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By Fred Beasley

METALLURGISTS have, in the past ten years, overcome many difficulties of high zinc in lead blast-furnace slags. This problem was brought to the front at the close of the late war, by the price obtained for lead and the high cost of labor, fuel, and flux. The Port Pirie plant of the Broken Hill Associated Smelters, Australia, early in 1919 had increased the zinc oxide in its blast-furnace slags from 13.5 to 20 per cent., at the same time reducing the iron oxide in the slag from 33.5 to 25.6 per cent. These results were obtained by the following proceduret the addition of granulated slag to the roaster charge, 10 to 12 per cent., improved conditions of the crushing and mixing and roasting of the constituents of the sinter. By experiments and improve-ments the practice at this plant has developed a normal slag that carries 22 per cent. zinc oxide, and at times runs as high as 33 per cent. zinc oxide, with only slight furnace trouble. The granulated slag is used not, only as a diluent to the sulfur in the roaster charge, but also on account of its value as a slag-forming material and on account of the physical properties it imparts to the finished sinter. The ore is mixed with flux and given a double roast. All the first roasting is by sintering with the Dwight & Lloyd machines. The final roasting is performed partly by Dwight & Lloyd machines and partly by H. & H. pots. The charge to the blast furnaces consists chiefly of the final sinter, slag shells, siliceous and non-bearing sulfur, lead ores. High blast and ore columns are the practice. The greatest care is taken to obtain in the final sinter as low a sulfur content as possible.

Jan 2, 1925

By Dever Ashmead

ENGINEERS, operators, miners, and others di-rectly interested in mining will readily agree that more of well-directed illumination in mines will result in a reduction of accidents and general im-provement in the working conditions, comfort, and effi-ciency of those employed underground. Progress has been made in the amount of illumination from individual lamps carried by miners. The candle, which a great many of us can remember as the general method of lighting, was replaced by the oil lamp or torch, later by a specially prepared oil known as "Sunshine," and eventually by the carbide cap lamp. The metal mines still present a field for progress from the standpoint of general illumination, particular-ly those mines having high stopes. Attention is being more and more focussed upon the advantages of im-proved lighting in mines, in order that the underground employee may benefit as the factory workers have al-ready done. The management is vitally interested in the morale of its employees, the reduction of costly accidents and increased production, all of which, judging by results in other industries, will be sub-stantially benefitted through the means of improved general illumination. From data available to the writer, 40 to 50 per cent of the accidents in the metal mines occur at the face; they may be due to roof falls, movement of loose ore, loading of cans, handling of tools, etc. Very probably a large proportion of these accidents may be attributed to lack of light. If sufficient illumination had been present the employee could have seen what was happen-ing and taken the proper precautions. The introduc-tion of better illumination means better visibility, de-crease in accidents, and increase in efficiency.

Jan 6, 1928

By M. Pelser, J. Hagemann

"The Anglo American Platinum Rustenburg Base Metals Refiners (RBMR) is the largest producer of nickel cathode in South Africa. It treats slow-cooled matte to recover a platinum group metal-containing magnetic fraction for downstream processing and a nonmagnetic fraction to produce nickel and copper cathode, cobalt sulphate, and sodium sulphate. The refinery was recently expanded from 21 to 33 kt/a nickel. During the ramp-up phase, the sulphur removal section was found to be a constraint to throughput. Nickel hydroxide is precipitated from nickel spent electrolyte by addition of sodium hydroxide, and filtration of the nickel precipitate allows sulphur to be removed from the circuit as aqueous sodium sulphate in the filtrate. The filtration fluxes were found to be limiting the circuit’s capacity. An obvious solution would have been to install additional filtration capacity at significant capital cost and long lead times. RBMR chose rather to first initiate a collaborative project with Anglo American Technical Solutions to better understand the impact of process conditions on filtration characteristics and to evaluate whether the filtration flux could be increased by improving the quality of the nickel precipitate.A deeper understanding of nickel hydroxide precipitation chemistry and kinetics in the context of high nickel and sodium hydroxide concentrations was developed, guided by precipitation theory and confirmed by laboratory tests and plant observations. It was found that the filtration rate could be significantly improved by modifying the precipitate characteristics. A new precipitation process was engineered and retrofitted into the existing plant. Since start-up of the new precipitation system, the available capacity of the sulphur removal section has more than doubled, and control of the process has improved with the better agitation. This paper describes the theory and results used to design the new agitation system, as well as the impact of the change on capital investment, operability, and process efficiency."

Jan 1, 2016

By Chao Yang, Liguo Tian, Yan Yang

"The Jinfeng gold mine is one of the three gold mines that Eldorado Gold has in China and it is the second largest gold mine in China. The mine is located in a relatively remote and mountainous area in the southwestern Guizhou province. The orebody is similar to the Carlin type deposit in Nevada. The mill throughput was designed to treat 3,600 tones per day. The ore comes from open pit mining and underground mining, and is fed to one-stage jaw crushing. The crushed ore is stockpiled, reclaimed and then fed to the SABC grinding circuit. After classification with hydrocylones, the ore is floated, and the resultant concentrate is oxidized biologically in a process known as BIOX®. The oxidized concentrate is then washed in a CCD circuit and finally leached with cyanide in a CIL circuit for gold extraction. Jinfeng produces about 180,000 oz of gold per year.This paper introduces operations and modifications of SABC circuit over the past three years, and then describes some technical characteristic of the SAG mill and other circuits in the processing plant.Major modifications and improvements on the SABC circuit are described in the paper, including:1. Impacts of grinding ball and mill liner with respect to material selection, quality, hardness, manufacturing methods, and interactions between mill liner and grinding ball.2. Effect of milling operation parameters on milling efficiency.3. Impacts of SAG mill scats and modifications of grate size to improve mill throughput.4. Design and construction of a pebble crushing system, and recycle the crushed scats to the SAG mill to improve mill throughput.With the above-mentioned modifications, 20% increase over the design in mill throughput has been realized over the past three years, and operating cost has been significantly reduced. However, some issues still remain, and thus process modifications and technical innovations are still needed."

Jan 1, 2012

By R. N. Dokken, J. F. Elliott

A high-temperature solution calorimeter was used to measure directly the partial molar heat of mixing of nickel in the Cu-Ni system, 0 to 15 at. pct Ni and 1200°C; of silver in the Cu-Ag system, 0 to 50 at. pct Ag and 1100°C; and of cobalt in the Cu-Co system, 0 to 6 at. pct Co and 1200°C. The heats of fusion of copper and silver were also detervnined directly. The results of these investigations are as follows: Cu-Ni: HM = [2.64 + 0.25Xm JXNiXCy kcal/g-U~OI Cu-Ag: HM =[4.00 + 0.31XAglXAgXCu kcal/g-atom Cu-Co: HF~ = [8- 5X~,]X& kcal/g-atotn Cu, AH, = 3290 * 275 cal/g-atom Ag, AH, = 2890 * 250 cal/g-atom The performance of the calorimeter was enhanced by improving the operational and control procedures, particularly the temperature-wieasuren~ent method and the solute-addition practice. The interpretation of the experimental data was improved by developing machine computational techniques that increased the speed, flexibility, and accuracy of the treatment of the data. THIS paper reports further measurements of the heats of solution of liquid metals with the high-tem- perature solution ca1orimeter.l Measurements were made of the partial molar heats of mixing in the following liquid alloys: Cu-Ni, Cu-Ag, and Cu-Co. In addition the heats of fusion of copper and silver were also determined. The apparatus and the experimental procedure were essentially those of Benz and Elliott.2 Several modifications in the experimental method and the means for interpreting the data were incorporated in this study to improve the results. The operation of the calorimeter and its characteristics will be described only briefly here. The

Jan 1, 1965

By G. S. Cole

By 2025, the U.S. automotive industry will have to average 54.5 mpg (4.3l/100km) Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFÉ). While new/improved powertrain technology (turbocharging, electrification, diesels, transmissions and stop/start) will be critical, it is estimated that 25-40% of the new CAFÉ standards will require significant mass reduction, and lightweight structural materials will be required. This presentation examines vehicle mass reduction based on new developments in manufacturing automotive structures and components using light metals (aluminum and magnesium), conventional heavy metals (iron and steel), polymers, and carbon-fiber reinforced polymer composites. Components that used to be sand cast or pressure die cast provided minimal fatigue strength and ductility. But greater mass reduction uses more light metals in structural applications. They require eliminating porosity and inclusions to improve ductility and fatigue strength. Improved casting processing, with vacuum die casting, counter pressure and squeeze casting, and new forging and extrusion applications are being developed for this purpose. New grades of ultra-high strength steels can be made thinner, and save over 1/3 the mass vs conventional mild steels. But more complex and expensive processing, such as hot stamping and in-mold quenching, is required. Most engine block structures have migrated from grey cast iron to aluminum over the past 40 years. But compacted graphite cast iron has higher strength at high combustion temperatures and pressures so that high powered engines can be smaller and even lighter than aluminum. Assembling a range of lightweight materials into vehicle structures requires specialized assembly techniques, including sophisticated structural adhesives that can mitigate vehicles’ unique corrosion environment. The presentation will conclude with discussing lightweighting strategies of Asian, American and, European marques and the materials, component designs and assembly techniques used to achieve 2025 CAFÉ.

Jan 1, 2016

By F. C. Sturges

By definition the word "grout" means a thin mortar, or a kind of plaster or cement, and "grouting" means to fill up or finish with grout. The words "cement," "plaster" and "mortar" mean a substance that is used in a soft state which subsequently hardens. Thus, grouting is the filling of void space with a substance that hardens. Construction cements are the most common substances used, either by themselves or in mixtures, but the term grouting is applied quite correctly when other substances such as plastics and certain chemicals are used. Also, the use of the term grouting to cover the filling of voids with materials that do not actually become hard, such as the flotation tailings used in grouting in the southeast Missouri lead district, should be considered correct, as some stiffening does take place and, anyway, it is a better descriptive term than any substitute. Engineers are interested in grouting because some of the materials with which they must work contain voids, and certain conditions can be improved if these voids can be filled with something solid and permanent. Grouting is done to accomplish several purposes: I. To stop the passage of fluids and gases, 2. To cement materials together to make them stronger, and 3. To prevent consolidation of materials by filling void space with something solid as a replacement for the air and water that could be forced out under load. The construction industry uses grouting extensively for all three purposes. Grouting is used to stop water percolation under and around dams. It is used to control water flow in tunnel driving and in shaft sinking. It is used to improve foundation conditions under civil engineering structures by permanently filling void space and thereby reducing settlement, or by cementing broken rock together and increasing its supporting strength. The oil and gas industry does a lot of grouting, primarily to stop the passage of gases and fluids. The search for oil at increasingly greater depths has meant greater investment per well, and the oil industry has spent large sums on development of improved drilling methods. This

Jan 1, 1949

By J. W. Galpin, V. L. Minear, F. C. Sturges, B. H. Mott, R. H. Allen, W. W. Weigel, Wm. D. Owsley, R. E. Moeller

By definition the word "grout" means a thin mortar, or a kind of plaster or ce¬ment, and "grouting" means to fill up or finish with grout. The words "cement," "plaster" and "mortar" mean a substance that is used in a soft state which subsequently hardens. Thus, grouting is the filling of void space with a substance that hardens. Construction cements are the most common substances used, either by themselves or in mixtures, but the term grouting is applied quite correctly when other substances such as plastics and certain chemicals are used. Also, the use of the term grouting to cover the filling of voids with materials that do not actually become hard, such as the-flotation tailings used in grouting in the southeast Missouri lead district, should be considered correct, as some stiffening does take place and, anyway, it is a better descriptive term than any substitute. Engineers are interested in grouting because some of the materials with which they must work contain voids, and certain conditions can be improved if these voids can be filled with something solid and permanent. Grouting is done to accomplish several purposes: I. To stop the passage of fluids and gases, 2. To cement materials together to make them stronger, and 3. To prevent consolidation of materials by filling void space with something solid as a replacement for the air and water that could be forced out under load. The construction industry uses grouting extensively for all three purposes. Grouting is used to stop water percolation under and around dams. It is used to control water flow in tunnel driving and in shaft sinking. It is used to improve foundation conditions under civil engineering structures by permanently filling void space and thereby reducing settlement, or by cementing broken rock together and increasing its supporting strength. The oil and gas industry does a lot of grouting, primarily to stop the passage of gases and fluids. The search for oil at increasingly greater depths has meant greater investment per well, and the oil industry has spent large sums on development of improved drilling methods. This

Jan 1, 1948

By J. W. Galpin, V. L. Minear, W. D. Owsley, F. C. Sturges, B. H. Mott, R. H. Allen, W. W. Weigel, R. E. Moeller

By definition the word "grout" means a thin mortar, or a kind of plaster or cement, and "grouting" means to fill up or finish with grout. The words "cement," "plaster" and "mortar" mean a substance that is used in a soft state which subsequently hardens. Thus, grouting is the filling of void space with a substance that hardens. Construction cements are the most common substances used, either by themselves or in mixtures, but the term grouting is applied quite correctly when other substances such as plastics and certain chemicals are used. Also, the use of the term grouting to cover the filling of voids with materials that do not actually become hard, such as the flotation tailings used in grouting in the southeast Missouri lead district, should be considered correct, as some stiffening does take place and, anyway, it is a better descriptive term than any substitute. Engineers are interested in grouting because some of the materials with which they must work contain voids, and certain conditions can be improved if these voids can be filled with something solid and permanent. Grouting is done to accomplish several purposes: I. To stop the passage of fluids and gases, 2. To cement materials together to make them stronger, and 3. To prevent consolidation of materials by filling void space with something solid as a replacement for the air and water that could be forced out under load. The construction industry uses grouting extensively for all three purposes. Grouting is used to stop water percolation under and around dams. It is used to control water flow in tunnel driving and in shaft sinking. It is used to improve foundation conditions under civil engineering structures by permanently filling void space and thereby reducing settlement, or by cementing broken rock together and increasing its supporting strength. The oil and gas industry does a lot of grouting, primarily to stop the passage of gases and fluids. The search for oil at increasingly greater depths has meant greater investment per well, and the oil industry has spent large sums on development of improved drilling methods. This

Jan 1, 1949

By definition the word "grout" means a thin mortar, or a kind of plaster or cement, and "grouting" means to fill up or finish with grout. The words "cement," "plaster" and "mortar" mean a substance that is used in a soft state which subsequently hardens. Thus, grouting is the filling of void space with a substance that hardens. Construction cements are the most common substances used, either by themselves or in mixtures, but the term grouting is applied quite correctly when other substances such as plastics and certain chemicals are used. Also, the use of the term grouting to cover the filling of voids with materials that do not actually become hard, such as the flotation tailings used in grouting in the southeast Missouri lead district, should be considered correct, as some stiffening does take place and, anyway, it is a better descriptive term than any substitute. Engineers are interested in grouting because some of the materials with which they must work contain voids, and certain conditions can be improved if these voids can be filled with something solid and permanent. Grouting is done to accomplish several purposes: I. To stop the passage of fluids and gases, 2. To cement materials together to make them stronger, and 3. To prevent consolidation of materials by filling void space with something solid as a replacement for the air and water that could be forced out under load. The construction industry uses grouting extensively for all three purposes. Grouting is used to stop water percolation under and around dams. It is used to control water flow in tunnel driving and in shaft sinking. It is used to improve foundation conditions under civil engineering structures by permanently filling void space and thereby reducing settlement, or by cementing broken rock together and increasing its supporting strength. The oil and gas industry does a lot of grouting, primarily to stop the passage of gases and fluids. The search for oil at increasingly greater depths has meant greater investment per well, and the oil industry has spent large sums on development of improved drilling methods. This

Jan 1, 1949

By Sakshi Hazuria Anderson, Angela Binder, Oscar Jaime Restrepo Baena, Simit Raval, Sandra Nowosad

As the mining industry faces times of change, new challenges arise to ensure raw material supply for future generations. Different scenarios are currently shaping the way we mine and teach mining engineering. Led by an increasing demand for raw materials, net-zero requirements for improving long-term operation performance, technological advancements such as automation and digitalization, safety improvements, environmental considerations and a need for social acceptance, mining is pursuing to change and adapt to these requirements at a faster pace. Such changing times raise new concerns, one of the most relevant is the lower number of students interested or enrolling in mining engineering and related fields, leaving mining engineering as one of the less preferred career options for students. Nonetheless, it is essential to continue addressing and supplying the skill sets that are suited to the contemporary and future mining industry. To this end, globally, academia is currently undergoing several initiatives such as curricula updates and adaptation, upskilling, improving teaching practices and techniques, including e-learning techniques, enhancing industry-academia and inter-university collaboration, and much more. In countries like Australia, where mining plays a crucial role in the economy, the need for curriculum updates is more pressing than ever. As the mining industry evolves with new technologies and sustainable practices, there is a growing demand for a workforce skilled in these modern approaches. Recognizing this necessity, universities such as the University of New South Wales and Curtin University have taken significant steps to revamp their educational programs. By updating their academic offerings, both universities aim to equip graduates with the necessary skills to drive innovation and sustainability in mining, supporting Australia’s development as a leader in this critical sector. Moreover, the selection of topics that drive curricula update and the focus of the research institutions in mining engineering must extend beyond mere technological and technical aspects to include social and ethical dimensions. In this context, the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, in association with the Colorado School of Mines, has introduced the topic of humanitarian engineering (HE) in 2020. HE is a sociotechnical approach that focuses on developing engineering solutions that promote the sustainable development of communities addressing their basic needs and aiming to improve their quality of life (Menéndez-Aguado et al., 2023; Smith et al., 2023). By focusing on sustainable development, community engagement and equitable resource distribution, HE helps the industry build positive relationships with stakeholders, reduce conflicts and foster social license to operate. As the mining industry seeks sustainable and socially responsible practices, future engineers require training in this area to understand the broader impacts of their work, fostering a mindset that prioritizes community well-being and environmental stewardship alongside technical proficiency. However, developing skills toward humanitarian engineering and sustainable mining among new generations of mining professionals remains a complex task. Integrating the necessary content to prepare future engineers for the multifaceted demands of the industry into a single study program poses significant challenges. To address these complexities, modern educational approaches such as the ones integrated in the mining engineering programs at Clausthal University of Technology can be leveraged to enhance both teaching and learning experiences (Binder, 2024b; Bothe-Fiekert et al., 2023; Nowosad et al., 2024). Innovative teaching methods, such as blended-learning, project-based learning, case studies, scenario simulations and interdisciplinary collaborations, can help bridge gaps by fostering critical thinking, creativity and empathy among students. By embracing modern pedagogical strategies, institutions can better equip future engineers to navigate the evolving landscape of the mining industry responsibly and effectively.

Dec 1, 2025

By N September, R Abate

Bateman Modular (previously Van Eck and Lurie) has been building and supplying the mining industry with modular DMS plants for the last 30 years. These DMS modules range in capacity from 1 tph to 200 tph. The most popular unit produced by Bateman Modular over the years has been the 50 tph module. Development In the last 7 years a need has arisen from the industry to provide Modular DMS plants that can treat higher tonnages (150 to 200 tph). The first DMS provided to the mining industry based on the modular concept was a 150 tph DMS Module to MIBA in the DRC. Since then Bateman Modular has provided some 14 Mega DMS modules over the last 7 years with the latest two orders from Debswana (Damtshaa double up project) and Namdeb. Ever since the first Mega Module was supplied Bateman Modular has been improving the Modules. Implementation The modules can be supplied in different configurations so as to improve the overall availability of the plant. Two off 150 tph DMS modules were supplied for a Transhex operation. This allowed the client to still operate one DMS module while maintenance is being performed on the other DMS module. The client also has the option of choosing a single module. Successes The following list of projects provides the base for the success of the Mega Modules.

Jan 1, 2006

By Upfold RW, Nguyen VU

The extraction and utilisation of metals and materials is the basis of modern civilisation, and will remain so for many decades, Traditional metals are facing some challenges and research is needed in specific areas, to improve metal extraction processes, to develop processes for newer metals and minerals, and to develop new applications, The shortage of metallurgists now becoming apparent in Australia is a further significant problem that needs urgent attention, and much more publicity is required for the Mineral Industry, as well as for the utilisation Industries,

Jan 1, 1986

By C. L. Sollenberger, Will Mitchell, Ford F. Miskell

Heat treatment of ore prior to comminution reduces power requirements for grinding, reduces grinding media wear, and improves recovery of iron values from a typical Minnesota magnetic taconite. Test data demonstrating this, as well as an analysis of the economics of commercial application of the technique, are presented. THE taconites in general are hard, tough ores, difficult to grind. Liberation of iron mineral constituents usually is accomplished by grinding the ore through at least 100 mesh, and often it has been found necessary to grind substantially through 325 mesh to achieve satisfactory recovery and grade in the concentration process. Because of the fineness of grind required and the enormous tonnages of material contemplated for treatment in the future, costs resulting from grinding media wear and power consumption, together with capital investment required for comminution, approach astronomical figures. Economy in any one of these elements per ton of material ground could very well reflect a considerable saving to the ferrous industry in yearly costs. With this in mind, the Research Laboratories of Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Co. have launched a program to discover means of effecting this economy. The initial phase of the work as described here deals with a heat treatment of crushed raw ore, followed by thermal shock in cooling, for the preparation of rod mill feed. Several investigators1-" ave noted an improvement in the grindabilities of ores treated in this manner. One investigator2 subjected low grade iron ores to heat treatment in an electric furnace. Basing his conclusions on screen analyses of crushed products, he observed that treated ore was more easily crushed than the untreated. He reported that observation of the treated and untreated ore through a microscope revealed cracks following the grain boundaries in treated ore, whereas no cracks were present in untreated ore. However, few if any have quantified the improvement in terms of total hp hours saved, reduction of wear of grinding media, or reduction of capital costs of grinding equipment involved. By means of Bond rod mill and ball mill grindabilitiesh nd by comparative wear tests, the conditions maintained during this investigation have been definitely evaluated. Heat treatment experiments have been made on a batch scale in a muffle furnace, followed by continuous scale experiments in a rotary kiln under various conditions of temperature, atmosphere, retention time, and quenching to determine the combination that would give the greatest improvement in the grindability of a taconite without affecting adversely the magnetic susceptibility of the magnetite. From these data, relative costs have been calculated for grinding both untreated and heat- treated ore on a basis of plant capacity of 120 tons per hour. Heat requirements for a rotary kiln, as well as the kiln capacity required for the treatment, have been estimated. For these tests 50 tons of ore were obtained from the Aurora mine of the Erie Mining Co., Hibbing, Minn. The ore was reported7 to have been selected from the magnetic portion of the lower chert horizons. An average chemical analysis of' this portion is shown in Table I and an approximate mineralogi-cal analysis is shown in Table 11. No attempt was made to differentiate between the various silicates because the compositions vary widely on the different horizons and depend on the degree of oxidation. Minnesotite, however, is the predominant silicate. The siderite grains were dispersed throughout the ore but were essentially associated with the rock-forming minerals. In a series of preliminary tests in which batches of —6 mesh ore were heat-treated in a muffle fur-

Jan 1, 1953

By Will Mitchell, Ford F. Miskell, C. L. Sollenberger

Heat treatment of ore prior to comminution reduces power requirements for grinding, reduces grinding media wear, and improves recovery of iron values from a typical Minnesota magnetic taconite. Test data demonstrating this, as well as an analysis of the economics of commercial application of the technique, are presented. THE taconites in general are hard, tough ores, difficult to grind. Liberation of iron mineral constituents usually is accomplished by grinding the ore through at least 100 mesh, and often it has been found necessary to grind substantially through 325 mesh to achieve satisfactory recovery and grade in the concentration process. Because of the fineness of grind required and the enormous tonnages of material contemplated for treatment in the future, costs resulting from grinding media wear and power consumption, together with capital investment required for comminution, approach astronomical figures. Economy in any one of these elements per ton of material ground could very well reflect a considerable saving to the ferrous industry in yearly costs. With this in mind, the Research Laboratories of Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Co. have launched a program to discover means of effecting this economy. The initial phase of the work as described here deals with a heat treatment of crushed raw ore, followed by thermal shock in cooling, for the preparation of rod mill feed. Several investigators1-" ave noted an improvement in the grindabilities of ores treated in this manner. One investigator2 subjected low grade iron ores to heat treatment in an electric furnace. Basing his conclusions on screen analyses of crushed products, he observed that treated ore was more easily crushed than the untreated. He reported that observation of the treated and untreated ore through a microscope revealed cracks following the grain boundaries in treated ore, whereas no cracks were present in untreated ore. However, few if any have quantified the improvement in terms of total hp hours saved, reduction of wear of grinding media, or reduction of capital costs of grinding equipment involved. By means of Bond rod mill and ball mill grindabilitiesh nd by comparative wear tests, the conditions maintained during this investigation have been definitely evaluated. Heat treatment experiments have been made on a batch scale in a muffle furnace, followed by continuous scale experiments in a rotary kiln under various conditions of temperature, atmosphere, retention time, and quenching to determine the combination that would give the greatest improvement in the grindability of a taconite without affecting adversely the magnetic susceptibility of the magnetite. From these data, relative costs have been calculated for grinding both untreated and heat- treated ore on a basis of plant capacity of 120 tons per hour. Heat requirements for a rotary kiln, as well as the kiln capacity required for the treatment, have been estimated. For these tests 50 tons of ore were obtained from the Aurora mine of the Erie Mining Co., Hibbing, Minn. The ore was reported7 to have been selected from the magnetic portion of the lower chert horizons. An average chemical analysis of' this portion is shown in Table I and an approximate mineralogi-cal analysis is shown in Table 11. No attempt was made to differentiate between the various silicates because the compositions vary widely on the different horizons and depend on the degree of oxidation. Minnesotite, however, is the predominant silicate. The siderite grains were dispersed throughout the ore but were essentially associated with the rock-forming minerals. In a series of preliminary tests in which batches of —6 mesh ore were heat-treated in a muffle fur-

Jan 1, 1953

At Copper Refineries Pty. Ltd., Townsville, two reverberatory furnaces of 420 tonnes capacity are used to melt 210000 tonnes/year of copper for subsequent anode casting. When the refinery commenced production in1959, these furnaces were of 300 tonnes capacity. The original furnaces featured a silica brick hearth, magnesite and chrome magnesite side 'walls, and a sprung silica brick roof, but were unsatisfactory because of thelow refractory life and high costs. With continuous expansion in production and the incentive to increase furnace life and capacity the design of these furnaces has changed greatly since that time.The present furnaces feature all basic brick, a flat suspended basic brick roof, very extensive use of watercooled copper sections, and are of substantially increased (420 tonnes) capacity. Particular attention has been concentrated on high wear areas such as the taphole, side walls, and charging door jambs. Each furnace in its 24 h cycle, is charged, the copper melted, impurities skimmed off, metal "poled" prior to casting, and cast.The service condition during each of these operations is important in considering furnace refractory life.The improvements in operating practices and furnace 'construction which enabled the capacity of the furnaces to be increased are discussed. The life between major repairs to side walls has increased from 90 charges to300 charges.The scope for future improvement is considered and areas for development are suggested.

Jan 1, 1977

By P. Oyanader

"In 2001, the Catholic University of Chile undertook a maintenance benchmarking study of six open pit copper mines having mill capacities varying between 18,000 t/d and 156,000 t/d, and collectively responsible for 58% of Chilean copper production. This paper describes the methodology used to conduct the study, as well as the overall results. Key performance indices were selected to measure the effectiveness, efficiency, and development of the maintenance process. Using a balanced scorecard philosophy, these indicators were divided into client satisfaction, financial, internal process, and learning and growth indices.Maintenance was found, on average, to be responsible for 44% of mine production costs. Percentage planned maintenance of equipment fleets was found to be low by world standards, averaging 35%, 56%, and 44%, respectively, for blasthole drill, shovel, and haul truck fleets. Fleet availabilities were found to be significantly influenced by the percentage of planned maintenance achieved, while maintenance cost per equipment was found to decrease non-linearly with increases in percentage planned maintenance. Investment in technical training (including planned maintenance practice) was found to be low by global standards. The paper concludes that fleet availability and maintenance costs in Chilean open pit operations could be considerably improved by improving and/or developing maintenance planning standards, and investing in training personnel in planned maintenance techniques"

Jan 1, 2005

By Ernest M. Spokes

For bituminous and lignite coals the economic picture continued to improve as it has each year since the low of 1961, with production at 480 mil- lion tons in 1964 compared with 1963's 459 million tons. The anthracite industry produced 16.3 million tons in 1964 and 18.3 million tons in 1963. The industry is looking toward a further expansion; among the new developments will be a mining wheel producing 3 million tons of lignite per year in South Dakota. It is expected that electric power generation will continue to provide the market for most of the increase in consumption, with exports second in importance in the expansion. Improvements in methods of mining and transporting coal underground and in strip mines, and the cooperation of carriers in finding ways to reduce transportation costs to distant markets, have made possible these expansions. Research continues to reduce costs of mining, transportation, steam generation of electric power and production of steam for space heating and manufacturing processes, to retain some markets and expand others. Other research seeks to expand markets by developing fuel from coal which will be more attractive than competing fuels, by reducing sulfur and other sources of air pollution. Public relations efforts of the industry are bearing fruit in a greater acceptance of coal as a modern fuel.

Jan 2, 1965

By H. G. Mosenthal

In any mining enterprise, the extraction of the ore from the orebody is of vital importance. This activity is stoping. The gold mines of the Witwatersrand and its extensions in the Klerksdorp, Welkom, and Evander areas form the most extensive goldfield in the world. This address reviews stoping technology and improvements in this technology since the end of the Second World War. Although the reefs that make up the Witwatersrand orebody are uniquely extensive, they are not suited to mechanized mining. This is due to a number of factors such as the depth of the orebody, its narrowness, and the hardness and abrasiveness of the quartzite forming the orebody. The most notable improvements in stoping technology have been brought about because of our beter understanding of rock-engineering problems. This has resulted in beter layouts, stoping geometry, systems of aleviating rock stresses, and support systems. It has enabled the industry, at ever-greater mining depths, to maintain and even increase productivity. These improvements, based on rock engineering, have significantly reduced the accidents due to rockbursts. There are many diferences between today's stoping and that practised forty years ago. Panels are shorter, concentrated mining has superseded bench mining, and the support systems are certainly better. Yet the face scraper is still used extensively, as are pneumatic rock drills. Some innovative stoping systems that have given rise to improved productivity are discussed. Explosives technology has shown spectacular advances during the period under review. Sadly, our local industry has had little to do with this research and development, but has been most adaptive in using the new products on offer.

Jan 1, 1990

Around 35 Mt of industrial clays were produced in 1994 under the broad classifications kaolin (25 Mt), bentonite (8 Mt) and attapulgite/sepiolite (2 Mt). A brief review of world sources and markets is given as background to Australia's small production (0.5 Mt) but developing interest in industrial clays. Clay markets have changed significantly over the past 30 years resulting initially in consolidation and expanded production from traditional high-grade clay sources but also creating opportunities for development of new discoveries. Decline in the use of clay-based refractories has come at a time of strong growth in demand for refined kaolin for the paper industry. Traditional markets for bentonite as oil drilling muds, iron ore pelletising and foundry bond sands are mature and in overall decline. Today, bentonite has a significant share of the growth market in pet litter which a few years ago was dominated by attapulgite/sepiolite clays. Both bentonite and attapulgite/sepiolite have good prospects for increased demand in environmental markets both in containment of hazardous wastes and sorption of toxic substances. In common with all industrial minerals, markets for clay minerals will demand continuous improvement in product quality and consistency. Development of new and improved products will be increasingly the responsibility of the raw material supplier. In order to remain competitive, this will require a substantial commitment to quality assurance and research and development. Increase in market share will come for those producers able to translate developments in their products to cost savings or increased competitiveness for the industries that they Supply.

Jan 1, 1997