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By McElrae AJ, McTaggart SM

The recent rapid escalation in computer use by mining companies, particularly in technical applications, can in part be traced to a growth in the availability of specialist packaged software. Such software, often developed by independent software companies provides economies of scale, end user orien- tation and breadth of scope imposed by market forces. This paper reviews the emergence of these companies and current software econo- mics before extrapolating present trends to consider the effect of future fourth gen- eration languages upon productivity.

Jan 1, 1983

After the last world war, management tended to change from an acquired skill more associated with experience than formal training, to a specific widely-recognised specialism requiring an involved formal education process.That process, of necessity, required the development of business schools, M.B.A. courses -indeed the setting up of professional chairs to deal with the intricacy of general management development.Management research burst forth bringing forward new and exciting theories which developed new techniques, tools and terms.

Jan 1, 1985

By Jeffrey E. Loney, Andrew F. McKnown

Recovery of contaminated groundwater migrating through bedrock can be very difficult due to the low transmissivity of many bedrock fracture systems. To overcome these difficulties, a system of controlled "trench" blasting has been used on several projects to assist in cutting off and collecting groundwater plumes in bedrock. By using a combination of trench blasting and presplitting techniques, linear "fracture" zones are created in appropriate locations to significantly increase flow into recovery wells and control plume migration.

Jan 1, 1995

By Johnston G, Joyce C

The permitting of new mining projects has evolved into a highly complex process that must be carefully managed. Only by developing a thorough understanding of the issues involved and stakeholder interrelationships can successful strategies be developed that integrate the often competing demands of: ò regulatory requirements, ò commercial requirements, ò social/cultural needs, and ò technical issues. Properly implemented, this approach can result in: ò shortened approval timeframes, ò better project definition ò broad based community support, and ò favorably disposed government departments.

Jan 1, 1997

By Kris Shukla

Noise and vibration produced by blasting generate curiosity and concern from neighbors. Experiments conducted in Sweden, Canada and U.S.A. have established that fine cracks in the plaster--the weakest part of building components--appear at a particle velocity of 4.0" per second or more. Taking into account the margin of safety, the safe zone criteria of 2.0" per second has been established.

Jan 1, 1978

A number of forecasting methods are available to mine management to help predict the most likely outcome of some particular event thus enabling management to make more cost effective decisions. Three general classes of models can be used to predict future events qualitative, structural and time series, the most effective method in most cases being time series. Time series methods can be applied to predict future events from a series of past observations. Various time series techniques are reviewed with a comparison of their relative advantages and disadvantages.

Jan 1, 1980

By Jack Eloranta

Proper selection of stemming has a profound effect on blast performance. This paper describes several methods of evaluating stemming performance in 16-inch blastholes. Tests are done on stemming ranging in size from nominal 1/4" crushed rock up to railroad ballast size rock (2 1/2" > diameter < 3/4"). Concrete plugs (both pre-cast and poured) are evaluated as well as air decking.

Jan 1, 1994

The current status of the US lead and zinc industries was reviewed by J. G. McCullough, president of Amax Lead and Zinc Inc. He reported that in the US, lead and zinc are separate industries because of the nature of mineralization. The large Mississippi-type zinc deposits are practically lead-free, and while the new lead belt in Missouri has some zinc content, it does not have the same favorable economic impact as in the complex massive sulfide ore bodies being developed elsewhere.

Jan 11, 1977

MANY members of the National Societies died in service overseas during the World War. No memorial to these engineers has been set up but a unique and interesting suggestion has been made. While Edward Dean Adams, Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers, and Associate of the Ameri-can Institute of Electrical Engineers, ,vas in Belgium last June as delegate of the National Societies, En-gineering Foundation, and Engineering Societies

Jan 12, 1927

By Gerald L. Tiley

When payloads and hoisting distances are beyond the capacity of a single headrope, a multi-rope hoist will cost less than, and require less maintenance than, several hoists with one headrope per conveyance. This paper describes the basic type of multi-rope drum and friction hoists in use today, the types of ropes available, and the essentials of a satisfactory installation.

Jan 1, 1981

By A. J. Douchane, J. M. Shirley

The high grade gold and silver Ken Snyder Mine is located in north-central Nevada, in Elko County, adjacent to the town of Midas, approximately 240 miles to the east­northeast of Reno and approximately 60 miles to the northeast of the town of Winnemucca. The Midas Joint Venture (MJV), an equal partnership between Franco-Nevada Mining Corporation, Inc. and Euro­Nevada Mining Corporation, Inc. with Franco-Nevada Mining Corporation, Inc. being the joint venture manager, owns the mine. In May 1997, Kilborn Denver, now SNC-Lavalin America, completed a bankable feasibility study and proceeded with detailed design, procurement and construction management. In mid December 1998, MJV not only poured their first gold several months ahead of schedule, but were already operating at full production. In addition, the construction of this US $84 million mine, mill and related facilities were completed on budget. Operating cash costs are US $78/oz. This paper describes how this was accomplished.

Jan 1, 1999

By Hare G

The emphasis in Australia, until recently, has been on large scale mining methods with drive sizes in excess of 4.5 metres square and the acceptance of high dilution ratios, even when working in relatively narrow orebodies. The rising cost of extracting and treating the recovered ore and the lower prices available in the world markets has seen a growing trend to narrow mining methods.Traditionally narrow orebody mining has been carried out using hand held drilling methods and rail mounted boggers. Recent advances in mobile equipment now offers the operator of narrow method mines the opportunity to completely mechanise the mine from the drilling, through bogging to haulage, while maintaining minimal dilution in drive sizes to two metres wide or less.

Jan 1, 1993

By Robert C. Weed

Leaching in place at Cananea began in the 1920&apos;s on a limited scale. The first plants were small wooden boxes located underground in the Capote and Oversight mines, and output was low. Scrap iron was used as precipitant. Later several other small plants were started up. Leaching was limited entirely to underground areas, and production remained low. The Veta precipitating plant, the first on a larger scale, was put into operation in the late 1920&apos;s. After a period of intermittent service it was rebuilt in 1946 and has since been running continuously.

Jul 1, 1956

The commonly used stainless steels, their properties and uses are briefly discussed.Two specific topics are then explored in more detai&apos;s to highlight development areas, the potential of which has been largely unexploited in mining milling, refining and smelting operations. The high strength to weight ratios achievable in austenitic stainless steels has been widely used in the transport industry to design high integrity light weight vehicles,especially railway carriages. This use has rarely been extended into other structural areas where highly aggressive environments could make stainless steel a cost effective material compared to protected carbon steels. The recently developed weldable ferritic steels are described and their potential in materials handling discussed. Particular attention is paid to 3CR12, a nominal 12% Chromium, titanium stabilised steel finding wide acceptance in the mining industry.

Jan 1, 1985

Process control computers are finding ever increasing applications within the chemi-cal and mineral processing industries.To purchase a system which fulfils both the immediate and future needs of operating, technical and management groups, requires an appreciation of the capabilities of the system software and the constraints which apply to user development of application software. Early decisions are then required as to who will develop and maintain the software. Rules and conventions must be determined and adhered to if the end result is to be an orderly, well structured and properly documented system. Software development and maintenance represents a substantial, and often hidden, cost. Getting it right the first time will avoid either a major re-work, or having to live with a system which is extremely diffi-cult (at the worst, impossible) to trouble-shoot or modify.

Jan 1, 1985

By K. C. Vories, C. D. Elifrits, F. F. Haston

The required reclamation of land disturbed by surface coal mining often results in the creation of some oversteepened slopes that are prone to rapid erosion and sediment production. This natural activity on such slopes is not desirable nor allowed under current regulations. Experience has shown that novel approaches must be devised to address the problem. Research conducted on field sites in Missouri has indicated that construction, during the reclamation and grading processes, of a man-made drainage system will control the erosion. The drainage system must replicate or exceed the natural system in terms of drainage density and channel frequency. Basic design considerations are summarized in this paper, and field results are shown.

Jan 1, 1987

By Ellen S. Forbus

Reduction bleaching is used to improve the brightness and color of the kaolin pigments sold to the paper and speciality industries. The bleach re¬duces the iron oxide associated with kaolin deposits to a colorless form by the following reaction: Na2S2O42+ 6Fe+3 + 4 H2O -> 2 NaHSO4 + 6Fe+2 + 6H+ (Conley et al., 1964). At present, sodium hydrosulfite is used by the kaolin industry as the reductive bleach. It is often purchased commercially as a liquid solution and added into an acidified slurry. Before the use of commercial sodium hydrosulfite, kaolin plants manufactured zinc hydrosulfite on site by adding zinc dust to sulfurous acid made by passing SO2 gas into water. This process was abandoned in the 1970s due to environmental concerns about zinc in waste waters. In the 1970s, Engelhard patented a process that made sodium hydrosulfate from an iron hydrosulfate (Tiethof, 1978). Difficulties with separating the iron hydroxide byproduct from the bleach and a decrease in the cost of commercial bleach caused the project to be abandoned.

Jan 1, 1993

By Giuseppe Bonifazi

This study examines the problems involved with the control of characteristics of the products resulting from comminution operations. A methodology of investigation based on texture analysis procedures by image processing techniques of the comminution product is proposed. Some examples of applications are considered with particular reference to comminution products of different textural, structural and mechanical characteristics. The advantages and the limites of this method of approach are, indicated, both as regards performance of the investigations and subsequent processing of results.

Jan 1, 1989

By Frank R. Milliken

Before the rather sudden economic downturn in recent months, shortages of materials were painfully felt throughout the US. The current recession has provided a temporary relief here and there-but energy fuels and a number of staples such as sugar are still in short supply. This is an unsolved and fundamental problem that will haunt us again as the economy turns up. There is an awareness that the nation faces a widening supply gap in many of its most basic materials-from asbestos to tungsten-as evidenced by recent studies and government reports, and by the Secretary of the Interior&apos;s annual warnings about the mounting seriousness of the problem.

Jan 3, 1975

By Butcher NM, Walker GS

Argyle Diamond Mines Pty. Limited (ADM), manager and operator of the Argyle Diamond Mines Joint Venture (ADMJV) will recruit approximately 400 employees during 1985 to operate the new large-scale, open-cut diamond mine and treatment plant being developed at Argyle, in the East Kimberley Region of Western Australia. These employees will live in Perth or environs and will commute to work at Argyle via chartered jet aircraft. On site, they will be accommodated in self-contained single person&apos;s quarters, with central messing and recreational facilities. Rostering systems have not been finalised, but it is likely employees will rotate through a cycle of 14 days at site and seven-days on leave in Perth. ADM spent three years evaluating residen- tial options before deciding to commute its workforce from Perth. Another 70 senior staff will reside in Kununurra (the nearest established town, 250 km from Argyle) and commute to the mine daily by air.

Jan 1, 1984