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By T. F. Witherbee

IT is proposed to give, first, a description of the works ; second, a report of the first six months of the present blast; and third, such improvements as have been suggested by the practical working. The site selected for this furnace was, at the time of commencing work, October, 1872, entirely covered by the navigable waters of Lake Champlain. A coffer-dam was first built of cribs of round timber filled with stone, forming three sides, while the shore answered for the fourth. Considerable excavating was done with a steam-dredge, a hole being left for it to pass out. The opening was then built up, and the cribbing banked up with blue clay from the bottom of the lake, to render it water-tight and the dam pumped out; the remainder of the excavating being done by hand. All of the foundations, with the exception of the elevator-tower, and fifteen feet of the east side of hot blast, rest on the Potsdam sandstone, which forms the shore line, dipping into the lake at an angle of fifteen degrees. Owing to jogs in the formation, a much greater depth was found necessary than was at first anticipated, the foundation under the stack

Jan 1, 1876

By E. H. Burroughs

This bulletin is the fifth in the series of petroleum bibliographies publis:\:l.ed by the Bure.au of Mines, Bulletins 149, 165, 180, and 189 being compilations for the years 1915, 1916, 1917, and 1918, respectively. In this bulletin the same general plan has been followed in arranging the references, but a few changes and additions have been made in the classification.

Jan 1, 1923

By Charles A. Beasley

Coal conversion to electricity or to substitute natural gas requires a significant quantity of natural and human resources including, in addition to the coal resource base, land, water and the construction and operating labor force. Each method of coal conversion has its advantages and disadvantages relative to conversion efficiency, preferred method of resultant energy transportation, resources consumed, and impact on the environment. Regulations which have been passed in recent years to maintain or restore the pre-project environment can add significantly to the capital and operating costs of both a conversion facility and its associated mine.

Jan 1, 1983

By D. M. Ziebarth

"Normal sequence of operations to develop a new underground mine is: construct and outfit headframe for shaft sinking, sink shaft, construct and outfit shaft sump, develop shaft station and shaft bottom steel. In an effort to reduce the overall project schedule, an innovative plan was developed to install service shaft steel below station level, prior to the completion of the shaft sinking effort. To better evaluate the construction of this substantial steel tower, a preliminary constructability evaluation was conducted, including the best method of supporting the main tower; from the bottom, middle or top of the tower. The design criteria and plan involved: •,Develop access from existing service shaft, 25 km underground •,Use of materials to maximize strength while minimizing corrosion exposure •,Estimating the location of the shaft centerline •,Over excavating the station and shaft below station to allow future shaft steel repositioning •,Designing the tower steel for modular installation •,Incorporate commissioning considerations, such as suspension of the cheese weights during steel installation •,Provision for covered stair access to shaft bottom •,Enclosed shaft envelope with open panels to allow visibility and ventilation The design approach was innovative and this paper will describe the design principles and challenges encountered while providing insight into the solutions developed and implemented; especially the modular construction and installation methodology. INTRODUCTION In an effort to expand the mining operations, a plan was developed to construct a new service shaft closer to the new mine workings and convert the existing service shaft to a production shaft at the Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc. (PCS now Nutrien) Rocanville Potash mine in southeast Saskatchewan. The new service shaft required a multi roped friction hoist operating a cage / counterweight, rope guided conveyances to support the operational requirements. The service shaft is an integral part of the mining infrastructure as it provides access to the underground workings, transport personnel and materials underground for operation and maintenance of the mine. The shaft also allows for services required for safe operation of the underground mine, power supply, controls, communication, dewatering and fresh water supply."

Jan 1, 2019

By Yongjun Peng, Yufan Mu

Pyrite depression in the flotation of copper ores is difficult due to the activation of Cu2+ ions on pyrite surface. In this study, the radical chain reaction involving the redox cycling of Cu(I/II) induced by sodium metabisulphite (MBS) was exploited to selectively depress the flotation of copper-activated pyrite at pH 8.0. Electrochemical measurements revealed that the presence of Cu2+ and O2 was essential to the formation of SO•− 5 through sulphite oxidation, the main entity to convert the activating species Cu(I)S on pyrite to Cu(II)-hydroxide/sulphate, causing deactivation of pyrite. The depression role ofMBS on pyrite flotation was closely associated with the type of grinding media which affected the electrochemical conditions of flotation. When forged steel was used as the grinding media, a high dosage of MBS was required to depress pyrite, but a low dosage of MBS could almost completely depressed pyrite when high chrome steel grinding media was used. This is because high chrome steel produced a stronger oxidation condition with a higher amount of Cu2+ and O2 which promoted the formation of SO•− 5

Jan 26, 2021

"In a continuing investigation into the development of uranium alloys for armament applications, some complex base alloy corn positions were modified by varying the amount of alloying elements and by removing one or two of the alloying elements in turn from the base alloys. These uranium-base alloys were specially formulated in a search for heat-treatable, high-strength, ductile, high-density alloys. All alloys studied were ternary, quaternary or more complex alloys of uranium with molybdenum, zirconium, niobium and vanadium. Each cast alloy was studied under three different heat-treatments, and its mechanical and corrosion properties were determined. It was found that although most of the alloys studied had the hardness and strength required, they were extremely brittle and notch-sensitive under tensile stresses."

Jan 1, 1968

By L Schürmann, R Kendall

Social licence to operate is becoming part of a mining company’s DNA in the same way as health and safety. Consequently, mining companies are receiving increasing pressure from their shareholders to ensure that they add enduring value to the local communities in which they operate. Apart from the shareholders, a company has responsibility to suppliers, customers, employees, the government and the community, which means under the social responsibility model they must be accountable to the other stakeholders. External and internal challenges in mining are increasing the difficulty and complexity of mines to operate. The external mining environment has a big impact on mining operations and is driving matters such as the focus on safety, responsible mining and resource management, sustainability issues, profitability and productivity. Considering this, it is expected that the widespread implementation of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) related practices across the mining industry in the next ten years will increase, not just for the big players but for juniors as well. Companies, investors, governments and insurers who fail to act on ESG matters are to likely face greater risks. Demonstrating leadership in ESG will ultimately become a differentiating factor and market participants have much to gain from embracing ESG stewardship as part of their competitive advantage. Stock Exchanges have an important role to play in advancing sustainability in the capital markets. It is for this reason that the Sustainable Stock Exchanges (SSE) initiative was founded to serve as a global platform for exploring how exchanges can enhance performance on ESG issues and encourage sustainable investment. The SSE initiative provides an effective platform for dialogue between the United Nations, stock exchanges, investors, companies and regulators in the mining industry. The paper will explain why ESG reporting is crucial for the survival of a mining company and how the lack of transparency could be detrimental to its public image and shareholder relations. The paper will also identify bodies that regulate ESG reporting, as well as the available tools that provide guidelines on reporting ESG matters. Key ESG reporting parameters (at a global scale) will also be highlighted.

Jun 22, 2022

By L. D. Smith

Net Present Value Impact of Discount Rate The Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) method of valuations is universally used and accepted. The main criticism of the method is that it does not recognize the value of projects long life projects. This can be seen in the preceding graph where the present value of cash flows in later years are small for discount rates over about 10%. This graph covers a project that has a 25 year operating life. It is clear from the low height of the NPV bars at 10% and 15% in the last years of the project that an additional 25 years would add almost no value to total project NPV. As an example of this effect, an colleague undertook the evaluation of a pulp and paper project. The plant could be justified, but it was not possible to justify planting the trees as they took too long to grow and so had not appreciable NPV. The plant had to purchase wood to feed the plant.

May 1, 2013

By AIME AIME

MICA is perhaps our No. 1. strategic mineral problem because of its large requirements in a variety of equipment for use in the military services, and because the principal source of this material has heretofore been British India, a source now threatened partly because of distance and lack of ships. [Block mica and bauxite were added to the "most critical" list published by the W.P.B. on Nov. 6.] No satisfactory substitute has yet been found for most of the uses of mica, which largely involve electrical insulation. Brazil is now our nearest and best major source of this material. No splitting plants have yet been established there but in 1941 we imported about a million pounds of block mica from that country and in 1942 that quantity will be considerably exceeded. In Brazil, mica is found almost exclusively in the pegmatite dikes along the mountain range bordering the eastern part of Minas Gerais. A belt, roughly 180 miles long by 100 miles wide, extends from Theophilo Ottoni to Carangolo. The principal mica-mining districts in this belt are the Governador Valladares area to the north and the Espera Feliz district to the south. The dikes are usually 10 to 50 meters wide and a mile or two long and intrude the old metamorphic schist formation. They are weathered and easily mined.

Jan 1, 1942

By M. L. Smith

"In the Phosporia formation of SE Idaho, ore quality varies by depth, seam and distance along strike; phosphorus recovery is sensitive to these variations. Plant ore feed can be blended over time to minimize this fluctuation by using a combination of mine production and inventory stockpile scheduling. Mixed-integer and goal programming has been used to optimize short-term mine production, but the seasonal nature of mine haulage requires the use of stockpiles both at the mill and the mine. The contents of the stockpiles can also be optimized as part of the production scheduling problem, but introducing inventory control introduces a nonlinear term into the formulation. A solution using a piecewise linear formulation is modelled and solved using AMPL/Cplex, and solution strategies are discussed for similar large-scale problems. IntroductionIdaho’s minable deposits of phosphate rock are found in the Meade Peak member of the Phosphoria Formation; two separate zones of this formation are mined with a combined thickness of 30 ft to 60 ft. A generalized stratigraphic section of the Phosphoria section is shown in Figure 1, illustrating the degree of complexity encountered when scheduling mine production. Alteration of the formation results in higher grade ore zones near the surface and variable in P2O5 levels between seams and along strike. This variability is seen as well in other quality characteristics critical to the production of acid and elemental phosphorus. Further, plant recovery and nodule quality are sensitive to variations in ore feed; variability in SiO2, carbonates, moisture, organics (carbon), P2O5 and other constituents of the ore can strongly affect plant recovery. Because ore quality characteristics can vary as a function of the alteration zone (or seam) being mined as well as the depth and distance along the strike of the formation, scheduling of mine production can have a highly significant effect on recovery in the plant. As illustrated in Figure 1, there are nine seams containing 20% to 35% P2O5. Phosphoric acid and elemental phosphorus production requires an ore content of 30% and 25% P2O5, respectively. Variability between numerous beds that are mined and quality variation within a seam due to alteration greatly complicates production scheduling with the result that erratic mill feed characteristics greatly decrease recovery."

Jan 1, 1999

By I. Yelkin, Erico Tabosa, Alex Jankovic, R. Hayashida, R. Faveere

"The mining industry faces growing challenges from more complex and lower grade deposits, rising costs, limited energy and water availability, and increasing societal pressure to operate more sustainably. Mining operations need to be more efficient, not just to reduce environmental impact, but also to remain economically viable.To maximize profitability and sustainability, existing operations and new projects must consider integration and optimization of all stages of production. A mining operation is essentially a series of inter-connected processes, with the performance and outputs of each stage affecting the subsequent ones. Optimizing stages in isolation can result in sub-optimal overall performance.The industry has long recognized the benefits of holistic optimization using the Mine-to-Mill concept, and there are many well documented successes. However, it is increasingly common to observe operations simply increasing explosive consumption in the mine and expecting optimization of the entire value chain (mining and processing). For true holistic optimization, blast intensity is not necessarily increased, but rather adjusted to best suit the requirements of the different types of ores treated, the circuit configuration and equipment, installed comminution power and the downstream beneficiation processes. It is a fully integrated effort with optimization of many aspects in the mine, comminution and separation processes.To be successful, optimization of the production chain from mine to process requires a site-specific, structured methodology supported by extensive ore characterization, auditing, surveys, data analysis, mathematical modelling simulations and a cost / benefit analysis. Following this methodology, optimization strategies are rapidly identified and implemented considering mine and plant constraints. Management needs to set up appropriate KPIs and site personnel need to be trained for the new operating strategies to be successfully incorporated into site practices and procedures in the production environment. This will ensure the benefits are achieved and maintained. This paper describes the methodology employed by Hatch to improve overall efficiency and profitability from mine to process. Two case study examples at Russian gold operations and benefits achieved are presented."

Jan 1, 2018

By De-qing Zhu, Jian Pan, Tie-jun Chun, Dong Chen, Yu Cui

"A study of processing pyrite cinder and metallurgical slag using “one step” technology in strand grate - rotary kiln is presented, which aims to efficiently recover the valuable metals of iron, lead, zinc and copper. The effect of chloridizing roasting parameters including roasting time and temperature on the removal rates of nonferrous metals was investigated. It is shown that copper and zinc are difficult to remove and lead is removed more easily. The preheated pellets were reduced in a rotary kiln, where zinc and lead can be removed easily and high iron grade and good metallurgical performance prereduced pellets can be obtained. Furthermore, the chlorination and the reduction mechanisms of copper, lead and zinc are discussed. It is revealed that the phases of copper, lead and zinc in slag are complex and ferrite and silicate of metals are difficult to remove.IntroductionAs two kinds of significant secondary resources, metallurgical slag and pyrite cinder contain not only abundant iron but also considerable copper, lead, zinc and so on. Several tens of millions of tons of metallurgical slag and pyrite cinder are discharged in nonferrous metal and chemical industries annually in China [1, 2]. In addition, the accumulated waste slag in storage is more than one hundred million tons, which not only occupies much land but also pollutes the environment [3]. However, because the metallurgical slag and pyrite cinder are treated by high temperature processing, the properties are distinctly different from the properties of natural ores, and iron is in close association with copper, lead and zinc. So, metallurgical slag and pyrite cinder are difficult to efficiently utilize and only a small amount is used as additives in cement, paving, brickmaking and auxiliary additives [4-7]."

Jan 1, 2011

By William M. Knuth

The objectives of this study were the evaluation of the technical and economical feasibility of utilizing color and color infrared aerial photography to satisfy some informational needs for pre-mine planning, mine progress monitoring, and reclamation monitoring. Seven aerial data collection missions were conducted within a two year period over strip mine sites in Pennsylvania. Scales of 1:6,000; 1:12,000; 1:24,000; and 1:48,000 were flown on the first aerial mission. The 1:12,000 was chosen as the optimal scale for the remaining six flights. An extensive literature and legislative review and discussions with strip mine operators identified the informational parameters that could possibly be obtained from aerial photography. Interpretability accuracies were evaluated for parameters in the broad categories of land use, soils, water, vegetation, and geology. Seasonal interpretation characteristics were noted for infrared photography. Man hours for photointerpretation and costs of aerial data collection were monitored closely and incorporated into a cost benefit analysis. Those parameters that could be mapped, identified, or measured with accuracies =75 percent were incorporated into a photointerpretation training manual. An additional analysis was performed to determine the applicability of the interpretation methodologies and results developed for Eastern sites to Western surface coal mining sites. In addition, a separate aerial photographic interpretation manual was produced during this contract. It is intended to be utilized by eastern and midwestern surface mine operators and regulatory personnel.

Jan 1, 1978

By K. Delbeke

Within the framework of the EU Existing Substance (93/793/EEC) and REACH regulations EC/1907/2006), the copper industry initiated in 2000 a comprehensive Voluntary Risk Assessment of copper and several copper compounds. The Italian Government's Istituto Superiore di Sanità, reviewed the process and reports on behalf of the European Commission. Copper exposure levels to man and the environment from production of copper anodes and cathodes, copper powders and copper chemicals as well as fabrication and use of semi-fabrication products and down stream user products were collected across Europe. Environmental and human health effects data were obtained from literature as well as novel research programs and used to deduct safe threshold

Jan 1, 2007

By John D. Rockaway

Failure of the mine floor supporting coal pillars frequently occurs when the subcoal strata include "underclays" or other low strength strata. The failure process has been studied to define the response of these materials to applied coal pillar loads and to determine the applicability of bearing capacity analysis to evaluate unsafe conditions. The study has been accomplished through an investigation of both the intact and insitu geotechnical properties of the subcoal strata and through the installation of floor movement monitoring instrumentation. The results of these studies have indicated that both the shear strength of the underclay and the stratigraphy of the subcoal strata must be considered in the analysis. The shear strength was the major controlling factor determining the ultimate load carrying ability of the materials, but the thickness and stratigraphic position of the weak layers influenced the mechanism of the failure process. The methods of bearing capacity analysis were used to define pillar stability that included provisions for taking into consideration a two-layer system. Conditions assumed for a coal mine where a weak underclay overlies firmer strata. The results of the analysis compared very well with observed mine conditions, indicating marginal conditions in areas of the mine which later experienced pillar support failure. In addition, a "heave factor" was derived to predict potentially unstable floor conditions in the mines studied in detail.

Jan 1, 1979

By Ta M. Li

Recent economic and environmental setbacks have not slowed Occidental Oil Shale, Inc.'s program aimed at the commercialization of oil shale. In fact, the firm expects to have a 795 MI (500C) bbl) per day production unit working by the end of 1976. The key to Occidental's ambitious program is an in situ method that extracts the valuable oil by retorting the shale in place. The process will require practically no water and will leave the spent shale in place underground. Additionally, all plant operations are to be located within the mine. These factors thus serve to make the operation attractive from an environmental viewpoint, in contrast to proposed conventional schemes which call for extensive underground mining, crushing and grinding at the surface, and construction of a massive surface retorting facility.

Jan 12, 1976

By D J. Williams, G W. Wilson, S, A B. Tran

A comprehensive field program was implemented to evaluate the internal structure and hydrology of two full-scale waste rock piles. The excavation of waste rock dumps for in-pit disposal at the two mine sites provided an opportunity to characterise the in situ properties of the dumps given contrasting geologic and climatic settings. The internal structure and materials within the dumps were observed and sampled as the waste rock piles were being excavated and placed in the open pits for permanent closure. The field program was designed to fully characterise the structure and material properties of the waste rock. The alteration of the material by physical and chemical weathering was also observed. Samples were analysed for paste pH, water content, grain size distribution and geochemistry. In situ density and matric suction were also measured. Soil water characteristic curves and saturated hydraulic conductivity were measured for representative materials. These properties were used to predict seepage pathways through the waste rock and the resulting outflow geochemistry using the finite element model SEEP/W. The materials in the dump at Site 1 were predominantly fine-grained in texture and highly weathered. The presence of dipping beds with alternating coarse and fine materials was evident throughout the profile of the dump. The structure of the waste rock appears to have an impact on the hydrologic pathways within the waste rock pile. The material in the dump at Site 2 was found to be competent and resistant to particle size breakdown. The particles range in size from clay size to large boulders with the median particle size being approximately 125 mm in diameter. The coarse-grained texture of the waste rock resulted in a loosely packed arrangement of coarse particles with little matrix material infilling the pore spaces between the coarse-grained particles. Seepage modelling for Site 1 was completed to predict seepage paths based on observed structure and hydraulic properties measured in the laboratory. The modelling showed that materials with a fine grain size distribution become the dominant pathways for flow through the waste rock pile. The modelling also showed that layers with high silt and sand contents are subject to the highest flow rates. Finer grained clay rich layers have a low hydraulic conductivity and do not convey large volumes of water. Alternately, coarse gravel and cobble materials are unsaturated under values of matric suction that approach the residual water content of the material and do not transmit liquid water. The seepage modelling together with the results of the geochemical analysis show that the dominant particle size that receives the most fluid flow and flushing ranges from fine sand to silt, corresponding to materials with air entry values ranging between 5 kPa to 50 kPa.

Jan 1, 2003

By Md. Nafiul Haque, Murad Y. Abu-Farsakh, Chris Nickel

"This paper presents the results from a pile load testing program for a bridge construction project in Louisiana. The testing includes two 54-inch open-ended spun cast concrete cylinder piles (OECP), one 30-inch open-ended steel pile (OESP), and two (30-inch and 16-inch) square prestressed concrete (PSC) piles driven at two locations with very similar soil conditions. All the test piles were instrumented with vibrating wire strain gauges to measure the load distribution along the length of the test piles and the skin friction and the end bearing were derived from strain gauge measurements. High strain dynamic load tests (HSDLT) were performed on all test piles at different times after pile installations to quantify the amount of setup with time. Static load tests were also performed on the PSC and open-ended steel piles. Due to expected large pile capacities, the statnamic test method was used on the two open-ended cylinder piles. The pile capacities of these piles were evaluated using various CPT methods (such as Schmertmann, De Ruiter and Beringen, LCPC, COFS methods). The result showed that all the methods can estimate the skin friction with good accuracy; but not the end-bearing capacity. Setup was observed for all the piles, which was mainly attributed to increase in skin frictions. The setup rate parameters “A” [The “A” parameter is defined as the rate of increase of pile capacity ratio (Rt/Rto) per log cycle of elapsed time] were back-calculated for all the test piles and the values were between 0.31 and 0.41.INTRODUCTIONDue to greater efficiency (capacity to weight ratio) of the pipe piles, open-ended piles are a viable option to solid piles. However, the behavior of open-ended piles is more complicated compared to the close-ended piles owing to possible formation of “soil plug” inside the open-ended pile. Many researchers have analyzed the behavior of both types of piles for different purposes; however, very few studies in the literature offer the side-by-side comparison of the close-ended and open-ended piles."

Jan 1, 2017

By Viswanadham B. V. S., Babu K. V

Wind energy is one of the most economical renewable energy sources. In order to support wind turbines onshore or offshore open-ended monopile foundations are widely used. Unlike conventional structures, wind turbine foundations experience a large magnitude of lateral loads in the order of 20 % to 30% of total vertical loads. The presence of soft clayey layers at shallow depth along the coastal region, offers lesser lateral load resistance to monopile foundations. One option to enhance lateral load capacity is by introducing fins to the outer surface of the monopiles. Studies pertaining to lateral load response of finned piles in clayey soils are very sparse. This paper presents some of the numerical model studies on the lateral load response of monopiles and finned piles in soft and stiff clay. In the present study, three-dimensional finite element analyses were performed on monopiles as well as finned piles. Analyses were performed in clay with different consistency varying from soft to stiff. Pile material is mild steel for all analyses. The pile section modeled as linear elastic material whereas soil was modeled as Mohr – Coulomb constitutive model with non-associated flow rule. Monopiles and finned piles having four and eight fins with different fin sizes and configurations are considered during the analyses. Finned piles advantage over monopiles to resist lateral load is highlighted in the present study. The results have shown that fins are effective to enhance the lateral load carrying capacity of monopiles and also it reduces the bending moment in monopiles for a given design load.

Sep 1, 2022

By C. Bailey Williams

Aragonite "sand," an oolitic lime-stone, is distributed throughout the Bahamas on the Grand Bahama Bank, adjacent to Southeast Florida. Bahamian deposits hold 75-100 billion tons of recoverable Aragonite. Aragonite's precipitation from seawater over 700 years ago assures low contaminates, making it a pure material for such industries as cement, glass, etc. A 90-acre, man-made production island was built south of Bimini, adjacent to ocean shipping channels mining is by cutterhead, suction dredge, dewatering, and stockpiling for further drainage and shipping. Aragonite is transferred to the U. S. East and Gulf Coasts via bulk carriers to points of sale.

Jan 1, 1978