and sulfides. Distribution of porosity varied laterally along the vein as the result of the formation of clump-like growths of minerals from the vein walls. The growth style is relevant to the distribution of gold although it may not be relevant to the occurrence of gold in a particular vein. The preservation of pores with some connectivity late in the vein fill sequence may be important in permitting continued but slow fluid flows. This facilitates effective fluid reaction with wall rock-derived methane, thus changing the relative rates of gold and quartz deposition in favor of gold. The textural studies explain the first-order control of nugget distribution at Gwynfynydd but do not allow for prediction and optimization of the resource estimation process. This is principally because of the very low geological continuity and poor predictability of the high-grade pockets. Nonetheless, the work does provide a clear geological explanation for the erratic nature of the gold. It indicates textures and structures that can be used to determine geological continuity of the goldbearing elements within the gross reef envelope."

Jan 1, 2001

By W. T. Nightingale

The three gas-producing "pools" discussed in this paper are in Sweet-water County, southwest Wyoming, and Moffat, County, northwest Colorado. Hiawatha, North Baxter Basin and South Baxter Basin gas fields became economically important in 1929 when a 330-mile gas line connected them with Salt Lake City, Ogden and towns en route. This development immediately focussed attention on the gas-producing fields and the efforts of the producing company to develop them in an orderly, economical manner. Several outstanding interests were acquired and working agreements made with others. Thus the interference of natural drainage areas was avoided, the pernicious practice of drilling direct

Jan 1, 1930

By John J. Collins

Page Purpose and scope..................... 521 Core sampling......................... 521 Sludge sampling....................... 527 Combining core and sludge assays ...... 533 Deviation and surveying of drill holes. . . . 537 Conclusions........................... 544 Acknowledgments...................... 545 Bibliography.......................... 545 Purpose and Scope The purpose of this paper is to review a few of the problems involved in the interpretation of diamond-drill core and sludge samples, with the hope that it will stimulate discussion and bring forth some of the information on the subject that has been accumulated by various organizations. The release of these data would benefit the mining industry as a whole. Particularly valuable would be the details of drilling programs that have been tested by actual mining operations, as most of the available published material is unsupported by production records. The scope of this paper is limited to a few of the commonest problems of interpreting diamond-drill core and sludge samples and the deviation of holes. It does not include the description of routine operations performed by the drillers, nor the estimation of ore reserves. The methods of calculating reserves have been described,25,26,31,32,50,65 but more informa- tion is needed on the results shown by actual mining operations. Core Sampling The accuracy of diamond-drill-hole Sampling depends in large measure on the percentage of core recovery. As a general rule, the longer the run, the poorer is the recovery. Although the longer runs allow cheaper drilling costs, the determining factor should be the percentage of recovery desired. The problem is one of balancing accuracy against costs. Holes of larger diameter may show improved recovery, except as Joralemon* points out that there are some conditions in which small holes give better core recovery than large holes. This is particularly true, he says; in rocks like shattered quartzite, where larger core tends to break in angular fragments and grind up, while the diameter of smaller core is less than the distance between joint planes and grinding is not so serious. In a large measure the length of the sample run should depend on the type of deposit. Favorable drilling may allow uniform sample runs of 5 ft., 10 ft., or perhaps 20 ft. In veins or beds of relatively narrow widths and changing characteristics, however, the ore zone may be overrun and ground in a core barrel full of waste rock. Generally it is desirable to break the sample at a change in the rock or ore. Such a change; often indicated by a color change in the sludge water, should be a a for the driller to make a "dry" block and to pull out that run regardless of the length. Such a procedure permits the segregation of waste from ore samples so

Jan 1, 1946

By Y. H. Liu, R. Kiessling

The chromium, iron, and tungsten borides have been treated with ammonia at different temperatures. They are attacked, forming metal nitride and boron nitride, and the results are summarized in the tables. In the tungsten-nitrogen system a new phase has been observed, closely related to the known ß phase. THE present investigations were begun to determine whether any ternary phases exist in the transition metal-boron-nitrogen systems for the metals chromium, iron, and tungsten. Attempts to prepare such phases were made by using the borides of the metals as starting materials and ammonia as the nitriding agent. Although no new ternary phases have been found to exist, the results may be of some interest with regard to the technical use of the borides. General Procedure A steady stream of dry ammonia was passed through a silica reaction tube, the central part of which was kept at the reaction temperature while its ends were water-cooled. Weighed amounts of the borides were placed in a silica or porcelain boat and heated at different temperatures for a period of 10 to 24 hr. The boat was then rapidly removed from the reaction zone to the quenching zone, the water-cooled end of the tube, by means of a simple magnetic device. The nitrogen content of the products was determined by the increase in weight of the specimens, and the phase analysis was carried out by X-ray methods. For this analysis a Guinier-type camera, constructed at this Institute, was used with a bent, ground quartz crystal monochromator. The general reaction, which occurred in all the experiments, may be summarized as: metal boride + nitrogen -* boron nitride + metal nitride For the higher temperatures pure metal was formed instead of metal nitride. It is sometimes difficult to Discussi detect boron nitride among the reaction products by X-ray methods. Prolonged exposures of some specimens showed, however, that the strongest reflections of boron nitride were present. Additional evidence for its presence was given by the increase in weight of the specimens after nitriding. This increase was always greater than that corresponding to nitride formation only and was often in close agreement with the formula given above. Finally, a white powder, which was shown by X-ray methods to be boron nitride, was left if the reaction products after nitriding Fe,B at 448°C and FeB at 768°C were dissolved in diluted sulphuric acid. Ch rom iu m - Boron - N itrogen Five phases have been found to exist in the Cr-B system,' , and all were used as starting materials. Investigations on the Cr-N system have shown the existence of two nitrides with ideal composition Cr,N and CrN.".' * The results are summarized in Table I. All the borides are attacked and decomposed into chromium nitride and boron nitride, and the kind of nitride formed depends only on the temperature and not on the boride used as starting material. The lowest reaction temperature, however, is different for the different borides. Thus the 6 phase begins to react at about 735 "C, the r phase at about 800°, the S phase at about 900°, the 7, phase

Jan 1, 1952

High pressure (-1.2 GPa) Early Cretaceous granulite facies orthogneisses in Fiordland, New Zealand are in tectonic contact with a cover sequence comprising mid-Palaeozoic amphibolite facies metasediments, subordinate metavolcanic rocks and syntectonic granitic orthogneisses. This cover sequence and the underlying granulites constitute upper and lower crustal plates of a mid-Cretaceous metamorphic core complex whose emplacement was linked to continental rifting and the Late Mesozoic breakup of the Pacific margin of Gondwana. Exhumation of the lower plate granulites occurred in two stages. The first stage was associated with extreme attenuationand tectonic denudation of the cover sequence accompanying emplacement of the core complex, leading to rapid uplift of the granulites but without generating the large volumes of Fiordland-derived sedimentary detritus normally expected if uplift and erosion were the only factors involved in unroofing the granulites. Final uplift and exposure of the granulites at the surface occurred mainly during the last 10 Ma in response to transpression across the mid-Tertiary Alpine Fault and/or the obduction of Fiordland continental crust over oceanic crust of the Tasman Sea.

Jan 1, 1990

By W. M. Johns

The word "Flatland" should read "Flathead" in the title of the paper by Willis M. Johns on page 184 of the June 1962 issue. The correct title is "Belt Series in Lincoln and Southwest Flathead Counties, Montana." In the same paper, reference 12 on page 191, the publication is Bulletin 12, Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology, rather than Bulletin 17.

Jan 1, 1962

By S M Richardson, A W McNeill, J B. Gemmell

"An EXTENDED ABSTRACT is available for download. A full-length paper was not prepared for this presentation. The Hellyer, Fossey, Que River and Mount Charter volcanic-hosted massive sulfide (VHMS) deposits occur within the Que-Hellyer volcanics of the Mount Read volcanics, Tasmania. These deposits occur along a 6 km strike length and are hosted by the same stratigraphic unit. We use a combination of whole-rock geochemistry, short wavelength infrared (SWIR) spectrometry, laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) analyses and compiled historic whole-rock geochemical data to develop district-scale vectors towards VHMS mineralisation.Strongly sericite and K-feldspar altered rocks concentrate along a linear trend from Hellyer, through Que River, to Mount Charter. Ishikawa alteration index values and whole-rock major and trace element concentrations provide exploration vectors towards mineralisation on a regional scale as significant enrichment and depletion trends. On a deposit scale, composition variations in white mica (sericite alteration), chlorite and K-feldspar are observed and reflected in whole-rock geochemical variations. Regional SWIR data from drill core support the prevalence of phengitic mica and high-Mg chlorite within footwall alteration halos and highlight the main upflow zones of hydrothermal fluids in the VHMS district. The combined use of regional whole-rock geochemistry, SWIR and mineral chemistry is an effective way to highlight prospective areas for VHMS mineralisation in a mature exploration province.CITATION:Wu, S, Gemmell, J B, McNeill, A W and Richardson, S M, 2015. Exploration implications from variations in whole-rock and mineral chemistry around the volcanic-hosted massive sulfide deposits of the Que-Hellyer volcanics, Tasmania, Australia , in Proceedings PACRIM 2015 Congress, pp 85–90 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Mar 18, 2015

By P. Berendsen

Structures along the rift were subjected to episodic reactivation. Major north-northeast-trending high-angle normal or reverse faults and northwest-trending trans-current fault systems, may exercise control over ore-forming processes. Gabbro and basalt are the dominant igneous rock types. Carbonatite and kimberlite occur in Nebraska and Kansas. Concentrations of Cu, Ni, Co, Ti, Au, Ag and PG-minerals are known to occur in this setting Arkosic sandstone, siltstone, shale and minor carbonate units occur on top of the rift basalts and in flanking basins where they may reach thicknesses of 10 km. The potential for stratiform or unconformity-related metal liferous deposits must be considered.

Jan 1, 1986

By William P. Blake

In my short " Contribution to the Early History of the Industry of Phosphate of Lime in the United States,"* mention is made of the erection by Dr. Emmons and myself of a magnetic machine for the removal of iron-ore from the so-called "red sand," a granular form of apatite. At the time of writing, it was not possible to refer to my diary and notes, and the general statements were made from recollection. The subject seems to have special interest at this time, by reason of the many forms of machines now being introduced and patented for similar purposes; and, having received letters of in quiry for further details, I have availed myself of the opportunity, when recently at home for a few days, to refer to the original notes and records made by me in 1852, when living at Crown Point and Moriah, on Lake Champlain. The machine mentioned in my former communication mas pur chased of Ransom Cook, of Vermont. It arrived, and was un loaded from the boat and taken part way up to the nine, on October 18,1852. The weight was 1400 pounds and the cost $1200. It was constructed, not with permanent magnets but with electro-mag nets. It was set up and first turned by hand on October 28th, using twelve battery-cups or cells, the connections being made with wires in small cups of quicksilver. The magnets were not sufficiently strong, and the machine did not work well. More batteries were sent for, arid the machine was started with steam-power on Novem ber 6th. The ore was dried in kilns, then put through a coffee-mill crusher or grinder, and then fed upon the leather belt which carried it under the magnets. Many experimental runs were made, and some diffi culties were overcome, before December 21st, when the record states that the machine was working pretty well, using 24 cells and giving a product of from 3 to 5 tons a day of granular phosphate. The ori-

Jan 1, 1893

By D. G. Puglio

This Bureau of Mines study covers 25 underground mines that were active in the Upper and Lower Freeport and Lower Kittanning coalbeds in 1976. The coal ranges from low to medium volatile in rank; its primary use is for steam generation. Seven mines emit more than 100,000 cfd of methane gas; those mines are the deepest and largest producers. The methane gas content of three core samples of the Lower Kittanning coalbed was estimated by the direct method. A sample from a depth of 320 feet contained 0.5 cu cm of gas per gram, at 620 feet there was 0.8 cu cm of gas per gram, and at 1,060 feet there was 11 cu cm of gas per gram. These results suggest that methane control problems will be encountered in the future as deeper coal is mined.

Jan 1, 1979

By W. Stumpf

Mill log analyses and complementary hot deformation studies were carried out on the as-cast structure and on a hot rolled structure of the same low carbon steel (SAE 1006) that had been processed according to the direct or hot charge route in a compact strip plant. The main softening mechanisms during hot rolling were found to be complete dynamic recrystallization during each pass above about 1000°C for the as-cast structure with an austenite grain size of 277µm and, secondly, incomplete static recrystallization after each pass with a finer austenite grain size of about 26 µm and tested below 1000°C. A two-stage hot working mechanism has also been found by others on a similar steel also processed by the hot charge route and this may appear to be a characteristic of this type of material. Constitutive constants determined from hot working studies were combined with other constants from the literature and incorporated into a grain size development model that correctly predicts the final ferrite grain size in the hot rolled strip steel. The predicted incomplete static recrystallization during the last three finishing passes in the plant appears to result in some retained strain in the hot rolled austenite as it transforms to ferrite on the run-out table. Analyses with the model predict relatively little sensitivity of the final ferrite grain size to process and product variables such as temperature and strain per pass for the last three passes and also the starting austenite grain size in the slab. Keywords: Low carbon steel, hot rolling of strip steel, rolling mill log analyses, austenite grain size, ferrite grain size, grain size modelling.

Jan 1, 2003

By Forrest T. Moyer

To keep the mineral and allied industries informed of trends in the causes of accidents and to point out the need for corrective measures, the Bureau of Mines collects, analyzes, and periodically publishes health and safety statistics. This report includes data for 1962 on injury experience, with related employment statistics, at coal mines in the United States. These data are presented in tabular form under the following: General Injury Experience Tables 1 to 6: Current data on number of injuries, degree of injury, frequency and severity rates, average severity, and related employment and production data by work location.

Jan 1, 1964

By Britta Schoesser, Zdenek Zizka, Markus Thewes

"The support pressure of a slurry shield corresponds to the in situ earth and groundwater pressure to ensure the stability of the tunnel face. The support fluid (bentonite suspension) penetrates from the excavation chamber into the pore space and transfers the support pressure to the granular structure of the soil within this zone. At the same time, the cutting tools rotate periodically with the cutting wheel and remove the penetrated soil up to a certain cutting depth at the face. Shortly after the tool passing, the penetration process starts again. Both, the support pressure and the soil excavation, act in the same direction at the tunnel face, but they are subject to different cyclic intervals. This relationship between the time needed for the transient penetration process and the interval of the cyclic passage of the cutting tools at a local point at the face is examined and the impact onto the global face stability is discussed. INTRODUCTION Slurry shields are usually deployed for excavations in soft ground. The main application range is in non-cohesive soils (DAUB Recommendations 2010). In non-cohesive granular soils, the tunnel face stability is one of the key design issues. The slurry shields make use of pressurized bentonite suspension (slurry) to support the unstable tunnel face. To support the tunnel face effectively, the slurry pressure has not only to counter the groundwater pressure, but also has to be transferred into an effective stress to support the soil grains. In general, the pressure transfer can be achieved in two ways: (1) with a thin flexible membrane or (2) a penetration zone. The membrane (1), called filter cake, creates a thin impermeable layer from bentonite particles directly on the tunnel face, and enables a transformation of excess slurry pressure into effective stress. In case of penetration zone formation (2), the excess slurry pressure is transferred onto the soil skeleton along the entire penetration depth by shear stresses between slurry and soil grains. These theories, presently applied to assess the pressure transfer on the grains within slurry shield tunnelling, are originating from diaphragm wall technology, e.g. Müller-Kirchenbauer (1977), Kilchert and Karstedt (1984). They assume that the support pressure transfer mechanism is built-up instantaneously on the whole tunnel face and is not damaged or influenced by the interaction with excavation tools. These assumptions are valid for conditions during the excavation of diaphragm wall trenches whose bottom is excavated and the walls of the trench are supported. At the tunnel face of a slurry shield, the support suspension acts on the same area as the soil excavation. Hence, the conditions on the tunnel face are transient (time dependent) due to the time period needed for the penetration process of the slurry and the periodical damage of the pressure transfer mechanism by excavation tools (Fig. 1a)."

Jan 1, 2016