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By G. T. Krempasky

In an attempt to develop a suitable precast concrete support for underground use, two different models (1955 and 1958) of a five-piece concrete set were designed, fabricated, and tested under adverse loading conditions. Model 1955 was designed to withstand an ultimate, uniformly distributed, vertical load equivalent to what a three-piece, 12- by 12-inch wood set of intermediate-grade Douglas fir would withstand. A design figure of 138,000 pounds for the vertical load was used on both the 1955 and 1958 models. In addition, the 1958 model was designed to withstand a uniform horizontal load of 7,000 pounds per foot and additional concentrated-point loading. The step- by-step design of each model is presented in the appendixes. A series of five destruction tests was conducted underground on the 1955 model, and results of the tests showed that the type and method of blocking were of major significance.

Jan 1, 1963

By Y. Serres

In the past, conventional reflection seismic techniques were not very successful when applied to typical mining exploration: they lacked resolution in the shallow range or were not cost effective. By combining a light earth tamper source, special geophones and field procedures, a stacking process of the returning seismic events using a microprocessor system, and a sophisticated sequence of adapted digital data processing, Mini-Sosie achieves high resolution in the 100-ft to 4000-ft range. Additional advantages result from the very quiet nature of the source and flexibility of the system. Although Mini-Sosie might be used in the refraction mode, or for well velocity logging, it has found its main applications with the reflection technique.

Jan 1, 1978

By Juan Rayo

Minería sin residuos o Wasteless Mining (WLM) es una innovación tecnológica global que apunta a eliminar los riesgos ambientales generados por escombreras y relaves, por medio de una combinación de los procesos de explotación subterránea por hundimiento y de espesamiento de relaves hasta convertirlo en pasta. La condición ideal ocurre cuando ya existe una explotación a tajo abierto y se migra a explotación subterránea por hundimiento, en cuyo caso el déficit de volumen para alojar el relave en pasta lo suple el antiguo tajo. La cavidad resultante del minado por hundimiento puede contener algo más de 2/3 del residuo generado; el otro tercio se coloca en el tajo pre-existente, en obras subterráneas abandonadas, en un depósito sobre zonas de subsidencia delimitada por pretiles o en una relavera menor. Durante la explotación de mina por hundimiento, hasta extraer 1/3 de las reservas no hay cráter de subsidencia. Entre las principales ventajas de la WLM, el artículo cita: mínimo uso de suelo y quebradas para depositar residuos, bajo riesgo de filtraciones y/o producción de aguas ácidas, bajo consumo de agua, ausencia de vibraciones o polvo por voladura.

Sep 30, 2017

By John V. Beall

There were no easily identifiable tourists. Everybody carried attaché cases and sported the buttoned-down look in dress. They were all there at the Hotel Indonesia to make a deal. But deals don't come quickly over there and those that staved and persevered became bored. They clung to the air conditioning of the Hotel and sought hobbies to while away the weeks-and even months. It is not an easy life but it can pay off fog sonic company. The government officials are neither stupid nor lazy. They are new at their jobs. Many are ex-army men and they know they must learn before they can enter into a contract with confidence. So they take time, and time is on their side.

Jan 1, 1970

By F. D. Hoyt, H. L. Hartman

The development of new processes and methods by The Pennsylvania State University to improve slate quarrying technology has centered in recent years on cutting and sawing stone in the quarry to eliminate a second cutting process in the mill. Two machines exhibit promise for this work: 1) a circular saw mounting diamonds or hard inserts to produce smaller sizes of stone and 2) a chain saw with insert cutting teeth to produce stone in the larger dimensions. Prototype machines have been constructed and tested in several Pennsylvania slate quarries, and one commercial installation has been operated for several months with a circular diamond saw. Other kinds of dimension stones may be cut by these saws. Research at Penn State has begun to study the fundamental cutting action of rotary tools or saws in slate and other dimension stones. A laboratory drill press is being instrumented to permit thrust-torque-rotational speed us penetration rate studies of single tooth cutting surfaces on stone. Machinability studies of slate conducted with tungsten-carbide inserts have been performed. The dimension stone industry generally accepts the rather basic premise that the larger the block removed from the quarry, the more practical and economical the operation. Thus, the concept of cutting to size any dimension stone while it remains in place in the parent bed would receive little consideration from the majority of members of the industry. However, the slate industry, which is usually considered a separate member of the dimension stone family, is pioneering in the development of an in-place sawing method. Before any final decision can be reached concerning a proposed new system, it is essential to take a long, hard look at the present method of operation in order to determine if the new system is indeed an improvement or even desirable. In the following section is a brief description of present quarry practice in the slate quarries of eastern Pennsylvania. PRESENT METHOD OF QUARRYING SLATE In the numerous slate quarries of Lehigh and Northampton Counties of Pennsylvania, the grain and cleavage of the slate are most often at right angles to each other; if a third surface is broken at right angles to these two natural planes of weakness, blocks of more or less rectangular shape can be separated.' In conventional quarrying a large calyx core drill prepares holes of 36-in. diam in which wire-saw standards are positioned. By wire sawing between strategically located core-drill holes, large sinks or benches of virgin slate are opened up. The sides freed by wire sawing will vary from quarry to quarry but generally are rectangular in shape with dimensions averaging 20 ft in length and about 15 ft in depth. Some quarries are fortunate in having a joint or natural parting to work to, which of course diminishes the amount of core drilling and wire sawing required. Once the various benches have been developed either through wire sawing alone or through a combination of wire sawing and natural jointing planes, the block removal proceeds in the following manner. A plug hole is drilled in the block with a compressed-air hammer and a feathering chisel is inserted in the hole to cause a fracture of the rock either with or against the grain as indicated by the positioning of the so-called feathers. This operation is referred to as sculping. After a block has been freed with and against the grain by means of wedging from the cross fracture with long bars or levers, the block is further freed along the cleavage plane by shimming it up with small wooden pieces in an operation known as styling. A large steel loading chain is wrapped around a block thus freed and the chain is attached to the wheel of an overhead cable. The block is then hoisted vertically to the cableway and moved along this cableway laterally to the lip or edge of the quarry. From here it is unloaded onto a rail car or truck for transportation to the processing mill. Except for occasional blasting to free stubborn blocks,

Jan 1, 1961

By Roberto Antoniolli

"IntroductionSINCE ancient times, the precious metals have played an important role in influencing the course of history. Silver and gold happened to occur, although in small amounts, in those countries where the early civilizations developed. Their persistent brightness certainly amazed the primitive people, who also found it easy to shape them into ornaments •and implements. Ever since then their properties have made them seem desirable possessions.Use of precious metals as money was the natural consequence of man's desire for them. The possibility of changing an ornament into a tool or food at any time, and the ease with which such medium of exchange could be carried and hidden, further increased the demand for the two metals.Silver was probably discovered after gold and copper, and was undoubtedly found by prehistoric man as native silver. The oldest silver articles have been discovered in Chaldean tombs and date back to 5000 B.C. The earliest ascertained producers of silver were Asia Minor and the Iberian Peninsula. The Romans worked deposits in Spain, Britain, and France. In the Middle Ages, some silver was extracted from German deposits, and near the end of the Middle Ages systematic workings were carried on at Freiberg, Schneeberg, and Joachimsthal (1).Before the discovery of the New Continent, the Aztecs and Toltecs in Mexico, and the Incas in Peru, had made extensive use of silver. In the 16th century the Mexican deposits became the largest source of the world silver."

Jan 1, 1954

By George F. Crocker

Introduction The Helen mine and the Victoria mine of Algoma Ore Properties, Limited, in the Michipicoten district, Ontario, are 120 miles north of Sault Ste. Marie, on the north shore of lake Superior. They are on the Algoma Central railway between Hawk Junction and Michipicoten Harbour. Between them, these mines have produced 10,757,113 tons of iron ore. From 1900 to 1918, 2,823,369 gross tons of brown ore was shipped, and from 1939 to the end of 1949, 7,933,744 tons of siderite was produced from the open-pit operations and underground development. The finished product, known as 'Algoma sinter', is shipped to blast furnaces both in Canada and the United States. The iron-ore bodies are a part of a tabular shaped area of iron formation that extends over a length of more than 10,000 feet and has maximum width of 1,000 feet. The two siderite orebodies, known as the Helen and Victoria, are separated by two diabase dykes. The Helen orebody is 1,600 feet long with a maximum width of 250 feet and the Victoria is 1,200 feet long with a width comparable to the Helen. These orebodies are considered to be a replacement of the original rock by iron carbonate. The introduction of the iron-1bearing material probably occurred after the development of the major folded structures. The open-pit mining of siderite started in the Helen ore body in 1939 and continued until 1945. During this period, 3,853,395 tons of ore was mined. Open-pit mining started in the Victoria body in 1946 and is still being carried on. Underground development commenced in September, 1947. Diamond drilling and surface sampling had shown the Helen deposit to average 35.61 per cent Fe and 7.28 per cent SiO2, and the Vi.otoria deposit 33.73 per cent Fe and 10347 per cent SiO2?

Jan 1, 1950

By Ching-Liu Wu, John Hawley, Andrew H. Liu, James Chai

The Hatch Mott MacDonald/Bechtel Joint Venture team is designer and construction manager for the 5.25-mile Tunnel Segment of the overall 16-mile Silicon ValleyRapid Transit Project, which extends the existing Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system southward from Fremont to San Jose. The Tunnel Segment includes twin boredtunnels, mined cross passages, and three deep station excavations situated in highlyvariable ground, high ground water table, and a dense urban setting with high-risebuildings adjacent to the largest excavation. This paper will discuss design challengesthat have arisen with the excavations and the proposed solutions.

Jan 1, 2007

By Liqun Liang

Various nondestructive testing (NDT) inspection methods are available to evaluate the structural integrity of cast-in-place shafts. The widely used methods include Cross Hole Sonic Logging Testing and Low Strain Testing. Due to its advantages such as low cost, easy operation, quickness and flexibility (no need to plan ahead and prepare inspection tubes or other devices), Low Strain Test is frequently specified in quality assurance programs of many countries or when doubts arise as to the integrity of the finished shafts/piles. The method is well suited for small to middle sized shafts. However it is an indirect NDT testing method and has certain limitations. Data interpretation requires proper training, experience and judgment and, therefore, inconsistent conclusions and reporting may be provided by different testers. To avoid or reduce such inconsistencies, it is best to follow a standardized data interpretation and record classification system. In this paper, a new classification method is presented with examples. A step-by-step data evaluation and interpretation procedure is proposed with examples of real cases to help understand the LST data. The paper also makes recommendations for measures to be taken when anomalies are detected in tested production piles.

Jan 1, 2011

By Wallace W. Roepke

Four bit designs, two conical and two radial, were tested in coal against a 60° conical reference bit to obtain data on orthogonal cutting forces and primary respirable dust generation. One conical and one radial design were modified by the Bureau of Mines for these tests. Results were mixed: One radial bit used substantially lower overall cutting forces and specific energy than the other bits and was the only cutter lower on energy and most forces than the standard 60° bit. How-ever, it generated more specific and total dust than any other bit. The four bits were also tested for incendivity, with a 90° plumb-bob bit as the reference. The frictional ignition tests were designed to simulate both trimming top rock and cutting such rock during advance on-sump. Results of these tests were also mixed. The radial bits were substantially less incendive than the reference bit and caused no ignitions in either top trimming or sump modes. Only the modified mushroom-tipped conical bit caused ignitions. Bits similar to this modified design should not be used on drum-type miners in gassy mine areas; in-stead, the other types of bits tested should be used to reduce ignition potential to a minimum.

Jan 1, 1983

By R. J. Matetic, J. Noll, C. Zhou, J. DuCarme, M. Reyes, J. Srednicki

"In April 2016, MSHA began requiring the use of continuous personal dust monitors (cPDMs) to monitor and measure respirable mine dust exposures to underground coal miners. After the cPDM’s implementation, mine operators discovered that it interfered with proximity detection systems (PDSs), thus exposing miners to potential striking and pinning hazards from continuous mining machines. NIOSH was sought out by MSHA and mining industry stakeholders to determine how the cPDM and PDS interact with each other. Accordingly, NIOSH investigated existing standards, developed test protocols, designed experiments, and conducted lab evaluations. Some interferences were observed to be caused by electromagnetic interference (EMI) from the cPDM. Results showed that there was no significant interference when the cPDM and the miner-wearable component of the PDS were separated by distances of 6 inches or greater. In this study, the cPDM and PAD needed to be at least 6 inches apart in order for them to be used simultaneously and reduce interference potential. INTRODUCTION Underground coal miners are exposed to a variety of hazards on a daily basis such as coal dust exposure, high noise levels, roof and rib falls, the potential for fires and explosions, and operating and working with heavy machinery. One of the hazardous jobs is operating or working nearby a continuous mining machine (CMM). According to Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) statistics, 40 miners have been fatally struck or pinned by a CMM since 1984. In an effort to prevent future striking and pinning fatalities from occurring, proximity detection systems have been developed and are required on all operating CMMs in underground coal mines, with the exception of full-face CMMs, by 2018 (1,2). Proximity detection systems (PDSs) are designed to alarm miners and stop machine motion in order to protect miners from being struck, pinned or crushed by CMMs(3). Currently, MSHA-approved PDSs, installed on CMMs, are based on the principle of magnetic flux density (B-field) (4,5). The system generates a magnetic field around a CMM and determines the relative distance a miner is from the CMM based on a detected magnetic flux density. A PDS typically consists of multiple magnetic field generators mounted at different places around the CMM, and personal alarm devices (PADs), which are worn by the miners to detect the magnetic flux density. When a miner, wearing a PAD, gets closer to the machine, the PAD detects a stronger magnetic field from the generators and detects a weaker magnetic field when a miner moves away from the machine. The magnetic field generators installed on CMMs typically produce modulated magnetic wave signals at frequencies between 10 kHz and 120 kHz. The magnetic fields are measured by three small magnetic coil antennas mounted on orthogonal axes inside of the PAD worn by the miner. According to Faraday’s Law, the changing magnetic field induces a voltage in each coil antenna, and the voltage values are transmitted from the PAD back to a controller on the CMM wirelessly, typically at a frequency between 400 MHz and 2.5 GHz. These values are then used to determine the distance between the miner and the generators of the machine. Typically this information is used to determine when a miner wearing a PAD is in a warning zone or stop zone which would trigger different alarms and actions such as slowing the machine down or stopping it."

Jan 1, 2017

Located 19 km (12 miles) north of the Carlin gold mine and 43 km (27 miles) north of Carlin, Nevada, is Carlin Gold Mining Company's Bootstrap mine. This deposit is similar in character to the Carlin ore, except it occurs in the upper plate formation of the Roberts thrust fault rather than in the lower plate rocks. The deposit was discovered over 50 years ago and operated on a small scale in the early 1960s using vat cyanide leaching. Newmont Mining Corporation acquired the property in 1967, and from an open pit mined 650,000 mt (717,000 st) of ore which was trucked to the Carlin conventional cyanide plant. (See Gold and Silver Cyanidation Plant Practice by F. W. McQuiston, Jr. and R. S. Shoemaker, Society of Mining Engineers, AIME, 1975. ) With the same grade of ore, the gold recovery by conventional methods is somewhat lower than that of the Carlin ore, even with a finer grind. Leaching tests were first conducted by the United States Bureau of Mines in 1968; and in 1971, ‘72, Carlin conducted extensive cyanidation investigations by bottle testing, simulated heap leaching in tall columns, and small scale pad heap leaches. Gold extractions ranged from 55% to 95% with low reagent consumptions. In 1974, a 545 mt (600 st) heap leach test was made at Carlin on pit-run low-grade material assaying 1.37 g per mt (0.04 oz per st). In a six week period the extraction of gold was 47.57'0. Carlin uses atomic absorption analyses on cyanide leach liquors to determine potential leach ore grade rather than fire assaying because it gives a more practical assessment of leach recovery than does fire assaying, which accounts for the total gold content. Before open-pit mining was started, plans were made to heap leach, the ore at Bootstrap which was too low grade for transport to Carlin. The topsoil outside of the designed pit area overlaid ancient lakebed clays which were found suitable for compaction to form an impervious base on which the dumps to be leached could be placed. By using the cost of truck haulage and milling at the Carlin plant and the price of gold 'at that time, a cutoff grade was established which resulted in the gold content of the first 150,000 mt (165,000 st) of the heap leaching ore being 1.51 g per mt (0.044 oz per st). An additional 500,000 mt (552,000 st) of lower grade material, assaying 0.96 g per mt (0.028 oz per st), is available for leaching as economics permit.

Jan 1, 1981

By Juan Ayza

La permanente exposición y concentración de polvo en la zona minera, han sido materia de múltiples enfermedades mortales para el personal que labora en ella. Tal ese así que el polvo de sílice libre es la causa fundamental de la alteración pulmonar llamada silicosis. Por tal motivo, el objetivo del trabajo revisa las propiedades de los polvos, los medios para detectarlos, indemnizaciones y los sistemas eliminadores de los mismos. En cuanto al sistema de producción, el polvo se extiende a través de laventilación, humedad, cargas eléctricas, entre otros, influenciando en el muestreo cuantitativo y en la creación de un método cualitativo de estudio, para complementarlo.Asimismo, se determina que el desarrollo de la silicosis se relaciona en el cuarzo como causa principal de dicha anomalía, aumentando el peligro de infección y la capacidad pulmonar. Para contrarrestar dicha enfermedad se busca soluciones alternativas como el uso del agua, aceita, una ventilación adecuada, los buenos hábitos en el trabajo, la floculación, el método porofliáctico de aluminio, concluyendo que el Hematocímetro es el más exacto y práctico de los anteriormente usados, dado su costo como su requerimento de instrumental menos complicado.

Jul 20, 1955

By J. J. Taber

Gas and water permeabilities of a large number of samples from the Pittsburgh and Pocahontas coals were measured at various overburden and mean flow pressures. A wide variation in the air and water permeabilities was obtained for each type of coal. Overburden pressure has the most significant effect on the single-phase permeability. Considerable hysteretic effect was observed for both air and water permeabilities. Gas permeabilities are affected to a lesser degree by mean flow pressures above atmospheric. However, at subatmospheric mean pressures, appreciable increase in permeability occurs for low permeability samples. Air and water relative permeabilities were also measured for numerous samples of Pittsburgh and Pocahontas coals. Tests were performed under steady-state conditions for both drainage and imbibition cycles. Results indicate that the flow of gas is greatly reduced during the latter process, whereas it is largely undiminished over a wide water-saturation range during drainage. It is also shown that imbibition saturation distributions obtained from liquid-water imbibition as opposed to water-vapor adsorption produce gas permeability curves of radically different character. The effective permeabilities to both gas and water were significantly reduced with the application of overburden pressures in the range of 0 to 1,000 psig, but the general shapes of the relative permeability curves remained the same.

Jan 1, 1974

By C. E. Lesher

THIS paper reports a study of the reactivity of 950°F and 1650°F cokes as measured by relative rates of reduction of iron oxides at temperatures up to 2200°F. Previous work cited shows general acceptance of the theory that reduction by carbon is a gaseous reaction, and that kind and character of carbon as well as particle size have measurable effect on the velocity of reaction. As will be shown, the data obtained in this study confirm those conclusions. The work was not designed to examine iron oxide reduction equilibrium, but if reaction velocity be defined as the speed with which "a reaction tends to approach conditions of equilibrium," the data here presented may be considered as a study of reaction rates, and the relative degree of reduction to metallic iron as the measure of reactivity. Three standardized combinations of Lake Superior brown iron ore with carbon were tested by similar procedures. One combination was a mechanical mixture of carefully sized high-temperature coke (1650°F) with the ore. The second was a mechanical mixture of the ore with Disco* obtained by carbonizing the identical coal at 950 °F. The third was an agglomerate prepared by carbonizing the coal and ore at 950°F, premixed in proportions to give as nearly as possible the same relative amounts of carbon and ore as the mechanical mixtures. This agglomerate, obtained by heating the finely divided ore (through 30 mesh) with coking coal through the plastic temperature range so as to form solid aggregates, gives a product in which the oxide particles are impregnated with, and intimately bound together with low-temperature coke. The agglomerate-—ore-Disco—was most active in oxide reduction; the mechanical mixtures of Disco and ore next in order, with coke the least reactive. General Discussion: Carbon exists in many forms and it is well known that the form or nature of the carbon used in reduction of oxides is related to the critical temperature of reduction. Sugar carbon, charcoal, and lampblack are forms of carbon that will reduce oxides at lower temperatures than high-temperature coke, and coke will, in turn, give a lower critical reduction temperature than graphite. There have been many investigations of this characteristic of carbons. Johnson' reported a difference of 130°F (70°C) in the critical reduction temperature of zinc oxide as between charcoal 1891 °F (1033°C) and Acheson graphite turnings 2021°F (1105°C) with zinc oxide. Bodenstein2 using charcoal and coke, found a difference of 138°F (77°C) comparing an experimental figure of 2066°F (1130°C) for coke and 1928°F (1053°C) for charcoal, in the reduction of zinc oxide. He concluded that this is very marked and observed that the "type of carbon merely raises or lowers the temperature at which rapid reaction takes place." Comparing the effectiveness of types of carbon in reduction of zinc oxide, it was found that a "brown coal coke" gave 97 pct zinc elimination at 1832°F (1000°C), as compared with 48 pct with "hard coal coke."' A wide range of metallic oxides was studied by Tammann and Sworykin,4 who found that the temperature at which decomposition of oxides begins depends on the nature of the carbon used. Carbon in the form of graphite, lampblack, and sugar carbon was investigated. Sugar charcoal will reduce Fe2O3 to Fe3O4 at 842°F (450°C) as compared with 1112°F (600°C) for coke, according to Meyer." Direct reduction of iron oxides by charcoal begins at 1382°F (750°C), but "first becomes intense" at 1652°F (900°C), whereas with coke, direct reduction begins at 1742°F (950°C), and "first becomes appreciable" at 2012°F (1100°C).6 he total reduction of the sample under certain conditions when heated in a current of CO with charcoal was about 100 pct for limonite and about 77 pct for magnetite. Using coke under the same conditions, the respective percentages were 75 and 47. In a study of processes for sponge iron7 by the Bureau of Mines, the conclusion was reached that a low-temperature char from noncoking subbituminous coal is the most satisfactory solid reducing agent. In a critical study of zinc smelting from a theoretical viewpoint Maier8 concluded that the reduction is by CO, that the reaction between ZnO and CO is intrinsically more rapid than the subsequent reduction of CO2 by C, which is limited by diffusion rates, which in part effectively limits the smelting process. Maier said that the operation is improved with the activity of the reducing carbon. An active carbon, he said, is one maintaining a low CO, content in the retort. Reactivity of Carbon: One form of carbon is more potent in reducing oxides than another. A carbon that reacts faster than another at a given temperature is said to be more reactive. Reactivity is measured by several methods, using carbon dioxide, air, or steam as reactants.9 ebastian and Mayers" have developed a method for the determination of absolute reaction rates between coke and oxygen by a study of ignition points under certain conditions. These and other investigators have established the relative reactivity of types of carbon. Lignite, charcoal, bituminous coal, cokes in the ascending order

Jan 1, 1951

By C. E. Lesher

THIS paper reports a study of the reactivity of 950°F and 1650°F cokes as measured by relative rates of reduction of iron oxides at temperatures up to 2200°F. Previous work cited shows general acceptance of the theory that reduction by carbon is a gaseous reaction, and that kind and character of carbon as well as particle size have measurable effect on the velocity of reaction. As will be shown, the data obtained in this study confirm those conclusions. The work was not designed to examine iron oxide reduction equilibrium, but if reaction velocity be defined as the speed with which "a reaction tends to approach conditions of equilibrium," the data here presented may be considered as a study of reaction rates, and the relative degree of reduction to metallic iron as the measure of reactivity. Three standardized combinations of Lake Superior brown iron ore with carbon were tested by similar procedures. One combination was a mechanical mixture of carefully sized high-temperature coke (1650°F) with the ore. The second was a mechanical mixture of the ore with Disco* obtained by carbonizing the identical coal at 950 °F. The third was an agglomerate prepared by carbonizing the coal and ore at 950°F, premixed in proportions to give as nearly as possible the same relative amounts of carbon and ore as the mechanical mixtures. This agglomerate, obtained by heating the finely divided ore (through 30 mesh) with coking coal through the plastic temperature range so as to form solid aggregates, gives a product in which the oxide particles are impregnated with, and intimately bound together with low-temperature coke. The agglomerate-—ore-Disco—was most active in oxide reduction; the mechanical mixtures of Disco and ore next in order, with coke the least reactive. General Discussion: Carbon exists in many forms and it is well known that the form or nature of the carbon used in reduction of oxides is related to the critical temperature of reduction. Sugar carbon, charcoal, and lampblack are forms of carbon that will reduce oxides at lower temperatures than high-temperature coke, and coke will, in turn, give a lower critical reduction temperature than graphite. There have been many investigations of this characteristic of carbons. Johnson' reported a difference of 130°F (70°C) in the critical reduction temperature of zinc oxide as between charcoal 1891 °F (1033°C) and Acheson graphite turnings 2021°F (1105°C) with zinc oxide. Bodenstein2 using charcoal and coke, found a difference of 138°F (77°C) comparing an experimental figure of 2066°F (1130°C) for coke and 1928°F (1053°C) for charcoal, in the reduction of zinc oxide. He concluded that this is very marked and observed that the "type of carbon merely raises or lowers the temperature at which rapid reaction takes place." Comparing the effectiveness of types of carbon in reduction of zinc oxide, it was found that a "brown coal coke" gave 97 pct zinc elimination at 1832°F (1000°C), as compared with 48 pct with "hard coal coke."' A wide range of metallic oxides was studied by Tammann and Sworykin,4 who found that the temperature at which decomposition of oxides begins depends on the nature of the carbon used. Carbon in the form of graphite, lampblack, and sugar carbon was investigated. Sugar charcoal will reduce Fe2O3 to Fe3O4 at 842°F (450°C) as compared with 1112°F (600°C) for coke, according to Meyer." Direct reduction of iron oxides by charcoal begins at 1382°F (750°C), but "first becomes intense" at 1652°F (900°C), whereas with coke, direct reduction begins at 1742°F (950°C), and "first becomes appreciable" at 2012°F (1100°C).6 he total reduction of the sample under certain conditions when heated in a current of CO with charcoal was about 100 pct for limonite and about 77 pct for magnetite. Using coke under the same conditions, the respective percentages were 75 and 47. In a study of processes for sponge iron7 by the Bureau of Mines, the conclusion was reached that a low-temperature char from noncoking subbituminous coal is the most satisfactory solid reducing agent. In a critical study of zinc smelting from a theoretical viewpoint Maier8 concluded that the reduction is by CO, that the reaction between ZnO and CO is intrinsically more rapid than the subsequent reduction of CO2 by C, which is limited by diffusion rates, which in part effectively limits the smelting process. Maier said that the operation is improved with the activity of the reducing carbon. An active carbon, he said, is one maintaining a low CO, content in the retort. Reactivity of Carbon: One form of carbon is more potent in reducing oxides than another. A carbon that reacts faster than another at a given temperature is said to be more reactive. Reactivity is measured by several methods, using carbon dioxide, air, or steam as reactants.9 ebastian and Mayers" have developed a method for the determination of absolute reaction rates between coke and oxygen by a study of ignition points under certain conditions. These and other investigators have established the relative reactivity of types of carbon. Lignite, charcoal, bituminous coal, cokes in the ascending order

Jan 1, 1951

By R Tom Watts

The blasting industry has changed more in the last five years than in any period to date. The equipment utilized to load boreholes has changed in response to more precise blasting products and programs, and the need to maintain tighter control over product formulations produced by bulk loading equipment. Tread Corporation has built over 1,300 heavy ANFO type bulk loading units currently operating in over 40 countries worldwide. These units have been designed to meet almost every possible loading scenario but there are always new situations that require special designs and configurations to meet the challenge. The focus of this presentation is to make you aware of the process that should be used to determine the equipment best suited for your application. We will discuss loading cycle times, delivery rates, multiple product mixing capability, capacities, manpower utilization, regulatory compliance, and where and when to use automation in the loading process. We will also discuss the suitability of chassis with regard to ground pressure, turning radius, terrain, weather conditions as well as highway suitability. The US Bridge Law as well as laws that cover the concept of axle loading and spacing will be covered. Through new computer aided design and modular design capabilities, you can now have almost any configuration required to meet your bulk loading objectives. We will also review the range of equipment currently available in the market place and discuss tradeoffs between price, capacity, and complexity.

Jan 1, 2000

By J. S. Edwards

The ISASMELT? process is recognized worldwide as a modem, flexible, environmentally-friendly and low capital cost smelting technology. Due to the inherent simplicity, and the advanced process control that has been developed, personnel become competent within weeks of being introduced to the ISASMELT? technology. This compares with the years required to become proficient with alternative technologies. Copper smelters in Australia, USA, India, China, Peru and Zambia have installed ISASMELT? technology under licence from Xstrata Technology. In the secondary copper business, plants in Belgium and Germany are processing copper and/or lead materials in ISASMELT? furnaces in a two stage process. In a single furnace smelting is followed by converting. Both plants have exceeded design capacities and are continuously improving their performance. The next evolutionary step for the technology is the implementation of the continuous copper converting process on a commercial scale. The present work describes the design status of the continuous converting process - ISACONVERT?.

Jan 1, 2007

By S. Sillitoe

In mining, as in other business and engineering enterprises, efficient operation depends upon how well and how quickly the lines of communication can function. Mines have used the telephone on and between levels for many years, but in the hoisting shaft maintenance of physical wire connections for communication with the moving cage or skip has been found, for all practical purposes, impossible. A most natural solution was, therefore, the code-bell or buzzer signal system between fixed levels, and this has been standard practice throughout the mining world for many years. However, this system has serious limitations which make it impossible to signal a cage between levels in the shaft, and it requires crude, hazardous or costly methods for signalling during daily shaft inspection. Radio signalling overcomes these difficulties, because the communication medium is never broken and the cage-tender or shaft inspector can safely signal to, and receive signals from, the hoistman at any time from any position in the shaft, whether stationary or in motion. In addition to both audible and visual code signalling, two-way telephone communication and slack cable alarm are facilities made possible in recent commercially developed equipment.

Jan 1, 1949

By Guray Kaya

Boron minerals are widely employed in various fields such as ceramic, glass, cement, metallurgy, etc. Although boron deposits of the world are limited, the production level of boron-based products is continuously increased. Turkiye possesses approximately 73 % of total world boron resources. Etibor Kirka Borax Company of Turkiye produces tincal concentrates and borax pentahydrates. During such productions considerable amounts of concentration and derivation wastes appear. Having considered the increased rate of production it is quite obvious that the level of relevant wastes will also be raised. With this study it was aimed to utilize these wastes in roof tile and brick bodies and to convert them into a form environmentally and human friendly. Newly produced products were undergone to several standard tests for the determination of their shrinkage, water absorption, strength values and coloring parameters. Additionally, micro structural studies were conducted.

Jan 1, 2006