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Modern, research-based approaches to mineral exploration are essential to the future maintenance of the mineral industry. These need to fully utilise the rapidly expanding growth of understanding of the evolution of the earth's crust, and be properly integrated with advances in understanding of chemical and physical processes involved in ore formation. BMR has a major role to play in supporting the growth and utilisation of this research base, as well as maintaining the national geological and geophysical bases which are essential both to tactical and strategic interests of Australia and of its mineral industry. The objective development of data-process modelling is one target of such strategic research based on a more integrated approach to research by BMR, mineral companies, CSIRO and the universities with emphasis given to promoting positive feedback during research activities. Examples of the success of strategic research in Australia and overseas are noted in the Text.

Jan 1, 1986

The following communication has just reached the Institute, from the office of the Provincial Geologist, Department of Lands,-Forests and Mines, Ontario, Canada: During the autumn of 1917 gold was discovered in unsurveyed territory south of Lake Abitibi in northeastern Ontario. This area lies about 70 miles almost directly east of the well known Porcupine area. During the coming summer, the Ontario Bureau of Mines is to make a geological survey of this new gold area. Following the custom of Ontario, this area is being divided into townships, 6 miles square. These townships have recently been given the following names in honor of men well known in the mining and geological world. In alphabetical order the names are as follows: Frecheville-Prof. Wm. Frecheville, Professor of Mining in the Royal School of Mines, London; Past President of the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy. Garrison-Mr. F. Lynwood Garrison, Mining Engineer, Philadelphia, Pa. Harker-Dr. Alfred Harker, F. R. S., immediate Past President of the Geological Society of London.

Jan 6, 1918

By D. A. Paice, A. B. Shimp

Illegitimate loads on a mine dc power distribution system can be detected by measuring a superimposed ac current. To implement such a scheme, a 10-volt, 3-kHz voltage is applied at each dc power substation. By this means, the mine dc power distribution network, consisting of a feeder and trolley wires with a grounded rail return, is caused to serve also as a 3-kHz ac distribution network.

Jan 1, 1975

By Lee Julian

Ground vibrations generated by mine blasting must be controlled to comply with legislation and to protect sensitive local or site infrastructure. The consequences of exceeding imposed limits can range from negative publicity to structural damage to infrastructure. It is imperative that vibrations are controlled without compromising fragmentation and delivery of blasted inventory. General practice is to reduce the charge weight and the blast size as blasting approaches the sensitive structures; however such an approach results in blasting smaller volumes more frequently which places greater pressure on production to meet their targets.

Jan 1, 2014

By Napier-Munn TJ

The Whiten model of crushers is currently being refined and extended at the JKMRC, with particular reference to cone crushers. This paper describes the model as a predictor of crusher power draw, discusses the application of the model, and considers the relationship between power draw and crusher performance.

Jan 1, 1988

The primary objective of any planning exercise is to maximise the return on funds utilised while maintaining a safe and socially responsible working environment. In order to achieve this, it is essential that the assumptions applied reflect as accurately as possible the future realisation of the project. In narrow vein mining, the risk that this will not occur can be significantly greater than that associated with other types of mining projects. This results partially because of dramatic effects upon project cash flows with seemingly minor changes in operating parameters such as orebody width and wall rock competency.The validity of a planning exercise can therefore be related to the extent of available data and to the experience and perceptions of the operating entity. The various factors which must be assessed include absolute values and variations in a range of factors, especially the dip and dimensions of the orebody, the geotechnical parameters and anticipated ground conditions, the productivity and production characteristics of the selected mining method as applied to the specific orebody, and the impact of mine access and development.

Jan 1, 1993

By Harold B. Ewoldt, Robert R. Reynolds

THE Upper Mississippi Valley zinc-lead district covers an area of some 2000 sq ml located in the southwestern corner of Wisconsin, the north-western corner of Illinois and a portion of eastern Iowa around the city of Dubuque. Commercial deposits of lead and zinc have been mined in Iowa but the major discoveries during the past eight years have been made in Jo Daviess County, Ill, and LaFayette County, Wis. Activities in the state of Illinois are centered about the city of Galena, while those in Wisconsin are located a few miles south and west of the town of Shullsburg.

Jan 3, 1951

By Stephen H. E. Phillips, Michael J. Beus

A pneumatic impact breaker is used to fragment the rock at the shaft bottom, replacing the drill and blast cycle. A backhoe-type mucker removes the broken rock. The operators are in protective cabs below the bottom work deck in the shaft. Preliminary testing has been accomplished at underground and surface test sites in Arizona. Seven, approximately 6.4 m deep by 7.3 m-diameter (21 ft by 24 ft) test holes, (a total of 45 m (148 ft)), were recently excavated in various rock types, including jointed and massive quartz monzonite and rhyolite. An average advance rate of .4 m/hr (1.24 ft/hr) has been achieved. This includes breaking and mucking the rock. Further data is being sought from an in-shaft demonstration.

Jan 1, 1981

Jan 1, 1966

By Byron Johnston

IN 1926 I had occasion to make numerous measure-ments with a Pitot tube. The differential gage was mounted in a box, and since the work entailed setting upon girders, staging, and flues of various shapes and slopes, much time was generally expended in getting the box blocked into the level position. This inconvenience was so considerable that I devised the gage stand shown in the accompanying illustration. The gage is bolted to the board seat, the bolt per-mitting unlimited adjustment in the plane of the paper. The seat, carrying the gage, revolves on trunnions, per-mitting unlimited adjustment in a second plane, per-pendicular to the first. Consequently, the stand may be stood up, hung by one corner, leaned against some-thing or simply laid down, and the gage levelled from any position. On uneven surfaces, where the stand naturally rests on only three of its legs, it may be swung in the manner peculiar to the tripod, bringing the center of gravity within the triangle formed by the legs, thereby providing a firm set-up. Rubber stoppers under compression were found to give sufficient friction to hold the seat in the desired position.

Jan 3, 1928

By H. S. Strouth

JAMAICA-bauxite and gypsum-but what else? J Does the Caribbean island have anything more to offer in the form of mineral wealth? One answer may be iron ore deposits which show enough promise to warrant exploitation in the near future by a company associated with Standard Ore & Alloys Corp. In addition, Jamaica is reported to have gold, silver, platinum, copper, lead, zinc, manganese, cobalt, and a great many nonmetallic minerals. Of these, only platinum has not been produced commercially in the past. Right now, Jamaican bauxite is getting most of the publicity, but not too long ago other mining operations were in progress. Lack of proper interest, insufficient roads, and scarcity of venture capital forced those mining properties to suspend production.

Jan 7, 1954

[ ] Digital images of the highwall are taken from the spoils bench. Two images of the same highwall segment are are taken from two different locations. The resulting overlapping images are used to create a three-dimensional image of that section of highwall.

Jan 1, 2005

Jan 1, 1967

By Jeff Mattern

Topics of Discussion ?Navajo Mine General Information ?Mapping, Photogrammetryand Image Fans ?Planning: Equipment, Control Points, Targets ?Digital Photography ?Software Manipulations: Image Matching, Creating a 3d Image and Triangulation, ?Mapping? Geologic Structure, Data Analysis ?Conclusions ?Other Applications

Jan 1, 2005

By P. G. Van Der Walt

This paper deals with the reticulation of deslimed tailings from surface to the stope face underground. Reference is made to the experience gained at the pilot plants operating on four of the gold mines administered by Gold Fields of South Africa, as well as at the full-scale system at East Driefontein which was commissioned recently. Mine-wide backfill systems are currently being installed on five other mines administered by Gold Fields. These six full-scale systems are capable of handling more than 270 000 tons of backfill solids per month. The type of reticulation system chosen, the selection of flowrates and the composition of the slurry, as well as the selection of the appropriate pipes and ancillary equipment are discussed. Both theoretical and practical aspects are taken into consideration. Other aspects covered include the design of underground storage dams and communication systems.

Jan 1, 1988

Traditionally, the term ætotal systemÆ design applied to comminution conjures images of a design that addresses the usual business and operational drivers, including health, safety and environment (HSE), capital cost, operating cost, throughput and product size. In terms of the physical process, the mine to customer type studies also exemplifies an approach that satisfies a normal ætotal systemsÆ approach. As an industry there are drivers that are forcing a re-consideration of what we regard as our total system. This modification of drivers will require changes in approach and implementation to provide the best solutions. Some of the major changes that impact the drivers are shortage of skilled personnel, changing social attitudes to remote mine site work, greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE), quality of available orebodies and geographical location of new mine sites. One approach to the challenges presented by the changing business environment is to expand the system envelope around comminution to ensure that comminution, in its widest sense, helps to meet the new realities. Background to the new drivers and constraints is provided and some of the appropriate responses are examined in relation to the impact on the total system.

Jan 1, 2007

By R. L. Schmidt, Williamson. T. N.

INTRODUCTION This paper describes one of several research projects funded by the Advanced Research Projects Agency to extend the technology of rapid underground excavation. This study and field research effort are to investigate alternative means to determine rock and geological conditions in advance of a tunnel boring machine (TBM). Approximately 1 year of a planned 3-year program has resulted in the definition of three candidate drill systems. Hardware has been assembled to field test these candidates and testing has begun. The 3-year objective is to develop a single optimum prototype drill and test it in an active TBM operation. ACKNOWLEDGMENT This research was supported by the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) of the Department of Defense and was monitored by the Bureau of Mines under Contract No. H0210037. The authors and sponsoring agencies are indebted to the quarry operators in California, Virginia, and West Virginia who offered assistance including access to their properties.

Jan 1, 1997

By Katherine Mather

This paper is an attempt to put together petrographic, physical, and chemical data about the large and varied group of rocks generally called limestones. Results of the properties of these rocks on their performance as concrete aggregates are discussed.

Jan 10, 1953

The impact on metallurgical operations of the hydrocarbon energy price hike can be greatly alleviated by recourse to alternative fuels. Information is provided on fuels such as coal, coke, coal-oil mixtures, manufactured gas, wood and charcoal; techniques such as direct and indirect combustion, pulverised fuel injection, slurry burning, fluid bed combustion and various gasification processes. Actual examples of metallurgical operations are used.

Jan 1, 1981