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By J. T. McCartney

OPTICAL PROPERTIES of U.S. coals of differing rank have been investigated by the Bureau of Mines, for about 20 years. These investigations have been remade to further the development of an objective basis for petrographic analysis of coal and to add to knowledge of the structure and composition of coal and coal components by determining their optical constants in various regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Various experimental techniques have been used in these studies, including determination of reflectance from bulk specimens and transmittance of thin and ultrathin sections, interferometry, electron microscopy, and election diffraction. Similar studies leave also been made of graphite, the end product of coal metamorphism. The bureau of Mines conducted the first U.S. investigation of reflectance properties of coal components, laying the foundation for petrographic analysis based on arbitrary reflectance classes and for automated reflectance analysis of coals. Optical constants of coals of differing rank and of graphite have been determined in the ultraviolet-visible-near infrared spectrum. Maxima in the optical constants of graphite were observed in the ultraviolet region and were interpreted to be related to transitions of electrons between the valence and conduction bands. Similar maxima for coals, especially high-rank coals, appeared to be characteristic of the presence of graphitelike layers. A special application of optical theory to absorbing, anisotropic materials like graphite and high-rank coals has been developed. Electron microscopic and electron diffraction studies of coals have revealed various ultrafine structures in coal components and have shown the evolution of an oriented, crystalline graphite structure in high-rank coals.

Jan 1, 1967

By J. C. Mertz, C. H. Mathewson

Accurate knowledge of the solid solubilities of the elements that dissolve in the important base metals is needed for guidance in the preparation and heat-treatment of the alloys derived from these components. While there is still difference of opinion concerning the merits of the X-ray and microscopic methods of determining such solubilities, it is certainly true that the recent extensive use of X-ray diffraction to review the existing constitutional data has revealed many glaring inaccuracies and has brought about a much improved knowledge of phase-boundary locations, which will inevitably come to include all of the important alloy systems. When the work is done with all necessary precautions it appears that in the majority of cases where the solubilities extend beyond a few tenths of a per cent the X-ray back-reflection technique is capable of furnishing the best of information in this field. For the most prolonged and thorough studies it is obviously advisable to combine the results of several methods, in particular, to obtain an agreement between X-ray and microscopic data. This paper reviews the work previously done on the solubilities of phosphorus, arsenic, antimony and bismuth in copper and, in consideration of the uncertainties thus made apparent, presents new X-ray data obtained with the first three members of this group. Copper-phosphorus System Heyn and Baurl found that in slowly cooled alloys phosphorus forms a solid solution with copper up to about 0.175 per cent. Huntington

Jan 1, 1937

By Jianmin Qin, R. V. Ramani

The major parameters affecting dust flow at a longwall face are dust generation rate, air velocity and quantity distribution at the face, and the characteristics of the dust such as particle size distribution, density etc. Previous studies have identified the longwall shearer as the major source of the airborne dust in the faces. In this study, the effects of dust generation rate and shearer speed on the levels of ambient dust concentration are investigated. A series of experiments were performed under controlled conditions in a full scale simulated longwall face at the Lake Lynn Laboratory mine of U.S. Bureau of Mines using characterized bituminous coal dust. A trickle-duster was moved up and down the longwall face to simulate the shearer. In each experiment, a known amount of dust was dispersed by the trickle-duster into the air and the average dust generation rate was calculated. At the same time, gravimetric respirable and total airborne dust samples were collected and air velocity measurements were made along the face. The experimental conditions, data, and results are presented and discussed in this paper. The airborne dust concentration and air velocity data indicate that the concentration increases and air velocity decreases with distance from headgate for the first half of the face. Towards the tailgate, the air velocity increases with increasing distance but the dust concentration levels off with some variations. The data show that a higher dust generation rate results in higher dust concentration levels. More importantly, the data show that the rate of increase of airborne dust concentration is higher than that of dust generation rate. For the same air velocity distribution and dust generation rate, lower speed of the dust source results in higher airborne dust levels at the face.

Jan 1, 1991

By Philip Drinker, R. M. Thomson

In the mining and metallurgical industries, numerous problems arise requiring determinations of solid and of liquid particles suspended in air. Frequently, these problems are of local interest and involve purely economic or operating difficulties; on the other hand, toxic effects from the inhalation or the ingestion of substances suspended in air may be a matter of concern. For checking up process improvements or for determining ventilation efficiencies in problems of this general nature, various methods have been proposed. .Although simpler methods are often satisfactory, precipitation combines several desirable features that other methods lack. This paper is, therefore, devoted to a discussion of portable alternating-current precipitators applicable to the quantitat,ive determination and microscopy of dusts, fumes, and smokes in air. Small particles suspended in gases, such as air, are referred to in the literature as aerosols or suspensoids. Of these terms, suspensoids appears to be preferable as being more nearly in keeping with words in everyday use. In problems involving air pollution by small particles—by suspensoids—it is convenient to distinguish three broad classes based on the size, the degree of dispersion, and the method by which the particles become suspended in the air. Dusts.—Particles or aggregates of particles, 150 to 1 micron in diameter, that are thrown into the air by mechanical agencies are termed dusts. Examples are silica; talc; cement; organic dusts such as hard rubber, starch, and cocoa; flocculated fume, and smoke products. Fumes.—Particles, 0.2 to 1 micron in diameter, formed from chemical or physicochemical reactions are known as fumes. Examples are ammonium chloride, lead and mercury, zinc and magnesium oxides, fogs, and acid mists. Smokes.—Particles, less than 0.3 micron in diameter, formed by incomplete combustion of carbonaceous and other substances are called smokes. Examples are the particles formed from burning tobacco, oil, tar, and gas.

Jan 1, 1925

Urban development to the south of Sydney is approaching areas of current and proposed coal mining. Already some structures and residential areas are affected by mining subsidence.Subsidence resulting from either conventional pillar extraction methods or longwall mining has been monitored for 15 years to enable the characteristics of the surface deformation to be determined.The vertical and horizontal displacements of survey stations on the surface are monitored and the results arc used to calculate subsidence, changes in slope of the surface, curvatures along the subsidence profile, and the ensile and compressive strains. These features are in turn related to the underground extraction to give a description of surface subsidence and the development of subsidence with time.Subsidence investigations have been carried out over all or part of the workings of six collieries in the Southern Coalfield.Two case histories illustrate the procedure in the investigation of subsidence phenomena. The first example is the study of the subsidence over a series of longwall panels in one seam and the second is a study of subsidence over pillar extraction in two seams one above the other. From the results of the investigations the effects of panel widths on subsidence are determined.This and other information assists mine planning in areas where surface movement and deformation are important considerations.

Jan 1, 1980

By Bruce Vandenberg

A 3D, PC based computer program is currently under development by Blasting Analysis International, Inc., to analyze the kinetics of full scale blasts with two or more high-speed motion picture cameras.

Jan 1, 1990

By A. F. Gregory

"AbstractA resumé of aerial radiation survey studies performed by and for Eldorado Mining and Refining, Limited, since 1943 is presented. Flight tests were initiated in 1947 and were followed .by intensified use and study of Geiger counters and other radiation detectors. Development of an aerial scintillation counter began in 1948, but •a sensitive large crystal unit was not available for exploration purposes until 1950. Modifications of this unit have been used in all subsequent surveys.For the Eldorado detector, several limiting conditions were established for successful radioactivity detection, the most important being that natural vein exposures can only be assuredly detected .at distances less than 150 feet. Sedimentary and pegmatitic radioactive occurrences can be detected at much greater distances. A helicopter investigation technique appears to •have •a useful prospecting potential.IntroductionAerial radiation surveys were first proposed in the early 1940's. However, it was not until 1949 that airborne detectors were extensively used in the search for radioactive minerals. Eldorado has flown about 50,000 miles of exploration flights, exclusive of tests, using a variety of •detectors and aircraft. Considerable data have •been gathered for .the evaluation of the several techniques employed. Much of the early work was performed with the co-operation of the National Research Council of Canada ( 1). More recent work was done in conjunction with the Commercial Products Division of Atomic Energy of Canada, Limited. The Development Department of this latter corporation designed and built the scintillation counter used in recent Eldorado surveys."

Jan 1, 1955

By Zay Jeffries

IT HAS been known for centuries that iron and steel could be hardened by cold hammering and that the metal could be restored to the normal condition by heating to a red heat and cooling either rapidly or slowly with nearly pure iron and slowly with steels containing considerable carbon. The art of tempering steels is also very old. When a medium- or high-carbon steel is quenched from a cherry-red heat, the hardness is increased; this hardness can be reduced by heating to various temperatures below the lower thermal critical point, which is near 700° C. The present paper will not consider these old and well-known changes in iron and steel below the thermal critical range but will confine itself to the more unusual changes, some of which have been studied recently. Stromeyer,1 for example, in 1886, reports that both working steel and heat treatment of steel in the blue-heat range are highly injurious. Recently, however, some metallurgists believe that the straightening of warped steel forgings at a blue heat produces a beneficial effect on the metal.2 The Engineering Division of the National Research Council has constituted a committee on Physical Changes -in Iron and Steel Below the Thermal Critical Range, which has the following personnel: R. R. Abbott, H. C. Boynton, William Campbell, J. V. Emmons, F. B. Foley, H. J. French, H. M. Howe, Zay Jeffries (chairman), F.C. Langenberg, J. A. Mathews, P. D. Merica, A. H. Miller, J. H. Nelson, G. A. Reinhardt, W. E. Ruder, H. F. Wood: This committee is studying several aspects of the physical changes in iron and steel. The results, reported in the literature and obtained by recent experimentation, will be given; this will be followed by a general theoretical discussion of the more important

Jan 2, 1920

By Zay Jeffries

It has been known for centuries that iron and steel could be hardened by cold hammering and that the metal could be restored to the normal condition by heating to a red heat arid cooling, either rapidly or slowly with nearly pure iron, but slowly with steels containing considerable carbon. The art of tempering steels is also very old. When a medium- or high-carbon steel is quenched from a cherry-red heat, the hardness is increased; this hardness can be reduced by heating to various temperatures below the lower thermal critical point,, which is near 700" C. The present paper will not consider these old and well known changes in iron and steel below the thermal critical range but will confine itself to the more unusual changes, some of which have been studied recently. Stromeyer,1 for example, In 1886, reports that both working steel and heat treatment of steel in the blue-heat range arc highly injurious. Recently, however, some metallurgists believe that the straiglltening of warped steel forgings at a blue heat produces a beneficial effect on the metal2 The Engineering Division of the National Research Council has constituted a committee on Physical Changes in Iron and Steel below the Thermal Critical Range, which has the following personnel: K. R. -Abbott, H. C. Boynton, William Campbell, J. V. Emmons, F. B. Foley, H. J. French, H. M. Howe, Zay Jeffries (chairman), F. C. Langenberg, J. A. Mathews, P. D. Merica, A. H. Miller, J. H. Nelson, G. A. Reinhardt, W. E. Ruder, H. F. Wood. This committee is studying several aspects of the physical changes in iron and steel. The results, reported in the literature and obtained by recent experimentation, will be given; this will be followed by a general theoretical discussion of the more important

Jan 1, 1922

By Zay Jeffries

It has been known for centuries that iron and steel could be hardened by cold hammering and that the metal could be restored to the normal condition by heating to a red heat arid cooling, either rapidly or slowly with nearly pure iron, but slowly with steels containing considerable carbon. The art of tempering steels is also very old. When a medium- or high-carbon steel is quenched from a cherry-red heat, the hardness is increased; this hardness can be reduced by heating to various temperatures below the lower thermal critical point,, which is near 700" C. The present paper will not consider these old and well known changes in iron and steel below the thermal critical range but will confine itself to the more unusual changes, some of which have been studied recently. Stromeyer,1 for example, In 1886, reports that both working steel and heat treatment of steel in the blue-heat range arc highly injurious. Recently, however, some metallurgists believe that the straiglltening of warped steel forgings at a blue heat produces a beneficial effect on the metal2 The Engineering Division of the National Research Council has constituted a committee on Physical Changes in Iron and Steel below the Thermal Critical Range, which has the following personnel: K. R. -Abbott, H. C. Boynton, William Campbell, J. V. Emmons, F. B. Foley, H. J. French, H. M. Howe, Zay Jeffries (chairman), F. C. Langenberg, J. A. Mathews, P. D. Merica, A. H. Miller, J. H. Nelson, G. A. Reinhardt, W. E. Ruder, H. F. Wood. This committee is studying several aspects of the physical changes in iron and steel. The results, reported in the literature and obtained by recent experimentation, will be given; this will be followed by a general theoretical discussion of the more important

Jan 1, 1922

By Arnold M. Lansche

DOMESTIC OUTPUT of white arsenic, As2O3, was derived entirely as a byproduct of smelting arsenic-containing copper ores by The Anaconda Company at Anaconda, Mont., and American Smelting and Refining Company at Tacoma, Wash. Arsenic metal was not produced. Consumption, and Uses.-Most of the white arsenic produced in 1964 was consumed in manufacturing lead and calcium arsenate insecticides. In the 12 year period since 1951 the production of lead arsenate insecticide has varied between 7,800 tons and 4,900 tons, indicating that lead arsenate has maintained its position in competition with organic insecticides.

Jan 1, 1965

By D. McCarthy

Contract is a PC-based software program designed to satisfy the main features that have been identified to be lacking from cost estimation systems currently in place in the Australian coal industry. Contract was developed in conjunction with an Australian contracting company to refine the existing core structure used by the company for project evaluation. The key feature of Contract is the availability of analysis functions to explore multiple options within a contract project by altering identified variables. The ability to update project files has been incorporated into Contract to ensure that it is user-friendly and relatively simple to use. Lists of mining equipment and consumables are stored in MS ACCESS database files, along with the supplier details for each item. Each time a project is initiated there is a dynamic link to the database files and the most recent current information is retrieved and linked with the project. Contract provides an option to calculate the changes in metre unit cost as a function of the average development cost. Keywords: Contracting, cost estimation, sensitivity analysis.

Jan 1, 2003

By Doug Halbe

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

Jan 1, 1982

By D. Bessinger, J. Nell

The electrical conductivity of rutile was optimised as a function of time, temperature and gas composition. These optimised conditions were used to treat rutile/zircon feed prep concentrate samples from a South African heavy minerals producer, prior to electrostatic separation. Enhanced separation between rutile and zircon was obtained when compared to untreated samples. Samples treated in a hydrogen atmosphere and cooled in nitrogen showed the best separation when passed through a high tension electrostatic separator using conditions of high sample temperature and high relative humidity.

Jan 1, 2005

By R. N. Tempel, M. Lengke

Arsenic sulfide [orpiment, realgar, amorphous AsS and As2S3] oxidation rates were measured in mixed flow reactors at pH~2 and temperature of 25-30oC. The measured oxidation rates for arsenic sulfide solids by dissolved oxygen are in the range of 10-11 to 10-10 mole m-2 s-1 after being normalized to final surface area. The order of arsenic sulfide oxidation rates decreases at pH~2 from amorphous AsS > realgar > orpiment > amorphous As2S3. In comparison to pyrite, arsenic sulfide oxidation rates are approximately 1.5 to 15 times slower than pyrite oxidation rates at pH~2.

Jan 1, 2002

By J. P. Jarrell

Environmental considerations are of increasing importance in determining the acceptability, schedule and cost of expansion ofCanada's uranium processing industry. Environmental considerations must be addressed in the early stages of facility planning. This results in a dilemma, as the process data needed to predict physical environmental impacts are not yet available from process design activities. Hence, a business risk is incurred if plant design is carried forward to meet these requirements prior to project (or site) approval. On the other hand, project scheduling normally mitigates against leaving process design engineering until such time as project approval is obtained. This paper examines the experience gained in Eldorado Nuclear's proposed expansion of refining capacity as viewed by an environmental engineering consultant. The history of the project and the relationship to process design functions in the two-year period prior to the Port Granby environmental hearings are reviewed. During the Port Granby public hearing, there was a consensus that normal operation of the proposed refinery could be successfully integrated with the site's natural environmental constraints. Moreover, the radiological impact from plant operations was demonstrated to be inconsequential. However, concerns were raised relating to plant upset and accident situations. These concerns are summarized. Process data requirements identified during the environmental hearings are discussed. Finally, the concerns for on-site burial of radioactive waste are reviewed. These concerns focussed on long-term stability of the waste in the presence ofgroundwater transport, erosion and glaciers. The AECB's position on waste management with regard to this project is reviewed in light ofthe implications for design.

Jan 1, 1979

By Edgardo Fogli, Mario Lampiano, Antonio Nicola

The project is located in the northern region of the People’s Republic of China and was awarded to Impregilo, as sponsor of the Wan Long Joint Venture, in September1997. The project consists of four tunnels for a total length of 88,700 m, with an excavation diameter of about 4.9 m. The lining is made of honeycomb pre-cast segments, connected by PVC dowels and the joints are sealed with elastomeric gaskets. The geology is mainly Limestone, Dolomite and Sandstone. Karst cavities are abundant and are often in-filled with plastic red clay. This has adversely affected the TBM’s progress. Four double shield telescopic TBMs were mobilized to cope with the very tight construction schedule and, at the end of November 2000, more than 80% of the tunnel has been bored. The article analyses the TBMs’ productions in the various geological conditions and the results of different technical solutions adopted at the project.

Jan 1, 2001

By A. B. Kinzel

MUCH work has been done recently in an attempt to analyze the physicochemical mechanism involved in the production of steel by the open-hearth process. . This has resulted in reducing the process to a series of interrelated phenomena obeying the usual laws of mass action and diffusion. Of these, the reaction of the iron oxide and carbon in the molten steel is of most interest from a technical point of view as it con-stitutes the main action in the usual steelmaking processes. A. L. Feild1 has formulated a basic differential equation expressing the open-hearth reactions and Hefty has done considerable experimental work on the determination of a number of constants involved in the basic open-hearth reaction. In considering the application of the law of mass action. to the reaction FeO +C ?? CO +Fe, the iron will be taken as constant, as is the case in the open hearth and the carbon monoxide pressure will be assumed' constant at one atmosphere. From this xy = m at equilibrium, where x is the percentage weight of carbon, y percentage weight of iron oxide and m the weight-concentration equilibrium constant. While it is customary for physical chemists to express equilibrium constants in terms of molar concentrations, the constant is here expressed as the product of the percentage-weight concentrations for ease of comparison with the constants quoted by Herty and by Feild, and for more ready applicability to the open-hearth reactions. Herty and his associates have attempted to calculate the value of this constant from data on open-hearth heats. So many variables affect these results that an adequate calculation presents very great difficulties. A value of 4 X 10-2 was first arrived at, but this was later changed to 1.6 X 10-2. Feild, in order to illustrate the operation of the differential equation of the open hearth, has assumed a value considerably lower than Herty's, namely, 1.0 X 10-2, the largest value consistent with certain theoretical

Jan 1, 1929

By B W. Riddol1s

The 1983 Energy Plan calls for an increase in North Island coal production from both underground and opencast sources from the 1982/1983 production of 843 000 tpa to approximately 3.4 Mtpa within the ten year period to March 1993. This increased production is scheduled to come from the following sources: Huntly West No 1 underground mine reaching full production of 1.26 Mtpa. Huntly East underground mine increasing production to 750 000 tpa. The proposed new Huntly West No 2 mine producing 100 000 tpa in its first year of operation û 1992. The proposed Ohinewai opencast producing 920 000 tpa for supply to the steelmaking plant at Glenbrook, replacing Weavers opencast which will be worked out in 1990. Rotowaro opencast producing at 220 000 tpa (currently being achieved). Two additional sources of supply which are not scheduled to begin production for at least ten years, and both of which have been designated for coal fired thermal power generation, are the Maramarua and Mokau coalfields. It was originally envisaged that development of both coalfields would be a combination of underground and opencast mines. The form of development is yet to be confirmed by detailed feasibility studies. The location of the Maramarua, Ohinewai (Waikare Coalfield) and Mokau deposits is shown on Figure 1. Worley Consultants Limited, in conjunction with their partners Rheinbraun Consulting GmbH (Germany) and Longworth McKenzie Pty Limited (Australia) have been involved with investigations and mining assessments for the Maramarua, Mokau and Ohinewai prospects. The Maramarua and Mokau studies form part of the New Zealand Coal Resources Survey programme of updating information to the Pre-Feasibility Mining Assessment level before proceeding to detailed feasibility studies. The Ohinewai study was commissioned directly by Mines Division to investigate the feasibility of mining coal by 1989 before reserves at Weavers opencast are depleted. This paper describes typical studies which are now being commissioned by Mines Division to investigate large-scale mining development and the effect geotechnical-conditions may have on coal recovery. The magnitude of these projects is reflected in the proposed outputs û up to2 Mtpa from individual mines û and the introduction of new continuous mining systems for both underground and opencast mines on a scale which has not previously been contemplated.

Jan 1, 1984

By William R. Barton

Sampling to determine development potential of beryllium deposits was conducted at 31 New England localities. A total of 54 additional areas where the geochemical environment appeared favorable were sampled to determine if economically interesting percentages of beryllia (BeO) might occur. Newry Hill-Plumbago Mountain, Maine, Iron Mountain, N.H., and Long Island, Maine, were investigated in some detail to determine the size and grade of deposits. The mineralized pegmatites at Newry Hill-Phunbago Mountain are extensive but very low grade; at Iron Mountain the ore bodies are very rich but of small volume; at Long Island beryl occurs with molybdenite, wolframite, and scheelite, but the tonnage of ore was not determined.

Jan 1, 1968