Search Documents

By Jan M. Mutmansky

While production scheduling for both surface and underground mining operations is similar in nature, a rather large array of techniques is applied in solving such planning problems. The techniques consist of both rigid operations research (OR) methods and practical procedures which are not mathematically based. In the following sections, a short summary of some of the techniques that are applicable to production scheduling problems in mineral operations is presented. The techniques discussed are: linear programming, integer programming, dynamic programming, graph and network theory, simulation, and heuristic methods. For an in-depth comprehension of these techniques, the reader is referred to any of the available textbooks on these subjects. One or more references will be listed for each topic to provide a starting point.

Jan 1, 1979

By L. Fernandes

A two level factorial study was undertaken to investigate the relative impacts of factors affecting the kinetics of polytetrafluoroethylene, PTFE, assisted pressure oxidation of chalcopyrite. A copper flotation concentrate, principally composed of chalcopyrite, was leached in 850 mL of leach solution under conditions similar to those of the CESL process. The factors manipulated were: the amount of 1/8" PTFE beads added (100 g or 650 g), oxygen pressure (690 kPa or 1030 kPa), and concentrate addition (10 grams or 65 grams). Copper extraction data, which indicated complete leaching under certain conditions, were fit using a shrinking core model from which rate constants were estimated and further used to generate a statistical model containing only the factors of significance and their interactions. Results indicated a strong positive effect of PTFE addition and a strong negative effect of increasing pulp density. A weak negative interaction between increasing PTFE addition and pulp density was attributed to PTFE/concentrate agglomeration.

Jan 1, 2014

By Doug Halbe

A number of CIP plants have been built in Western Australia in the past two years. The authors have surveyed several of these new plants and present drawings, data and discussion of operating and design innovations and areas of interest.

Jan 1, 1982

By Thomas H. Dubaniewicz, Gerald R. Cucci, Gregory M. Green, Kenneth L. Cashdollar

New types of industrial instruments use fiber-coupled law energy to power remote serum. Fiber-optic based instruments are useful in classified (hazardous) locations found in many industrial plants because the fiber provides a natural barrier against accidental electrical discharge into potentially explosive atmospheres. However, current safety standards do not cover the use of laser-powered fiber-optic instruments in potentially explosive environments such as found in coal mines. The U. S. Bureau of Mines began an investigation of laser-powered fiber-optic instruments in explosive atmospheres in support of the standards-making process. A commercial fiber-optic interface system, modified to sin relate several worst-case operating conditions, ignited explosive hydrogen-air mixtures. Worst-am simulations consisted of disabling a safety shutoff feature, operating the laser at significantly higher powers than intended for normal operations, and cleaving fiber-optic connections to direct laser energy onto selected absorptive materials. At the highest power level available, the fiber-optic interface system did not ignite selected methane-air mixtures. The obtained data should prove useful in establishing appropriate safety standards.

By R. A. Franks, G. F. Friel, J. C. Edwards, L. Yuan

Two mine-fire experiments were conducted in the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's (NIOSH) Safety Research Coal Mine (SRCM) at the Pittsburgh Research Laboratory (PRL) which demonstrated that smoke from diesel-fuel fires of 500 kW and 660 kW heat-release rates in a return airway can develop, without causing a complete air flow reversal, into a roof layer that can migrate upwind forming a counter flow to the primary airflow in a crosscut. Subsequently, smoke can penetrate into an intake airway and create a hazardous atmosphere in the intake airway upwind from the fire. Visibility conditions less than 13 m were created by the smoke in the intake airway downwind from the crosscut. Modeling of the event with a three-dimensional, time-dependent, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) program correctly represented the smoke movement.

By Scott White, Pishun Tantivangphaisal, Andrew Bell, Chris Barker

There has been considerable advancement in recent years in the tools, both software and hardware, available to allow efficient digitalization of site records during the construction of geotechnical works. Whilst these tools have excelled at replacing handwritten records, the ability to use digital records to validate design and construction requirements in real time or even within reasonable timescales has generally been limited to the development of bespoke ‘prototype’ project specific solutions. This paper describes the development and implementation of an industry standard design schedule and the benefits of the broad adoption of a single database schema for data recorded on geotechnical sites. The former has brought significant improvements and automation of the design process, whilst the latter has enabled the validation of the constructed works against design intent in almost real time. Further details of the standardized design schedule, already publicly available in the UK through the FPS, examples and lessons learnt from implementing digital site record systems on live projects are presented herein. The utilization of cloud computing technology and complex algorithms linking plant/rig instrumentation with design data can further automate construction sites using IoT (Internet of Things) best practices. The authors will share their experience of the recent deployment of a digitalized design-to-construction record system, give recommendations for future development and a call for an industry wide drive to finalize and adopt the AGS Piling data schema.

May 1, 2022

By FRANK RIEBERS

IN DISCUSSING the selection of a geophysical method, much of what the writer will say is applicable to any of the various methods and to their use in prospecting, whether for oil or for other minerals. Specifically, the writer's subject is the problem, particularly pressing on the Pacific Coast, of checking the rising cost of the discovery of new fields by the proper employment of geophysical methods. Table I was prepared from statistics published by the California State Milling Bureau. The writer selected five of the largest a:ld most active companies operating in California, segregated the number of wild-

Jan 1, 1930

By Irving Hartmann

In recent years various modifications in the methods of blasting have been tried as a means of increasing the production of cod and of reducing mining costs. Following an investigation by the Bureau or Mines, authorization was granted to increase the charger limit for permissible explosives par shot hole from 1.5 to 3 pounds under contain conditions; this greatly facilitates the blasting of coal in some cool fields the practice has gradually evolved of simultaneously charging several shot holes in a face and then firing the charges singly without inspecting for gas after each blast. This practice is disapproved by the Bureau of Mines. In other coal mines the explosive chews in several adjacent shot holes are fired simultaneously. This form of shooting is claimed to increase the rate of production, generate smaller volumes of noxious gases, promote the health and safety of workers by eliminating the need of inspection of the face after each charge is fired, produce less float dust, and require less explosive than single shooting. However, simultaneous blasting may have a more harmful effect on the immediate roof strata; in some instances it leads to wedging of the broken coal, thereby making the coal more difficult to load out; it makes misfired shots more difficult to detect and possibly increases the chances of misfires. This lacy be duo to variations in the characteristics of detonators, because of more stringent requirements for adequate firing current, to the need for better electrical connections in the shot-firing circuit, and partly to the inadequacy of present permissible multiple blasting devices.

Jan 1, 1952

"Quang Ninh province is located in the north east of Vietnam and the coal mining in the province generates two thirds of the province’s GDP. The coal is extracted from both open pit and underground mines for the country’s complete coal export and by a share of more than 90% for domestic coal usage. Overburden generated through open pit mines is piled up nearby in the form of large waste rock dumps. The side-hill fill dumping near open pit mines is the source of environmental degradation in the region. Among the current problems at solid waste rock dump sites are dust emissions during and after dumping as well as Acid Rock Drainage (ARD). One of the major existing problems at waste rock dumps is dump stability (comprising erosion, sliding and subsidence issues). The RAME R&D project (Research Association Mining and Environment in Vietnam) is - among other activities - actively involved in the research for stabilisation and rehabilitation of mine waste rock dumps in Vietnam in the form of several sub-projects. The Institute of Mining Engineering I of RWTH Aachen University is leading the sub-project of mine waste dump stabilisation in co-operation with Chair of Geotechnical Engineering and Brenk Systemplanung GmbH. Mine waste dumping in the form of layers as an alternative to the side-hill fill dumping is expected to bring up environmental and economical benefits by minimising the problems of dump sites with the contribution to a sustainable development. Reduction of the post construction settlements, long term stable dump profile with minimum erosion, improvement of material parameters for geotechnical slope stability through compaction from hauling trucks as well as economical evaluation of new dumping concepts are the areas of the current research. The project has been financed by German Federal Ministry for Research and Education (BMBF). The ultimate aim of the sub-project is the compilation of the project results in the form of a "Best Practice Guide" and software based "Decision Support System" for planning and management of solid mine waste dumps."

Jan 1, 2011

By K. Sørli, H. Elstad, I. M. Skaar, A. Hildal

Generally, monitoring of refractory furnace linings is of interest to the metallurgical industry. The main issues are to control wear of the furnace lining and break out of molten metal. Penetration of molten metal through the lining can cause considerable damage to equipment in the vicinity of the furnace and endanger operators. Rebuilding of a furnace lining is expensive, mainly because it stops production, but also because the lining materials are expensive. Here, two methods for monitoring the lining of a smelting furnace are presented. The methods are based on monitoring of the temperature distribution in the lining, more specific monitoring an isotherm in the lining. One method is based on the assumption of unidirectional heat flow locally, reducing the problem to a set of one-dimensional heat conduction problems. The other method is based on inverse heat conduction. In this context inverse heat conduction means estimating the wear from temperature measurements using mathematical optimization techniques. The study is based on the ilmenite smelting furnace at Tinfos Titan & Iron KS. Some results from real temperature measurements and real observations from the ilmenite smelting furnaces is presented.

Jan 1, 2003

By H. V. Makar

The Bureau of Mines successfully demonstrated, on a pilot plant scale, a sodium sulfate (Na2S04) refining process for removal of copper from molten ferrous scrap. Previous tests established technical feasibility on a bench scale for achieving low copper concentrations and determining the principal factors controlling process efficiency. The pilot plant study involved a 1-ton arc furnace for melting ferrous scrap and a 1-1/2-ton treatment ladle. Results of these tests showed that copper removals obtained in laboratory tests (approximately 40 relative percent copper removal with 10 weight-percent surface addition of sodium sulfate) could be achieved on the pilot plant scale when excess carbon was added with the sodium sulfate compacts. Data were obtained on temperature losses and carbon consumption related to Na2SO4 treatment.

Jan 1, 1974

By AIME AIME

THE meeting of the Petroleum Division at Houston, Oct. 10-12-headquarters, Rice Hotel-was preeminently a technological success. Two hundred and twenty-five attended the Thursday morning session and approximately 200 attended the sessions on Thursday and Friday afternoons and Saturday morning. Harry Power, Chairman of the Division, in his opening remarks, credited Paul Weaver and M. Albertson, respectively chairman and vice-chairman of the local committee, with working long and prodigiously in organizing the program. The theme of the initial session was indicated by Mr. Albertson in a statement relative to the estimation of developed petroleum reserves. He said that the problem of securing more accurate estimates of developed petroleum reserves existed prior to curtailment of production. With curtailment, however, the problem became an acute one. Mr. Albertson gave some of the more important reasons for this situation. Since the decline-curve method became inapplicable, the volumetric method has become the chief one used. It depends on the factors of productive formation volume, porosity, saturation, and recovery. He briefly discussed the factors necessary for application of the volumetric method. P. P. Gregory discussed the estimation of petroleum reserves in prorated lime¬stone fields (see his paper in the October

Jan 1, 1935

By G. G. Biggar

A MATERIAL contribution to the success of our Armies in the field has been the portable pipe-line system. These are the words of Brigadier General R. F. Fowler, chief of the supply division of the War Department. The portable pipe line is one of the "secret weapons" the American forces employed in their swift advances through Tunisia, Sicily, and Italy. Constructed of a light steel so flexible it can be snaked around trees, it can be laid at a rate of ten to thirty miles daily right up to the fighting fronts. It has played a major role in supplying combat troops with products varying from petroleum to water.

Jan 1, 1943

By H. U. R. Kattentidt, W. L. Dalmijn, T. P. R. de Jong

"Research at Delft University aims to develop systems for automatic inspection and sorting of bulk solids which can be applied in the mineral processing and recycling industry. A recent development includes an automatic sorter based on airport X-ray inspection technology. It is designed for continuous inspection and sorting of 5 – 150 mm solids and has as objective a cost effective and high capacity on-line inspection and sorting.Dual energy X-ray transmission imaging provides instantaneous data about particle dimensions and the atomic number distribution. The system provides particle thickness and average atomic number on a pixel level at scanning speeds between 250 and 500 lines / second. With existing X-ray components inspection speeds between 0.5 and 2 m/s at approximately 1-meter inspection width and between 1.5*1.5 and 5*5 mm2 sensor resolution can be achieved.Imaging algorithms that were developed by Delft University for applications in recycling, waste cleaning and other applications acquire shape, size distribution and composition data. Currently on-line processing of a product at a rate of around 200 particles per second is possible using a standard PC. Experiments with a demonstration X-ray unit indicated good potential for various applications in solids processing. They include continuous inspection of organic content, sulphur, chlorine, ash, and metal distribution. It is applicable for coal cleaning, ore sorting, industrial minerals, and various applications within waste cleaning and recycling. Dual energy X-ray transmission fundamentals and recent progress in system development and applications are presented."

Jan 1, 2003

By T. S. Taylor

THE development of the linear hot-wire anemometer has been chiefly clue to the efforts of L. V. Kings1 and A. E. Kennelly and H. S. Sanborn.2 The anemometers used by these investigators consisted essentially of a fine heating wire having attached leads for resistance measurements at distances of 10 or more centimeters from each other. In using such an anemometer, the current is measured that is necessary to maintain the resistance of the wire, between the two leads, constant for different air velocities. Thus resistance is always so chosen that the temperature of the heating wire will be sufficiently high to make the observations practically independent of small variations in the temperature of the gas in which the anemometer is placed. The measurement of the resistance of the anemometer wire requires a Kelvin bridge set up, which for commercial work is not altogether desirable. The cooling effect clue to different air velocities depends on the temperature difference between the wire and the gas and the total quantity or mass of gas passing the wire per unit tine. Since the temperature of the wire is maintained constant, the effect observed in the change in the heating currentfor a given change in air velocity is a measure of the difference between the gas flow in the two cases. Such an anemometer, therefore, measures the average gas flow for a length depending on the distance between the two resistance leads. Therefore the instrument in the form used thus far is not very satisfactory for measuring gas velocities in small tubes or in places where the velocity varies rapidly across the line of flow. For the purpose of measuring gas flow through relatively small tubes, where the velocity changes rather rapidly across the tube, the hot-wire anemometer has been modified in the manner shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1. It consists essentially of a platinum heating wire H about 0.007 in. (0.178 mm.) in diameter and ½ to 1 in. (12.7 to 25.4 mm.) long stretched across a suitable framework, say of glass. This wire has

Jan 9, 1919

By M Bourke

Modern computers and software provide powerful tools for the geologist to construct reliable models of geological resources, and the mining engineer to produce accurate and workable mine plans. Over the years many people have developed a phobia of computers, especially for geological analysis, modelling and mine planning. This phobia is often caused by a lack of knowledge, poor training or a bad experience. The adoption however of computers for geological modelling and mine planning is now becoming mainstream. With the correct training, a good understanding of input data, and detailed knowledge of the required results, the phobia can safely be overcome to provide mining operations with increased productivity.

Jan 1, 1999

By M. F. Hawkes

Austenite grain size has long been recognized by metallurgists as an important property of steels because of its influence on toughness, hardenability, ma-chinability and creep strength. Much research has been carried out on wrought steels to develop methods for disclosing austenite grain size, and to, provide knowledge of the grain-size characteristics of steels produced and heat-treated in various ways. Much less work in these fields has been done on steel castings; partly because, owing to the variable and complex microstruc-tures of cast steels, it is frequently very difficult to obtain results that are not questionable. The object of this investigation, therefore, was to establish, for a wide variety of carbon and alloy cast steels, suitable methods for disclosing austenite grain size and some knowledge of the grain-size variations to be expected. The steel foundryman is interested in austenite grain size at two different stages in the manufacture of his products; one is just after the steel is cast, and the other is after any reheating operation carried out above the critical temperature range. In both, it must always be kept in mind that the grain size being sought is actually a previous austenite grain size, and that the austenite no longer exists once the steel has cooled to room temperature. The prob-lem of the investigator is always to use evidence obtained from the structure at room temperature to deduce this previous austenite grain size, which was established the last time the steel existed at a temperature above the critical range. Since most steel castings today are at least annealed or normalized, the measurement of austenite grain size established by heat-treatment will he considered first. More than 50 commercially produced cast steels rcpresenting a wide variety of compositions and melting practices were used in the study. For each steel, grain-size determinations were made after each of three widely varying heat-treating schedules namely, one hour at I550'F, one hour at I700°F, and six hours at 1700 F. The list of steels and results obtained on them will be found in the appendix. (See page 530.) A discussion of the knowledge gained on the applicability of various test methods and on grain-size characteristics of cast steels in general follows. MEASUREMENT OF AUSTENITE GRAIN SIZE ESTABLISHED BY HEAT TREATMENT Methods Suitable foR Determining Austenite Grain Size after Heat-treatment at Ordinary Temperatures and Times It was desired, as one of the results of this investigation, to be able to recommend to steel foundries a method, or methods, of disclosing grain size best suited to accurate

Jan 1, 1948

By M. F. Hawkes

Austenite grain size has long been recognized by metallurgists as an important property of steels because of its influence on toughness, hardenability, ma-chinability and creep strength. Much research has been carried out on wrought steels to develop methods for disclosing austenite grain size, and to, provide knowledge of the grain-size characteristics of steels produced and heat-treated in various ways. Much less work in these fields has been done on steel castings; partly because, owing to the variable and complex microstruc-tures of cast steels, it is frequently very difficult to obtain results that are not questionable. The object of this investigation, therefore, was to establish, for a wide variety of carbon and alloy cast steels, suitable methods for disclosing austenite grain size and some knowledge of the grain-size variations to be expected. The steel foundryman is interested in austenite grain size at two different stages in the manufacture of his products; one is just after the steel is cast, and the other is after any reheating operation carried out above the critical temperature range. In both, it must always be kept in mind that the grain size being sought is actually a previous austenite grain size, and that the austenite no longer exists once the steel has cooled to room temperature. The prob-lem of the investigator is always to use evidence obtained from the structure at room temperature to deduce this previous austenite grain size, which was established the last time the steel existed at a temperature above the critical range. Since most steel castings today are at least annealed or normalized, the measurement of austenite grain size established by heat-treatment will he considered first. More than 50 commercially produced cast steels rcpresenting a wide variety of compositions and melting practices were used in the study. For each steel, grain-size determinations were made after each of three widely varying heat-treating schedules namely, one hour at I550'F, one hour at I700°F, and six hours at 1700 F. The list of steels and results obtained on them will be found in the appendix. (See page 530.) A discussion of the knowledge gained on the applicability of various test methods and on grain-size characteristics of cast steels in general follows. MEASUREMENT OF AUSTENITE GRAIN SIZE ESTABLISHED BY HEAT TREATMENT Methods Suitable foR Determining Austenite Grain Size after Heat-treatment at Ordinary Temperatures and Times It was desired, as one of the results of this investigation, to be able to recommend to steel foundries a method, or methods, of disclosing grain size best suited to accurate

Jan 1, 1948

By Ho-Sung Yoon, Jyothi Rajesh Kumar, Chul-Joo Kim, Sung-Don Kim

A recovery process for rare earths (REs) such as dysprosium and neodymium from the leach liquor of permanent magnet scrap (PMS) was developed. The two hydrometallurgical routes namely liquid-liquid extraction (solvent extraction) and selective stripping were implemented. The present study deals with the separation and recovery process development by using organo-phosphorous based extractant di-(2-ethylhexyl phosphoric acid (D2EHPA) as reagent for REs processing. Initial studies considered the influence of time on the extraction process, as well as pH and extractant concentration effects. This suggested the aqueous mechanism and separation factors played a role in process during development. McCabe-Thiele diagrams for extraction isotherms were developed. Counter current extraction (CCE) using various phase ratios influenced metals separation. Maximum loading capacity of the D2EHPA was determined. The loaded organic generated by the CCE process was water washed followed by a scrubbing process to remove the other metal ion from targeted metal. Finally, a stripping process was tested using various mineral acids.

Jan 1, 2015

By N. A. Eilertsen

Mining operations were in progress at the Shawangunk mine near Summitville, Sullivan County, N. Y. as early as 1843 and again as late as 1918. Difficulty in effecting mechanical separation of sphalerite and galena was the primary reason for abandonment by various operators. The Bureau of Mines investigated this mine by diamond drilling, sampling, and performing beneficiation tests. The investigation included the construction of 1.25 miles of access road and the completion of 6,526 feet of core drilling in 24 holes. In addition, 151 samples were taken in the mine. The investigation proved an extension of ore contiguous to the old mine workings and resulted in the discovery of another ore shoot at depth. The ore occurs as fissure filling in a fault zone and contains concentrations of zinc and lead sulfides with minor dissemination of chalcopyrite in a quartz gangue. Metallurgical tests indicate that the ore can be concentrated by selective flotation.

Jan 1, 1950