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By P. C. Santos-Munguía, F. Nava-Alonso, O. Alonso-González

"The gold recovery of a Mexican cyanidation plant, in Sonora, has been decreasing due to the increasing presence of gold tellurides. This work presents the results of different processes aimed to recover the remaining gold from the cyanidation tailings of the operation. The cyanidation in the mine is performed at 0.1 g/L NaCN and pH = 10.3, adjusted with lime. The treatments studied in the laboratory with these tailings were: cyanidation at higher cyanide concentration than that used in the plant, cyanidation with oxygen injection, cyanidation with oxygen and lead nitrate addition, and thiourea leaching. The results obtained with each of these treatments are presented and discussed with the final objective of proposing a method to recover the gold associated with tellurium.INTRODUCTION It has been demonstrated that gold telluride is refractory to the conventional cyanidation process and, for this reason, some alternative methods to recover precious metals from tellurides have been proposed. (Zhang et al., 2010). These include cyanidation with modified conditions or the use of non-cyanide leaching agents. This work presents the gold leaching results of tests performed with a sample of cyanidation tailings obtained from a Mexican deposit containing telluride species. The mine exploits a mesothermal deposit with a molar Te/Au ratio of 1, containing also lead, molybdenum, bismuth and tungsten. Gold is recovered from the ore by standard cyanidation, however, lately the gold recovery has decreased, likely due to the tellurium content of the ore. The sample used in this work was the cyanidation tailings of this deposit. It was treated in the plant by cyanide heap leaching (0.1 g/L NaCN, pH = 10.3 adjusted with lime). Some gold remained after the cyanidation and it was thought that this gold was associated with tellurium. The objective of this work was the recovery of the remaining gold from the tailings by an alternative process."

Jan 1, 2017

By Graham W. Marks

This report is the fourth of a series concerning the development of spectrochemical methods for the analysis of ore samples and related Metallurgical materials by the total-energy method. In this report, the application of this method to the determination of thallium is discussed. This element lies in group III of the periodic tale; one other Clement of this group; indium, has already been investigated.

Jan 1, 1949

By McConachy G. W, Wright J. V

During the 110 years since the discovery of the Broken Hill PbZnAg deposit six major mining companies have mined the ore body and explored the ore environment. Despite this activity, no new orebodies have been found at Broken Hill. The failure to discover large new resources cannot be attributed to a lack of activity because major companies have maintained substantial exploration commitments over many decades. This suggests that not only was a unique coincidence of conditions required to form the deposit but also that full recognition and definition of the critical parameters may not yet have been recognised. In an attempt to illuminate some of the more unusual and poorly studied characteristics of the ore environment some new areas of investigation are presented here which may contribute to understanding the ore deposit setting and focus exploration towards different and perhaps more productive targets. Sedimentological characteristics of the host succession of the Broken Hill deposit are apparently unique along the line of lode. An upward-coarsening megasequence reflected in the development of clastic psammites stratigraphically below the ore deposit is one important ingredient which has received little exploration focus. These psammites also host mineralisation and form part of a spectrum of quart-zrich rocks collectively referred to as gametiferous psammites, garnet quartzites and blue quartz lodes. Sedimentological data interpreted from outcrop, drill core and downhole geophysical well logs support a elastic origin for some of these rocks; an interpretation which is at variance with traditional interpretations favouring an exhalative origin. A clastic origin for many of the footwall psammites, and their close spatial association with the orebodies suggests their role in ore formation was important. It is interpreted as a critical part of the fluid flow architecture within the sedimentary basin, which focussed ore forming fluids into an unique environment favourable for trapping mineralisation. Detailed stratigraphic correlation near the deposit has also highlighted that quartzofeldspathic rocks (Potosi gneisses and lode pegmatites) have complex relationships with ore. Suites of stratabound quartzofeldspathic pegmatites have received limited study, but their distribution and voluminous development suggests they may be as important to ore formation as the psammitic lode rocks which host the orebodies. These associations are not in conflict with some recent ore forming models invoking deposition in a shallow water environments of deposition. The geochemistry of parts of the host sequence has been studied extensively in the past but this has not been merged with current stratigraphic subdivisions. A large drillhole data base now permits the geochemistry to be related to the sedimentary succession and reveals that a signature involving stratigraphic vectors best illustrated by changes in MnO, Na2O, Pb and Zn can be detected. This is interpreted to reflect sedimentary basin processes as opposed to a classical volcanic hydrothermal alteration pipe associated with seafloor venting. The stratigraphic setting together with characteristics of some of these poorly understood areas is discussed to emphasise that construction of sound models for exploration requires the total ore environment to be studied with attention directed to the geometry and setting of the full range of host rocks. Control of the greater portion of the line of lode by a single company, Pasminco Australia Limited, now permits disparate datasets and observations to be merged and presents new opportunities and encouragement for model refinement and exploration success.

Jan 1, 1993

By Gianni O. Chieruzzi

A 400 MW, gas-fed power plant on floating piles and piled raft foundations was constructed in the Province of Moskovskaya, Russia in 2008. The subsurface is characterized by fill underlain by loose to medium dense alluvial deposits, with peat and clay interbeds, a stiff to hard, highly plastic, silty clay stratum of glacial origin, and a stratum of very dense, varved interbeds of sand and silt. More than 800, drilled concrete piles were constructed at the site. The pile length ranged from 15 to 23 meters below existing surface grade, and the pile diameter ranged from 0.9 to 1 meter. Initial analyses by others predicted total power plant settlements of 3 to 4 cm when subjected to the permanent loading conditions. Under a peer review process for the equipment supplier, subsurface investigation and testing were performed to verify the consolidation parameters used for foundation design of the power plant foundation. The parameters obtained in this investigation were used in the 3-D finite-element model ELPLA as inputs for the settlement analysis of the turbine building and power island. The ELPA analyses predicted settlements on the order of 7 cm over a period of 30 years. The actual settlements after two years of monitoring were compared against the model predictions. The rate of settlement and the recompression index were both underestimated in our model. The measured settlements have enabled us to calibrate both of these model parameters so that the model better matches the data.

By Richard Rice

TURBO blowers for blast-furnace blowing have now been in use for some years, and a review of the experience gained and the present state of progress may be interesting. FIG. 1.-STEAM TURBINE DIRECT CONNECTED TO AIR COMPRESSOR. The first blast-furnace blowing engine of this type to be installed in America was built by the General Electric Co. and is installed at the oxford Furnace of the Empire Iron & Steel Co. This machine was put into operation March 8, 191.0. A duplicate unit is situated at the furnace of the Northern Iron Co. at Port Henry, N. Y., which unit was put into opera ion June 30, 1910 (Fig. 1).

Jan 5, 1914

By Ahmed M. Yousif, Walid M. Abdellah, Galal M. Abdel Wahab, Amal E. Mubark

The present work is concerned with selective dissolution of niobium from Gabal El Faliq concentrate sample by using fluoridefree process. The chemical analysis of concentrate sample revealed the presence of high amount of ZrO2, Nb2O5, Re2O3, and HfO2 assaying 33.6, 1.99, 4.8, and 1.2%w/w respectively. Several economic minerals including zircon, samarskite, fergusonite, and xenotimewere recorded in the studied sample. About 98%of Nb content was selectively dissolved at the optimumconditions of 1:2 concentrate sample: KOH weight ratio, 2.5 h fusion time, and fusion temperature of 550 °C. Organic solvent extraction process using Aliquat 336S in xylene was effectively used for preparing pure Nb2O5 (98.95%).

Oct 22, 2019

By Derek J. Fray

Electric arc furnace dusts, especially those containing zinc ferrite, are notoriously difficult to process to give valuable products and non-toxic residues. The ideal process would remove and recover the toxic non-ferrous metals as pure metals, of commercial value, and non-toxic residue which can be used as a raw material in the steel industry. From an examination of the thermodynamics of the oxides and chlorides of the various elements in the dust, it is apparent that the chlorides of the toxic non-ferrous elements are more stable than the oxides while the reverse applies to the ferrous elements. This offers the opportunity for a complete separation of the zinc, lead and cadmium from the iron oxide. Results are presented for the chlorination of electric arc furnace dusts under oxidising conditions and the subsequent treatment of the chlorides to recover the pure metals and chlorine which can be recycled back to the reactor.

Jan 1, 1994

By D. J. Stoops, H. Kato, M. D. Carver

The effects of impurity elements silicon , aluminum, copper , nitrogen , and manganese , at 50 to 300 ppm, on properties of the zirconium alloy Zircaloy 2 were investigated . Variations in microstructure , mechanical properties , and corrosion behavior in some inorganic acid and salt solutions were observed with variations in level of impurity element . Corrodents were solutions of sulfuric acid , phosphoric acid , copper chloride , and iron chloride . Silicon was found to modify annealed microstructures by spheroidizing and dispersion of secondphase material throughout grains . Silicon or manganese improved ultimate and yield strength of the alloy without loss in ductility . All five elements affected corrosion rates of the alloy , the effect being generally different for each element .

Jan 1, 1964

By M. L. Whisman

Radiotracer techniques were developed for stoichiometric studies of photochemical reactions associated with atmospheric smog formation. Stock blends of separate hydrocarbon and oxygenated compounds were prepared and calibrated. 14C-labeled reactants and products in reaction systems involving hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides at the ppm level were analyzed for qualitative and quantitative data. Precision and accuracy of these methods developed by the Bureau were determined by replication and statistical treatment of data, and these methods are described.

Jan 1, 1969

By Roger Nendick

The recent developments in refractory precious metal ore processing (Bio-oxidation, Autoclaving), and the revitalization of the more traditional roasting processes have attracted great attention in recent years and are indeed the focus of todays symposium. It must always be remembered, however, that the term refractory ore by definition means that the material 'must be capable of being treated at a profit". Given the high cost of the refractory processes, the requirement to be treated at a profit requires very close scrutiny during the evaluation phase of the property development. The M.G.M. film company has the latin motto Ars Gratia Artis meaning Art for Arts Sake. Ingeniatore Gratia Ingeniatoris (a very crude attempt at saying Engineering for Engineerings Sake) should not be the motto for mining companies intent on exploiting refractory gold deposits, but rather the wittily tilted heading for this paper "Take the money and run like a thief". The following hypothetical case studies show that the high technology solution is not always the best financial solution.

Jan 1, 1990

By John Hanna

The Mineral Resources Institute (MRI) has developed a unique process for selective fatty acid flotation of phosphate minerals from siliceous ores. The process takes advantage of preferential adsorption and high reactivity of fatty acid collectors towards apatite over silica surfaces under slightly acidic conditions of pH 5-6.5. The process was successful in upgrading various phosphate samples from Florida and North Carolina containing 7.7-15.3% P205 and 62.3- 77.2% Insol to concentrates assaying 28.1-33.1 % P205 and 4.1-9.9% Insol with high P2O5 recovery of 81.8-92.2%. Depending on the type of silica impurities present one or more cleaning steps, with or without sodium silicate, would be required to improve the grade of the rougher phosphate concentrate.

Jan 1, 1992

By Andre Vien, Jean-François Dupont

"Over the past several years, Svedala has developed a continuous charge monitor (CCM) for tumbling mills. It consists of a strain gauge embedded into a rubber lifter and associated electronics. This paper describes the installation and use of such a device on a SAG mill at the Holt-McDermott Mine. Comparison to measured static volumetric load and bearing pressure and inclusion of the measurement into a control strategy and its potential for condition monitoring is discussed. INTRODUCTIONWhile the measurement of load is very important in all kinds of grinding applications, the biggest benefits are expected from AG and SAG milling. This is what motivated Holt-McDermott to take a closer look at this problem, with a view to optimizing SAG mill performance.In many cases, the SAG mill control problem can be stated as maximizing throughput while avoiding a volumetric overload, with the other constraints (e.g. power, grind size, upstream/downstream equipment constraints, etc.) playing a less important role. This is certainly true at Holt-McDermott where the SAG mill is the production bottleneck about 90% of the time, and anything that can be done to increase SAG mill throughput will have a significant impact on operating profit.Although the goal of maximizing throughput while avoiding volumetric overload is simple to state, it has proven to be much more difficult to achieve. The mineral processing industry has expended a great deal of time and effort to devise control strategies in the pursuit of this objective. While much progress has been made, there is still room for considerable improvement. Across the industry it is probably fair to say that overloads occur relatively infrequently, but the real losses accrue as a result of the tendency to run rather conservatively."

Jan 1, 2001

(Under this heading will he published notes sent to the Secretary of the Institute by members or other persons introduced by members.) No. 488.-Mining engineer, member, technical graduate, married, age 38, desires position of superintendent or assistant superintendent. Has had 15 years' practical experience as miner, millman, machinist, surveyor, engineer, foreman, and superintendent in the West, Southwest, and Mexico. Speaks Spanish. Now employed as superintendent of copper property in Southwest. Can give the best of references. Minimum salary $250. Available now. No. 491.-Mining engineer, member, married, age 43, desires to connect with some-good coal company as superintendent or manager. Is thoroughly conversant with flat and pitching systems of coal mining. Has had 23 years experience from the bottom up; 7 years experience as superintendent and manager. Good organizer. Has handled all classes of labor acid has always made good. Available now. No. 492.-Metallurgist and chemical engineer, member, with 8 years executive experience in research and technical direction of all departments of nom-ferrous metallurgical manufacturing, is open for change in position. Specialist in raw materials-and supplies, reclamation of wastes, and standardized control of processes. No. 493.-Member, age 37, technical education, married. Seventeen years' experience as superintendent, engineer, chemist, and assayer, exploration engineer in United States, Central and South America, Siberia and India. Especially in iron, manganese, copper, and rare metals. Desires to make a change. No. 494. Electrometallurgical engineer, member, age 30, A. M. and Ch. E. degrees, thoroughly trained in electrochemistry, metallurgy and electrometallurgy. Three years in charge of experimental work on and operations of electric furnaces. Desires responsible position in investigative or executive work with commensurate salary.

Jan 11, 1918

By Jinjing Dua, Jun Zhua, Kuiren Liub, Bin Wang, Xiaolei Wua

V-Ti-Fe as hydrogen storage alloy was prepared by reducing metal oxides with a metallothermic reduction method. The deoxidation process of the V-Ti-Fe alloy was performed by electro-deoxidation and vacuum induction melting method, respectively. The results showed that the content of oxygen impurity can be controlled at about 0.2wt% after electrolyzing for 240min. Both the maximum values of hydrogen absorption capacity and the effective hydrogen desorption capacity are 2.65wt% and 1.01wt%, respectively. The deoxidization effect of vacuum induction melting process is more remarkable, with Ce as the reducing agent. It is found that Ce addition is beneficial for reducing the componential segregation, promoting the hydrogen absorption activation of V-Ti-Fe alloy. When m(Ce)/m(alloy) is up to 5%, the oxygen content has been reduced to 0.05wt% and the maximum hydrogen absorption capacity and the effective hydrogen desorption capacity are up to 3.36wt% and 1.85wt%, respectively.

Jan 1, 2015

By H. P. Stuwe

It is investigated whether a model of sphere packing permits the computation of the lattice parameters and their variation with concentration in various a phases; it does, except in phases containing silicon. Several observations indicate that a particular role is played by the "E-atoms" in the lattice. THE phase is formed by many alloys of the transition elements.'-' Its structure has been described by Bergman and Shoemaker,5,8 Dickins, Douglas, and Taylor,7 and Kasper, Decker, and elanger.' There are five kinds of crystallographically equivalent positions for the 30 atoms in the unit cell which have been designated by these authors I, 11, 111, IV, and V or, in the same sequence, A, B, C,D, and E, as shown in Fig, 1. For the purposes of the present paper two elements of the lattice will be discussed separately: The lattice planes perpendicular to the c-axis which are made up by the atoms A, B, C, and D and which determine the a-parameter; and the close-packed "vertical rows" of E-atoms which determine the c-parameter. asper,9 and Frank and kasper10 described the a phase and other complex structures as sphere packings. In these papers particular attention is paid to the coordination polyhedra. Lattice positions with an equal number of nearest neighbors are considered equivalent regardless of their crystallo-graphic description. This seems to work very well for the explanation of ordering phenomena in the a phase as far as information on this is available." If the description of the phase as a sphere packing is valid it should be possible to draw two further conclusions: 1) It should be possible to calculate the lattice parameters from the atomic radii of the components, and 2) It should be possible to predict the variation of the lattice parameters with concentration within one phase field. Both points are discussed in this paper. PROCEDURE Measurements of lattice constants were done with a symmetrical back-reflection X-ray camera. With Cr-radiation, about a dozen a1 lines could be observed with most samples. From the (550/710)- and 720-lines the a-value was computed. With this value the c-parameter was calculated from the (333)- and (413)-lines. Finally, the position of all the other lines was computed from the lattice parameters thus obtained. In this way the validity of the indexing could be checked and, at the same time, this proce- dure gave an estimate of the accuracy of the lattice parameters. A correction was made for film shrinkage. The atomic radii used in the computations are the Goldschmidt radii for coordination number 12. Actually, some of the atoms have a coordination number of 14 or 15, but the error thereby introduced is small. * For the computation of lattice constants from the atomic radii an "average atomic radius" of all components was used, i.e., complete disorder was assumed. Although this seems to be true for some systems like OS-Cr,4 it is not true in others.11,13,14 The ordering model, however, which has been suggested by Kasper on the basis of extensive research lets both kinds of atoms contribute to both the ''vertical rows" and the lattice planes perpendicular to them, so that even with ordering of this kind the assumption of complete disorder cannot introduce a very serious error in calculating lattice parameters. RESULTS Bergman and shoemaker6 gave a table of the interatomic distances in the Fe-Cr phase. If we disre-

Jan 1, 1960

By Thomas J. Pike, Keith G. Kirk, Mark F. Weider, Lawrence E. Welborn

As part of the mine permitting process as delegated by the Surface Mining Reclamation and Control Act of 1977 the regulatory authority must assess the probable hydrologic consequences and cumulative hydrologic impacts of surf ace mining. The U.S. Office of Surface Mining (OSM), in conjunction with Energy & Minerals Technology Assessment and ENCORE Systems Inc., has developed a user friendly groundwater model that is capable of predicting the effects of surface mining on groundwater quality and quantity. The model is a variation of the Prickett-Lonnquist model which has been modified to be specifically applicable to surface mine applications. This model is presently being used by OSM, the states, and industry to determine mining impacts on groundwater resources. The model is designed for use by the hydrologist with minimal computer training. The model accounts for multiple pumping wells, injection wells, multiple mine pits, and mine pit movement through time. This paper presents an example of how the model may be used in permit application review and how the model can be used by industry to simplify permit preparation.

Jan 1, 1983

By M. R. Grundy

The Robinson project is based on the porphyry copper and gold deposits in the Robinson Mining District, near Ely in Eastern Nevada. The district was mined from the late nineteenth century to 1978 by Kennecott Copper Corporation and its predecessors. Operations ceased when falling copper prices in the late 1970's made their outdated mill and smelter complex at McGill uneconomical. In October 1991, Magma Copper Company (Magma) acquired the many claims that cover the known porphyry copper deposits in the district These occupy a disturbed area about nine miles long and three miles wide between the towns of Ely and Ruth. Magma proposes to build a copper / gold mine and concentrator and expand the existing gold leaching facilities. Several pits, previously mined by Kennecott Copper Corporation, will be enlarged; the use of larger, more modem equipment will result in higher productivity and lower operating costs in general. ICF Kaiser Engineers, of Oakland, California, were awarded the con-tract for detailed design of the process facilities, which was essentially complete by the end of 1993. The project at present is awaiting completion of the environmental permitting process; state air and water permits are in hand, and the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) current schedule indicates that the final obstacles to construction will be cleared by early fall of this year.

Jan 1, 1994

By Oliver Zach

To know as much as possible about the condition of the refractory material (lining thickness, slag layer, build ups, ...) in an high temperature furnace is very important due to the safety and economic impacts. The new CONSCAN system offers the possibility to measure the inner surface of an furnace, and based on this results to calculate the thickness of the refractory lining, slag layer, build ups,.... The CONSCAN System provides this results as figures and graphics. This system is also working under hot conditions so it is not necessary to cool down the furnace. Based on these results the process control and the refractory lining concept could be optimized for maximum campaign life of the furnace.

Jan 1, 2006

By Jiang Shuguang, Zhang Huicheng, Wang Xingshen

Based on the experience about determination of properties of the main fan in mine shaft, this paper relates at length how to reasonablly select test system, test methods and test instruments, how to appraise the reliability of determination results, and how to effectively control the adjusted air etc. The merits and demerits of the two methods of determining air with Nine- Anemometer and Pitot meter are compared.

Jan 1, 1991

By Martin Froehling, Curtis Mohns, Rahim Rajwani, Michael Fullam

"The Kemess mining and milling complex is operated by Northgate Minerals Corporation and is located in the mountains of north-central British Columbia, 430 kilometers northwest of Prince George. The complex consists of the Kemess South open pit mine and a 52,000 tonnes per day mill. Hypogene, supergene and leach cap ores are processed using conventional crushing, grinding, and flotation techniques to produce gold-copper concentrates with minor by-product silver value.The rougher flotation concentrate is re-ground in closed circuit before being cleaned to final concentrate grade. Historically, gold losses in the cleaner tailings were primarily associated with pyrite, with only minor amounts of free gold. More recently, with the processing of high pyrite ores, the major losses were found to be free gold less than 10 microns in size. The fine grind required for the high pyrite ores resulted in over-grinding of the free gold particles in the regrind circuit, contributing to poor flotation characteristics. It was thought that if this free gold could be recovered by gravity at coarser size in the regrind circulating load, the free gold losses in the cleaner tailings could be reduced.Preliminary test work carried out by Knelson Gravity Solutions indicated the potential for free gold recovery in the regrind circuit. A Knelson XD-30 Concentrator was installed with variable speed capability, and a series of optimization tests were carried out. In addition, cleaner tailings were characterized with gravity operating and with gravity not operating to determine the overall gold recovery benefit. The single Knelson XD-30 installation recovers ~10% of the total gold in the regrind circuit and increases overall recovery by 3% when high pyrite ores are processed."

Jan 1, 2007