Search Documents

By John C. Taylor

A resource document, prepared for the Royal Commission on the Health and Safety of Workers in Mines, which outlines aspects of occupational health and safety in the Canadian metallurgical industry has been expanded to provide examples of some practical solutions. General process descriptions are provided in conjunction with some of the major potential hazards associated with each step. Emissions to the working environment, particularly around converters, are discussed. Newer metallurgical processes, the role of automation and other advances in the metallurgical industry are described with respect to their impact on the work place. The role of staff and unit employees in providing safe working conditions in the complex metallurgical plant of today is outlined and the need for close cooperation within the human sector emphasized. The technology is available and is being applied to integrate the complex process requirements with realistic regulations to control emissions and provide a safe, healthy environment in metallurgical plants.

Jan 1, 1978

By W. J. Wolfe

"THE DETECTION OF BURIED MINERAL DEPOSITS by chemical analysis of vegetation (biogeochemistry) or visual observation of plant cover type (geobotany) is based on fundamentally simple principles. The root systems of vegetation collect aqueous solutions from a large volume of moist ground below surface and act as efficient sampling mechanisms by providing a composite sample of a reasonably large area. These aqueous solutions constitute a source of ore-associated metals that may ultimately be concentrated in the upper parts of the plant. Although certain plant species have a limited ability to break down primary minerals and extract elements, biogeochemistry normally detects only metals capable of moving in solution. Metal concentrations in the underlying soil must therefore exist in a form that is immediately available for uptake by the root systems - generally in the ionic state in aqueous solution or in readily exchangeable form on the surfaces of soil clay minerals. As a result, biogeochemical responses are closely related to variables such as soil pH, Eh, exchange capacity and complexing agents that control metal mobility in the surface environment. In terms of cost, reliability and anomaly contrast, soil geochemistry will normally be more useful than biogeochemistry in locating buried mineralization in regions of residual overburden or thin transported cover. However, in areas where the root systems penetrate thick deposits of transported post-mineralization overburden, plants can provide an effective mechanism of sampling below the transported material. Biogeochemical research in Canada, Scandinavia and the U.S.S.R. has therefore focused on the potential use of plant prospecting methods (1) in areas where the upper horizons of podzolic soils do not provide an adequate response to anomalous conditions under thick deposits of glacially transported till and (2) in widespread regions of peat and muskeg terrain where near-surface mineral soils are absent."

Jan 1, 1971

By Walter K. Utt

The vibration levels of the heavy machines used in surface mining are much greater than for vehicles used on highways. In order to assure the proper functioning of electronic equipment placed on the surface mining vehicles, the U.S. Bureau of Mines has conducted a program of field measurements to define their vibration environment. The information in this report is for a class of vehicle that has a blade for scraping and wheels with rubber tires. The statistical information derived from these measurements can be used as a basis for laboratory testing to qualify equipment for a surface mining vehicle of this class. The envelope that would encompass 99 pct of the vibrations encountered in normal operations is presented for each location on the vehicle. The five locations for which data were recorded are the floor of the cab, the engine, the frame, the drive train (gear, differential, and torque converter), and the axle. Tabulated data are provided for those who wish to use a different probability level. The appropriate test profile for the laboratory testing can be determined from the information presented in this report.

Jan 1, 1993

Mr GEPP said: "He proposed at the outset to draw attention to figures dealing with the population of the countries adjacent to Australia for the purpose of comparison with the population of the Commonwealth. He would deal more particularly with the areas of land surrounding the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Korea and Japan had a population of 18,000,000 ; China, 437,000,000 ; Persia, 9,000,000 ; Arabia, 5,000,000; South Africa, 129,000,000; Madagascar, 3,500,000 ; India, 251,000,000; Siam, Indo-China, and so forth, 16,225,000; Federated Malay States, 3,225,000; and, very significantly, Java, only four and three quarter days from Fremantle, over 50,000,000. From the map displayed an idea of the comparative areas of the countries mentioned and Australia could be gained. It was rather amazing that Australia, with its great potentialities, had only about 5,150,000 people. New Guinea had over 750,000 people; Hawaii, a mere speck, 250,000; New Zealand, 1,300,000; North America, 130,000,000; Central America, over 15,500,000; and South America, over 65,000,000. Colombo was only six days from Fremantle, and it was only nine days from Capetown to Albany, and eight days from Albany to Hobart. Proceeding, Mr. Gepp said "It was in 1911 and 1912 that I had the good fortune to spend nearly twelve months in Europe, and during the course of my work in England and Germany to have the oppprtunity of studying both the economical and political systems in some detail... I was in Berlin at the time of the visit of Lord Haldane, when an effort was made by the British Government to arrive at some under...

Jan 1, 1923

By R Kjar

Globally, it is anticipated that the mineral sands industry will enter a period of short supply. Demand for both titanium dioxide and zircon is forecast to continue increasing, with new projects needed to come on-stream to fill the supply gap. Victoria is well placed under this scenario as a source due to the high quality of its mineral assemblage, its excellent resource grade and the globally significant size of its mineral sands resources.Australia’s mineral sands rich Murray Basin remains under-developed, especially at its extensive Victorian margins. Development to date has not progressed adequately for the reasons of technology difficulty, history of competition with other jurisdictions and the absence of a platform that requires development as a consideration for security of tenure. Victoria’s mineral sands potential is not just about the Murray Basin, in addition, there have been discoveries in the Gippsland Basin and prospective sites in the Gippsland Basin remain under-explored. Key problems included the lack of available ground for potential developers and the intellectual property of solutions to technological problems associated with the fine grained mineral deposits belonging to a previous developer (with patents now expired).As such, the timing is right to re-visit the potential of the Murray Basin as a site for long-term development with high returns based on current and predicted prices.In order to understand why Victoria’s earth resources in general, and mineral sands in particular, remain under-explored and undeveloped, the Department of Primary Industries initiated an internal review of its role in encouraging and supporting investment in the earth resources sector.As a result, the Victorian Government has committed to taking action to encourage effective ground turnover and acknowledges that a new focus on engagement with industry is needed to bring new investment to the State. The revision of the Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) Act 1990 provides an opportunity for the government to better align its legislative processes with industry project lifecycles and facilitate access to valuable resources that currently remain undeveloped.Victoria has a track record in assisting projects reach development stage. Iluka currently has two operations in the State in addition to its mineral separation plant that is capable of processing HMC from its South Australian operations. Iluka is expected to ramp up its Murray Basin Stage 2 operations with the WRP mine scheduled to come on line in early 2012. Meanwhile, Astron is actively seeking partners for its Donald Mineral Sands project. The project is becoming increasingly attractive given the recent price hike in zircon; Astron has access to an estimated five to 6 Mt of zircon in its Donald WIM 250 deposit.Given its substantial and valuable mineral sands endowments, the State of Victoria should sensibly be the centre of future investment in project development. However, as previously mentioned this is currently not the case. The Government is therefore committed to implementing new measures that protect security of tenure but ensure that genuine companies can access endowments where they have a clear intent to work those resources.

Oct 5, 2011

By Z. H. Li

In connection with the features of characteristic waste water (containing cyanogen, arsenic and heavy metal) pollutants discharged by gold industry as well as the environmental features at the location of gold production enterprises, this paper briefly described the traditional method of treatment, and focused on the argument for technologies of clean production, advanced treatment and process control technology. Moreover, it clarified the future policies and development trend for treatment on characteristic waste water from gold industry.

Jan 1, 2014

By Walter W. Bradley

AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER and in greater or less amounts, gold has been mined in at least 40 of California's 58 counties. It may not be inappropriate, by way of introduction, to give a brief historical statement relative to her production of the yellow metal. The presence of gold in the gravels of San Gabriel, San Francisquito, and other streams near Los Angeles, was known and they were worked in a small way by the Indians, at least as early as. 1841' and possibly 1820. -On March 2, 1844, Don Manuel Castanares, deputy for California to the Congress of Mexico, reported' to his government that placers near Los Angeles had yielded up to December, 1.843, a total of 2000 oz. of gold dust, most of which had been sent (via Mexico) to tile United States Mint at Philadelphia.

Jan 1, 1932

By G. ALBORNOZ, S. Utili, A. AGOSTI, C. VALDERRAMA, R. PELL, N. Morales

The steepness of the slopes of an open pit mine has a substantial influence on the financial return of the mine. The paper proposes a novel design methodology where overall steeper pitwalls are employed without compromising the safety of the mine. In current design practice, pitwall profiles are often planar in cross-section within each rock layer; i.e., the profile inclination across each layer tends to be constant. Here instead, a new geotechnical software, OptimalSlope, is employed to determine optimal pitwall profiles of depth varying inclination. OptimalSlope seeks the solution of a mathematical optimization problem where the overall steepness of the pitwall, from crest to toe, is maximized for an assigned lithology, geotechnical properties, and factor of safety (FoS). Bench geometries (bench height, face inclination, minimum berm width) are imposed in the optimization as constraints which bind the maximum local inclination of the sought optimal profile together with any other constraints such as geological discontinuities that may influence slope failure. The obtained optimal profiles are always steeper than their planar counterparts (i.e., the planar profiles exhibiting the same FoS) up to 8° depending on rock type and severity of constraints on local inclinations. The design of a copper mine is first carried out employing planar pitwalls, secondly adopting the optimal pitwall profiles determined by OptimalSlope. The adoption of optimal slope profiles leads to a 34% higher net present value and reductions of carbon footprint and energy consumption of 0.17 Mt CO2 eq and 82.5 million MJ respectively due to a 15% reduction of rockwaste volume.

Feb 9, 2022

By Gene R. Reid

The contract objective is the development and in mine testing of an Automatic Fire Control System (AFCS) for mobile underground metal mining equipment. The effort described by this report covers the period from June 21,1975 through June 30,1976 and accomplished the following tasks: ? Preparation of Data Handling Plan and data acquisition which included visits to twenty mine sites in eleven states, visits to Bureau and MESA facilities, and a literature survey. ? Data analysis which determined the most hazardous type of vehicle for use in the demonstration, and design requirements for the AFCS, ? Development of recommended design concepts for the AFCS. ? Design and development of the AFCS including tests on a full-scale mock-up of a load-haul-dump (LHD) vehicle. ? Underground fire tests on an ST-2B-LHD vehicle at the Hecla Lakeshore mine Casa Grande, Arizona.

Jan 1, 1976

By E. DeLilia

For the past 30 years, surface mines have moved toward more highly mechanized, automatic systems that continuously mine overburden and ore to in-crease productivity, lower operating costs and minimize manpower needs. To achieve these goals, mine operators must be involved in every step of the machine procurement process. Several factors are involved in making the machines operate economically and efficiently: ? Prudent engineering. ? Proper planning. ? Realistic feasibility studies. ? Effective specification. ? Thorough training of the mine personnel.

Jan 1, 1995

By A. B. Hooker, L. C. IlsLey

Explosives have been fired electrically for several decades. Mountains have been tunneled, deep shafts sunk, extensive coal and metal mine workings excavated and, in times of war, railroads, buildings, bridges, and fortifications have been destroyed by means of electrically fired explosives. Modern engineering depends so much on explosives that their safe and efficient handling and especially their detonation are of prime importance to all those connected with the use of explosive agents. Electric shot-firing is only one method of igniting explosives, but it is rapidly spreading and because of certain inherent safety features should be encouraged. Data collected by the Bureau of Mines indicate that in the United States a large percentage of the blasting in quarries, shafts,· and tunnels, and from 15 to 25 per cent of the blasts in mining operations, are set off electrically. The Bureau of Mines is interested in electric shot-firing because of its use in mining, and especially because electric methods, when properly applied, are undoubtedly safer than other methods commonly used. Electrical problems of many kinds must be solved in dealing with the various phases of electric shot-firing. Success in using an electric detonator is closely linked with the resistance of its bridge, the resistance of its leg wires, and the insulation of its current-carrying parts. The proper layout of a circuit where a number of shots are to be fired simultaneously depends not only on the types of detonators that are used and their arrangement and interconnections, but also on the size and insulation of the wire leading back to the source of power, and even on the source of power itself. Various types of electric shot-firing machines have been developed, and these offer still another field for study. In investigations of electric detonators and electric blasting equipment, the oscillograph is valuable because it can record electrical activity over very short intervals of time. By its use more complete information about electrical performance can be obtained than by any other means.

Jan 1, 1926

By AIME AIME

R. A. Hadfield, W. H. Bleckly, The Rt. Hon. Sir James Kitson, Bart., M. P.', E. Windsor Richards, E. P. Martin, Andrew Carnegie, Sir Hugh Bell, Bart., Bennett H. Brough. Patrons. Adamson, Joseph, & Co., Hyde; Aird, John, & Co., London ; .Akrill, C., & Co., Ltd., West Bromwich ; Anderson Foundry Co., Ltd.,. Port Clarence, Middlesbrough ;. Armstrong, Sir W. G., Whitworth & Co., Ltd., Newcastle-on Tyne ; As¬sociated Portland Cement Manufacturers (1900), Ltd., London; Babcock & Wilcox, Ltd., London; Baird, William, & Co., Ltd., Glasgow ; Baldwin's, Ltd., Stourport; Barclay, Andrew, Sons & Co., Ltd., Kilmarnock; Barrow Hematite Steel Co., Ltd., Barrow-in-Furness; Bayliss, Jones & Bayliss, Ltd., Wolverhampton ; Beardshaw, J., & Son, Ltd., Sheffield ; Bell Brothers, Ltd., Middlesbrough ; Bolckow, Vaughan & Co., Ltd., Middlesbrough ; Booth, Joseph, & Bros., Ltd., Leeds ; Briton Ferry Works, Ltd., Briton Ferry; Butlin, Thomas, & Co., Ltd., Wellingborough ; Butterley Co., Ltd., Alfreton ; Byrne, James, & Co., Middlesbrough; Cargo Fleet Iron Co., Ltd., Middlesbrough.;. Carnforth Hematite Iron Co., Ltd., Carnforth ; Cochrane & Co., Ltd., Middlesbrough ; Coltness Iron Co., Ltd., Glasgow ; Colville, David, & Sons, Ltd., Motherwell ; Consett Iron Co., Ltd., Consett ; Cooke, William, & Co., Ltd., Tinsley ; Craggs, R., & Sons, Ltd., Middlesbrough ; Darwen & Mostyn Iron Co., Ltd., Mostyn ; Dorman, Long & Co., Middlesbrough ; Dunlop, J., & Co., Ltd., Glasgow ; Ebbw Vale Steel, Iron & Coal Co., Ltd., Ebbw Vale ; Engineer, The, The Proprietors. of, Lon¬don ; Engineering, The Proprietors of, London ; Etna Iron & Steel Co., Mother¬well ; Farnley Iron Co., Ltd., Leeds ; Firth, Thomas, & Sons, Ltd., Sheffield ; Rather, W. T., Ltd., Sheffield ; Fraser & Chalmers, Ltd., Erith ; Frodingham Iron & Steel Co., Ltd., Doncaster; Gjers, Mills & Co., Ltd., Middlesbrough ; Glenboig Union Fire-Clay Co., Ltd., Glasgow ; Glengarnock Iron & Steel Co.; Ltd., Glengarnock ; Guest, Keen & Nettlefolds, Ltd., Birmingham ; Hadfield's Steel Foundry Co., Ltd., Sheffield ; Hall, J. & E., Ltd., Dartford ; Harkness, W.; & Sons; Ltd., Middlesbrough ; Harrison & Co., Ltd., Lincoln ; Head, Wrightson & Co., Ltd., Stockton-on-Tees ; Hill, John, & Co., Middlesbrough ; Hingley, N., & Sons, Ltd., Dudley ; Hopper, John I., Ltd., Thornaby-on-Tees; Hull Forge Iron &-Steel Co., Ltd., Hull; Iron and Coal Trades Review, The Proprietors of, London ; Ironmonger, The, The Proprietors of, London ; Jackman, Joseph, & Co., Ltd., Sheffield ; Jessop & Appleby Bros., Ltd., Leicester and London ; Jes-

Nov 1, 1906

By Mick Lownds, Ruilin Yang

The potential advantages of electronic detonators with accurate timing have been increasingly recognized by the blasting community. However, in comparative blasts the results with pyrotechnic timing are sometimes comparable to those from electronic timing. Statistical variation in blast results is a plausible cause of these observations.

Jan 1, 2011

By Tuomas van der Meer, Jukka Tanninen, Annukka E. Mäkinen, Mika Martikainen, Laura M. Nevatalo

The mining industry consumes huge water volumes and the waste streams typically contain sulfate, which has caused problems to many operations around the world. Discharge of sulfate to fresh waters is being restricted as the sulfate load increases salinity and causes problems when sulfate is reduced to toxic H2S by natural bacteria. To reduce fresh water consumption, internal water recycling had become a necessity in metallurgical processes. However, the recycling causes accumulation of sulfate and other components in water, causing problems to process performance and increases scaling in piping and equipment. Few technically feasible water treatment processes exist in the market that can be applied to decrease sulfate concentration below gypsum saturation level: biological sulfate reduction, membrane separation, ion exchange, evaporation and chemical precipitation. Some of these technologies are effective for treating wastewater, but there is typically a highly concentrated sulfate fraction left requiring still further treatment. Outotec has developed a sulfate removal solution, Outotec Ettringite process, which allows flexible control of residual sulfate concentration, thereby opening doors for increased water recycle within processes and control of the sulfate in discharged waters. In this article the results and benefits of this novel process along with examples of operating costs are presented.

Jan 1, 2014

By Harald Ulrik Sverdrup, Anna Hulda Olafsdottir

The long-term supply of nickel to society was assessed with theWORLD7 model for the global nickel cycle, using new estimates of nickel reserves and resources, indicating that the best estimate of the ultimately recoverable resources for nickel is in the range of 650–720 million ton. This is significantly larger than earlier estimates. The extractable amounts were stratified by extraction cost and ore grade in the model, making them extractable only after price increases and cost reductions. The model simulated extraction, supply, ore grades, and market prices. The assessment predicts future scarcity and supply problems after 2100 for nickel. The model reconstructs observed extraction, supply and market prices for the period 1850–2020, and is used to simulate development for the period 2020–2200. The quality of nickel ore has decreased significantly from 1850 to 2020 and will continue to do so in the future according to the simulated predictions from the WORLD7 model. For nickel, extraction rates are suggested to reach their maximum value in 2050, and that most primary nickel resources will have been exhausted by 2130. After 2100, the supply per capita for nickel will decline towards exhaustion if business-as-usual is continuing. This will be manifested as reduced supply and increased prices. The peak year can be delayed by a maximum of 100 years if recycling rates are improved significantly and long before scarcity is visible.

Jan 26, 2021

By Peter Wells, Gordon Marrs, Dominic Fragomeni, Warren Holmes, Daryl Macnamara

"LocationThe Strathcona mill ofFalconbridge Limited is located in Onaping, Ontario, 50 km northwest of Sudbury.GeneralOre from the Falconbridge mines in the Sudbury Basin (Strathcona, Fraser, Onaping, Craig and Thayer Lindsley mines) is processed through the Strathcona mill with 8500 t of nickel ore and 1500 t of copper ore being treated daily. Current capacity is -3 Mt of ore at 1.8% Ni, 1.9% Cu combined grade. Custom feeds are also processed. The valuable minerals in the ore are pentlandite (FeNi)9S8, chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) with some cubanite (CuFe2S3) and very minor nickel sulphides/ arsenides. Cobalt is present mainly in solid solution in pentlandite. There are small but economically important concentrations of precious metals including platinum, palladium gold, and silver. The common non-sulphide gangue minerals are feldspar, quartz, mica, talc, and chlorite while pyrrhotite (Fe7S8) is the major gangue sulphide. The pyrrhotite contains between 0.6% and 1.2% nickel in solid solution and additional nickel as exsolved pentlandite in micron sized blebs. The nickel and copper ores are batch-crushed in a two stage dry crushing plant and then ground in separate circuits. Concentration by flotation and magnetic separation produces a nickel concentrate assaying approximately 16% nickel plus copper and a copper concentrate assaying 30% copper and 0.4% nickel. The nickel concentrate is trucked as a slurry to the Falconbridge smelter while the copper concentrate is trucked as filter cake to the Kidd Division of Falcon bridge"

Jan 1, 2000

By Joseph E. Pogue

THERE are two methods employed in the development of oil pools. The older and dominant method is one in which the primary object is the protection of the underground deposit from drainage through competing wells, and considerations of efficiency of extraction and cost of production are subordinated thereto. The newer and less prevalent method is one in which maximum efficiency and minimum cost are the first objectives and developments to these ends may proceed undisturbed by the exigencies of competitive drainage. The second method has developed mainly in pools under single ownership and the term "unit operation" has come to be applied to this procedure. A single ownership, however, is not essential to the method, for unity of operation may be achieved by agreement under split ownership, or even by a concert of enlightened purpose. There are examples of unit operation where neither the ownership nor the management is a unit, but merely where unity of procedure has been attained, as is the case of the Yates pool. .Throughout this paper unit operation is used in its broad sense without implying sole ownership or single management, although unit operation is more conveniently attained where these conditions are present.

Jan 1, 1930

By K. Luxbacher, D. T. Hristopulos, S. Schafrik, J. Diaz, Z. Agioutantis

Big data is generated from both surface and underground mining operations. Such data contain a wealth of information concerning safety and health in the workplace and production parameters. This paper will discuss the progress towards developing an accurate forecasting model for methane gas concentration based on the analysis of data collected from Atmospheric Monitoring Systems in underground coal mines employing time series models. Several procedures need to be applied to raw data, such as data cleaning and filtering for outlier removal, data homogenization and segmentation, and exploratory statistical analysis. The data analyzed were retrieved from two coal operations in the Eastern US. A negative correlation between barometric pressure and methane gas concentration was established, at least for certain data segments. Such correlations raise the possibility that barometric pressure data can predict variations of gas concentration in the mine. The datasets will be further investigated to establish the robustness of barometric pressure and gas concentration correlation and explore the dependence of gas concentration on other factors related to mine design and operations

Mar 2, 2022

By M E. Karmis

Traditional coal mining planning seldom considers key æsustainability factorsÆ such as: societal impacts in the area; jobs (both created and lost); dislocation of towns and residences; impact on neighbouring communities and individuals; infrastructure concerns; post-mining land use (except when limited by law or other factors); habitat disruption and reconstruction; long-term economic impacts in the community; and net long-term community benefit. This paper presents a systems engineering approach based on the premise that systems can only be optimised if all factors are considered at one time. In theory, coal mine designs can be optimised for return on investment, environmental protection and sustainability. Using this approach, the permitting process may be quicker and less costly, relationships with neighbours, communities, environmental groups may be improved, the mining industry may be seen as a positive for the short-term and long-term and the mining industry may increase profits. This paper discusses geographic information system (GIS) tools that may be used to incorporate ecological and other sustainable development concerns into models of coal mine sustainability performance. Along with coal production cost and value information obtained from past and present coal mining operations, GIS data are used to develop mathematical cost and equation models. By analysis of on-the-ground data, the parameters to be included in these models are identified, the relationships between these parameters quantified and the models developed. The paper also discusses the next phases of the work to be completed once the data is obtained and the models are adjusted and validated. At that time, site-specific information will be input into the models and the approach to mining a particular property evaluated and optimised for financial rate-of-return and other desired outcomes, such as preservation or enhancement of sustainability values. Finally, the paper will examine how this approach can be combined with traditional mining engineering considerations in order to develop an optimised mine plan for a specific mining property.

Jan 1, 2009

By N. N. Moelbs

The U.S. Bureau of Mines is conducting research on many topics relating to the hazards of coal mining, increased production, and protection of the environment. One area of research that has received scant attention in recent years is that of water inflows, probably because few fatalities in the United States have been attributed to them. As mining goes deeper, the problem of water in 1ow could increase dramatically because of adjacent or overlying mines in which huge water pools are impounded. Inaccurate mine maps and ineffective barriers can constitute a serious problem for operators both from gradual inflows and sudden inrushes of water. This report describes a wide but ineffective barrier that permitted an average 240-gpm inflow to a developing mine from an adjacent mine. The anomalous geologic structure that facilitated this leakage is described, demonstrating that size, alone, is no assurance against serious leakage. Some recommendations for managing serious water inflow are included.

Jan 1, 1989