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By H. C. Gunnings, C. O. Swanson

"The Sullivan mine; at Kimberley in southeastern British Columbia; is the largest silver-lead-zinc mine in the Empire and one of the largest in the world.The original discovery was made in 1892 by four prospectors. Until 1899, when the branch line of the Canadian Pacific railway from Cranbrook to Kimberley was completed, little work was done on the property. In 1900, systematic development was started, and during the next 3 years 5,000 tons of ore was shipped to the smelters at Nelson and Trail. By 1903, some 300,000 tons of ore was developed, and a smelter was started at Marysville, about 5 miles from the mine. However, this smelter closed down in 1907 because of metallurgical difficulties after treating 75,000 tons, and the property came under the control of the American Smelting and Refining Company. An option on the property was taken in 1909 by the Consolidated Mining and Smelting Company of Canada, who exercised their option in the following year. During the next 5 years by selective mining and sorting 188,000 tons of high-grade ore was produced and shipped to Trail. This tonnage came from the upper levels, about 4,600 to 4,800 feet in elevation. At the same time, deep drilling down to the 3,900-foot level showed the presence of an immense body of complex ore. In 1915, the main adit-the 3,900-foot level-was started, and by 1919 this had been driven a distance of 2 miles to develop the ore above this level. Meanwhile, progress was being made in overcoming the milling problems. An interesting account of this work was written by the staff ( 4). In 1923, the first unit of the present concentrator was erected, with a capacity of 2,500 tons a day, and thereafter the rate of production increased rapidly. In 1934 it was around 8,000 tons a day, and to date a total of about 30,000,000 tons of ore has been sent to the mill. In recent years, a considerable part of the production has come from levels between the 3,900-and 3,350-foot, which were opened by an internal incline shaft started in, 1930. In 1942, tin was added to the products separated at the concentrator."

Jan 1, 1954

By Lei Zhang, Shining Chen, Lina Wang, Pu Liu, Benquan Fu, Jiannyang Hwang

A PFS(polymeric ferric sulfate) coagulation-photocatalytic oxidation technology was used for advanced treatment of coking wastewater from secondary biological treatment. Effects of some key factors on TOC removal rate were investigated, and the results were compared with those of the common photocatalytic oxidation technology under the operating parameters of the photocatalytic oxidation defined. Single factor experimental results showed that TOC removal rate could reach 81%, when optimal operating conditions were as follows: TiO2 loading: 4.0g/L, irradiation time: 4h, initial pH is 5.1and PFS dosage:700mg/L. PFS coagulation and photocatalytic oxidation have synergistic effect, which is meaningful for highly efficient treatment of coking wastewater

Jan 1, 2015

By E. A. Rychkun

The transition from Larger word type computers to the small byte oriented micro-computers has allowed specialized software to be placed directly under the control of the people requiring solutions. In addition, with the advent of interactive graphics, many complex geological and mining engineering problems can be solved graphically, thereby further forcing obsolescence on larger computers. Although the industry has not yet caught on or taken full advantage of this fact, some companies have begun to move in this direction. One such case is the Coal Evaluation System presently in use at Manalta Coal Ltd. in Calgary, Alberta. This system, designed to allow interactive analysis of simple to complex coal deposits, leads one from geophysical/core log data, to geological modelling, strip or open pit design, equipment selection, cost estimation, and cash flow analysis. The micro-computer system used is portable, stands alone, and costs less than $120,000. It is the purpose of this paper to present the coal evaluation system and its development methodology which maximizes the use of the newest computer technology. Further, in order to illustrate the practical application of the system, an example application based upon a large operating coal mine will be discussed.

Jan 1, 1983

By Bruce Regensburg

As trucks become larger and larger, haul roads take on a more significant role in mining costs and economics. The School of Mining at the University of Alberta has compiled a design manual for haul roads using both empirical and theoretical information. One section of this manual deals with the economics of haul road construction. While many mines look only at the construction costs of haul roads, this paper looks at all associated parameters including construction costs, removal costs, timing, truck productivity and width implications. The authors demonstrate the method to determine the most appropriate quality of road for different road conditions and life spans.

May 1, 2001

By Claudia Monreal L., Dafne Herreros

"The Geological Modeling is the undisputed point of split of any type of mining method, the effect that the vision and experience of the geologists is propagated trough the development of the project and is an important part of the final success. The collection of information is taken in stages. In earlier stages uses the greater part of the budget and the strategy to store and manage this data collection, as its performing will define the destiny of the deposit and of the business. With this background the geology and its modeling receive great attention from the industry and care providers being a fertile field in research and innovation. "

Sep 1, 2017

By Robert W. Freedman

As part of a continuing effort to reduce the weight and bulk of equipment that mining personnel must carry underground, the Bureau of Mines and the Mining Enforcement and Safety Administration (MESA) investigated accurate and convenient gas samplers for use by mine inspectors in sampling mine atmospheres. The samplers are septum-stoppered glass vials commonly used for routine blood sampling. These lightweight, compact samplers yield results comparable with those obtained with conventional bottle samplers of 250-ml nominal capacity.

Jan 1, 1975

By R. W. Shoenberger, J. D. Clendenin, W. L. McMorris, N. Schapiro, B. R. Kuchta, A. A. Terchick, R. J. Gray, J. G. Price

INTRODUCTION * The United States is fortunate in having enormous reserves of metallurgical-grade coals. Although these coals are better in quality and more accessible than most coals found throughout the rest of the world, the best grades of these coals are being depleted. Consequently, more efficient exploration tools and techniques, such as advanced methods of core drilling and logging, correlation by palynology,** stratigraphy, paleontology and petrography are being used to help assess the extent and quality of the remaining coal reserves. Exploration and assessment of new and existing coal properties become of utmost importance in determining (1) the economic justification for mining the coal, (2) the optimum design of the preparation plant and (3) the most effective use of the coal. Fortunately, the cost of mining coal has remained stable because of better mine planning, more efficient operations and increased mechanization of mining operations. However, increased mechanization raises the amount of impurities in the coal mined, and this requires more and better coal beneficiation to meet the more stringent quality requirements set by the market. Besides, mechanical miners also produce relatively fine coal and, to ensure maximum liberation of impurities, much of the coal presently being used must be crushed to a finer size prior to preparation. The bulk of all coals presently used in this country is mechanically cleaned, much of it at a lower specific gravity than in the past. This necessitates the use of new and improved processes and equipment for coal washing and recovery, such as heavy-medium cyclones and vessels, and froth flotation cells. However, because wet-cleaning processes are pre- dominant in the United States and fine coal retains large amounts of moisture, the increased production of cleaned fine coal accentuates the need for new or improved methods and equipment for dewatering and drying this coal. The larger amounts of coal being beneficiated and the use of new and improved beneficiation processes will aid in controlling and ultimately eliminating sources of pollution. Modem coal markets demand coals that meet rigid specifications. Most coals are purchased under contracts that specify moisture, ash, and sulfur contents, or heating value, depending upon the end use. There has also been a growing trend toward specifying other properties, including particle size and coking capability. These specifications may include not only the * Editor's note: Because of the numerous and varied contributions of the associate authors of this chapter, the text does not differentiate between sections prepared by each individual as has been done in other chapters. ** Palynology is the study of plant microfossils, especially spores, pollen, and other types of fossils not usually studied by paleontologists.

Jan 1, 1968

By H. R. Shell

Fluorphlogopite mica was synthesized from inexpensive and abundant olivine, clay, feldspar, and sand (plus K2SiF6). The raw materials were melted in crucibles and in an internal resistance electric furnace. The melts yielded >95 percent mica. The major difficulty encountered was incomplete settling of the highly dispersed ferroalloy. This problem was not completely solved. Reducing agents tried in melts of 300 to 400 pounds were carbon, silicon, and silicon carbide. Carbon slowly reduced the iron of the raw materials, with much fuming. Silicon apparently was oxidized ahead of the melting and was ineffective under the conditions obtained. By far the best reducing agent was silicon carbide. With silicon carbide, fuming did not occur and ionic iron content of the mica flake approached 0 percent. However, even with SiC, the highly dispersed globular iron did not completely separate from the mica portion. The fluorphlogopite made during this investigation should be suitable for metallurgical use. A byproduct ferroalloy containing about 5 percent nickel, 3 to 5 percent chromium, and some cobalt was obtained. Because of the highly dispersed metallic ferroalloy, the mica was not deemed suitable for electrical or electronic uses.

Jan 1, 1962

By Leonard Obert

This report presents evidence indicating that when rock is stress-relieved during the course of mining or in drilling a core, it may be altered or damaged to the extent that the physical properties of the relieved specimen are not the same as those of the in situ rock. Furthermore, this type of damage may result from stress change other than that accompanying stress relief, such as the application of a relatively large compressive stress. In some instances the damage is microscopic, manifesting itself as incipient cracks or the failure of individual crystal bonds. However, if the sample is taken from a high-stress area, macroscopic damage may occur.

Jan 1, 1962

By S. D. Zhang

The first reinforced earth railway bridge abutment in China has been successfully constructed of September, 1985 under the supervision of the Reinforced Earth Researth Group of Shanghai Institute of Railway Technology. In order to verify the reliability of the designed structure and its behaviuors, the 1:10 reduced scale model tests in laboratory and field tests on the actual structure during construction were proceeded. Various loads of different positions were charged, the vertical and lateral earth pressure in the filling soil, the stresses developed in the reinforcements, and the deformations of the models or the actual structure were recorded in those tests. The behaviors recorded are presented and discussed in this paper.

Jan 1, 2010

By Carlos Eduardo dos Santos, Geraldo Lúcio de Faria, Sidney Nicodemos da Silva, Rogério Felício dos Santos, Darlan Vale Bayão, Emiliana Cristina Marques Arthuso, Ivete Peixoto Pinheiro

Os aços inoxidáveis duplex (AIDs) são ligas metálicas que possuem uma microestrutura bifásica constituída por frações volumétricas aproximadas de ferrita () e austenita (). Esta microestrutura proporciona ao material uma combinação atrativa de propriedades mecânicas e de resistência à corrosão. O desbalanço das frações volumétricas destas fases pode ocorrer quando os AIDs são expostos a temperaturas elevadas, seja durante os processos de produção, soldagem ou até mesmo em condições de serviço e podem provocar alterações indesejadas nas propriedades da liga. Nesse contexto, a utilização de metodologias eficientes que permitam avaliar quantitativamente as frações dessas fases em AIDs é de grande relevância. Diante disso, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar e comparar os resultados da aplicação das técnicas de estereologia quantitativa e ferritoscopia para quantificar as frações de  em amostras de um aço duplex UNS S31803 (2205) submetidas a um tratamento térmico de solubilização a 1050°C e diferentes intervalos de tempo de envelhecimento a 850°C. Concluiu-se que o ferritoscópio subestima os valores da fração de , quando comparado com a estereologia quantitativa. Parâmetros como textura, distorções na rede cristalina, geometria da amostra e padrões de calibração exercem influência em sua medição. Sendo assim, a estereologia quantitativa mostrou-se como a técnica mais adequada para a quantificação de fases nos AIDs.

Oct 15, 2019

By P. R. Scheller

Reactions between metal and slag are of decisive importance for metallurgical processing. In the continuous casting process, where metal solidifies at the metal-slag interface, reaction products can cause surface defects, with quality damages of the cast products as a consequence. These investigations are focused on the contact area between casting flux and metal. The samples were taken from the mould during the casting process. The results show that layers up to approximately 300 nm from the slag/metal interface represent a specific reaction space. Sodium in this layer on the slag side plays a specific role, which is explained on the basis of experimental results. The transport of oxygen near the interface and the charge transfer is explained on the basis of the ionic character of the slag. The mass transfer rate of oxygen crossing the interface is calculated from measured data, and conclusions concerning the stability of the interfacial tension are made. Keywords: mass exchange, metal slag reaction, interface, ion transport, oxygen transfer, oxidation, casting slag, flux, sodium

Jan 1, 2004

By George S. Rice

GROUND movement from mining, whether it be for coal, metal, industrial minerals, or .oil, will always present many difficult problems. These are especially serious when valuable surface improvements may be badly damaged. The mine itself, if mining methods are not suitable to the formation, is subject to heavy falls of the main roof in the working places; and with certain structural conditions the movements may cause in coal mines disastrous bumps and outbursts of gas, and in deep metal mines rock bursts. In open-cut work rock and earth slides may result. Absolute prevention of ground movement from mining is impossible unless large pillars are left unmined,

Jan 1, 1937

By Robley D. Evans, Gerald L. Schroeder

Advanced techniques for control of radon (Rn) daughter product concenrrations (working levels, WL) in the uranium mines are discussed. Understanding the physical laws which govern the flux of radon into a mine, the growth and decay of the radon daughters, and the particulate nature of the daughters when suspended in air allows ventilation personnel to improve the quality of mine air with no increase in ventilation rate. The task of controlling, in a mine atmosphere, the short-lived nuclides produced in the decay chain of radon is a unique problem and as such should be approached with ventilation techniques specific to the problem. For most mines this has not been the case. Rather, procedures for removing these airborne radioactive nuclides have been borrowed directly from ventilation experience in mines where dilution ventilation was the traditionally accepted approach for air purification. With radon daughter products, this has often led to frustrating difficulties and expense. Primary origin of the airborne radioactivity is the a-ray-emitting noble gas, radon (222Rn, Rn), a nuclide formed by the decay of radium (226Ra, Ra). Radon, being a gas, may escape from its parent crystal and diffuse through the parent mineral into the interstices of the rock body. In a sandstone structure, about 20% of all the radon formed may find its way into the interstices of the rock. If a cavity such as a mine is nearby, the radon may diffuse through the rock interstices into the mine. While radium is usually highly concentrated in uranium ores, it is also found in varying concentrations in all minerals. Radon is therefore present in all minerals. In normal glacial till, the equilibrium interstitial radon concentration often equals 5000 pCi (picocurie, also uuCi) Rn per liter of pore volume.' In normal granitic rocks, the interstitial radon concentration often approaches 30,000 pCi per 1. Considering these typical, high-radon concentrations, radioactivity from airborne of daughter products is a potential problem unique not only to the uranium mining industry and should be considered as a potential hazard in all underground environments.

Jan 1, 1970

By John Gordon

Rare earth elements (REE) required in modern technological products are found in shale rocks above and below coal seams. Often during the process of mining coal, shale rock adjacent to the seam inadvertently is removed then diverted to landfill sites. Ecologically sound and potentially economic methods of extracting the REEs from these landfills are proposed. Methods include utilizing geomemembrane barrier beneath the landfill site, ion exchanging with moderate pH, slightly acidic, sodium chloride solutions. Sodium hydroxide is utilized to precipitate the REE-hydroxides subsequently converted to REE-chlorides with suitable amount of hydrochloric acid. All acid and base streams are co-produced with efficient membrane/electrolysis technology. Concentrated-REE chlorides are transported tocentralized solventextraction facilities for isolation and purification. Solvent extraction processes also employ the methodology of using co-produced acid/base streams. This paper details minimization of environmental impacts and maximizing economics to produce valuable REEs while increasing the economics of coal mining.

Mar 1, 2018

By S. Banisi, J. Marois, A. R. Laplante

"This paper compares the behaviour of gold and ore in the grinding circuit of Hemlo Mines Ltd. Particular attention is given to grinding kinetics, classification behaviour, and liberation. For grinding kinetics, laboratory grinding of gold flakes and silica, 840 µm to 1200 µm in size (14/20 mesh), was also performed to provide a standard for comparison and to study in a controlled environment the mechanisms of breakage, folding , smearing and impacting.Grinding kinetics were characterized at laboratory scale with breakage and selection functions. The breakage function showed that 75% of gold disappearing from the 840 µm to 1200 µm class reported to the 600 µm to 840 µm; this figure is much higher than for silica (46%) or most other minerals, and implies that comparatively fewer fine fragments are produced from the breakage of gold flakes, on account of gold's malleability. The selection function of silica was four times that of gold. At plant scale, the ratio of the selection function of ore and gold increased from 6 for at 50 urn to JOO pm to 20 at 500 um to 1000µm.Observation of original flakes and their fragments with the scanning electron microscope showed that the main mechanism of ""grinding"" from the 840 µm to 1200 µm to the 600 µm to 840 µm class was folding rather than actual breakage. This was confirmed by a measure of individual flake weight. The postulated breakage cycle is that relatively globular flakes become increasingly serrated through grinding; they can then regain their original shape through folding and reflattening into cylindrical and spherical shapes, as the majority does; however, some fragments will at this point undergo actual breakage. Photograhic evidence is presented to support the proposed mechanisms.Smearing of gold unto silica was observed when silica was ground after a gold, and embedding of silica into gold flakes when gold was ground after a silica. Both mechanisms occur whenever gold and harder minerals are jointly ground, and result in ""unliberation"" of gold. It is postulated that smearing of gold onto other minerals plays an important role in explaining how gravity recovery can increase over-all gold metallurgy, especially when used ahead of flotation.Classification of gold in the primary hydro cyclones takes place at a much finer cut-size than ore, 20 µm vs 57 µm. This and the slower grinding kinetics result in high gold circulating loads in the primary loop, 6700%, and a gold content in the primary cyclone underflow (PCUF) is twenty-four times that of the ore. The gold size distribution for primary cyclone overflow is much finer than that of the ore, although they are essentially similar in the PCUF.Liberation, or more accurately ""gravity recoverability"", was assessed with a 7.5 cm (3 in.) Knelson concentrator. It varied between the thirties for the primary mill discharge and two cyclone overflows, to highs of 89% and 92% for the PCUF and secondary mill discharge."

Jan 1, 1991

By J. Y. Kim

Lead ions originating from galena during processing of complex sulphide ores migrate to "cover" the surface of sphalerite and iron sulphide mineral particles, and cause poor selectivity in differential flotation. Generally in sulphide ore processing, the lead-activated minerals float in the Cu/Pb rougher circuit. Subsequently, surface lead complicates the zinc flotation circuit by lowering the concentrate grade due to the co-flotation of lead-activated iron sulphide minerals. The effect of lead in the differential flotation of sphalerite from Cu-Pb-Zn and Pb-Zn ores is discussed. Plant and laboratory test data are interpreted by determining the surface composition of individual grains of sphalerite and iron sulphide particles using two surface analytical techniques, Laser Ionization Mass Spectrometer (LIMS) and Time of Flight-Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometer (TOF-SIMS). Cationic and anionic species on the surface were analyzed to elucidate the phenomena.

Jan 1, 1995

By G. R. Lane, A. Vermeulen, S. van de Venter, S. Bhoowanpursadh

Over the past two years Anglo Platinum made use of the specialist skills of Cyest Corporation to develop a Mine Optimization Tool (MOT) to enhance the current suite of in house mine planning tools and processes. The application was built in a multidimensional modelling environment developed by Cyest called CarbonL. This has allowed complex modelling that is transparent to the business users and therefore is not prone to the ?black box? approach that generally exists with these types of complex tools. The purpose of the MOT is to have an integrated software tool that can schedule production activities by half level for a shaft complex, while at the same time integrating the economics concomitant with that schedule. The tool allows the user to configure all activities relevant to the selected mining method, define the mine design parameters and geological parameters, define scheduling rules and then schedule all activities. This allows the user to test various production strategies and schedules very quickly and easily in terms of shaft value, costs and revenue profiles, labour complement and production ramp up so as to determine the option that best fits the overall strategy. This allows assessments of multiple scenarios in a relatively short period of time, after which only the best option is taken forward for graphic design and scheduling. This paper discusses briefly the rationale behind the Mine Optimisation Tool and the underlying workings of the modules that comprise the tool. It also covers the life cycle of this tool from the original prototype through to the final Mine Optimisation Tool software and discusses the positioning of the final tool.

Jan 1, 2007

By Ernest V. Deshayes

The Colorado Minerals Co. calcite properties in Archuleta and Hinsdale Counties, Colo., (fig. 1) were examined by Bureau of Mines engineers in 1943. The demand for optical calcite during the war prompted the examinations and resulting development programs on the Meadows and Seavy ranch properties near Pagosa Springs, Archuleta County. Development was begun on the Meadows property in November 1943 and continued to the Seavy ranch property. The work consisted of stripping the overburden from the calcite areas and excavating pits and trenches with a bulldozer. The pits and trenches exposing the most promising calcite veins were then deepened by hand, and one shaft was sunk to a depth of 30 feet. A total of 36 trenches and 9 pits were excavated by bulldozer and. hand methods (figs. 2, 3, and 4). The calcite deposits occur as veins and irregular bodies filling fractures in the Mancos shale of Cretaceous age. The fractures persist for considerable distances along the strike, although the calcite filling may not be continuous for more than a few feet. The widths of individual veins range from a few inches to several feet. The calcite crystals uncovered at the surface and in pits, trenches, and shafts were found to be unsuitable for optical purposes because of fracturing and color in the crystals.

Jan 1, 1949

By M. D. Banus, M. B. Bever, A. K. Jena

Measurements of the heat effects on addition of various solid phases of InSb to a solution calorimeter have confirmed the existence of a new high-pressure plzase InSbQII), which was jormed at 37 kbar and 623°K. The heats of formation of InSbQ), InSbfl), and InSb(111) have been measured and the heats of transjormation of InSb(1) to InSb(1l) and InSb(Iii) and of 'InSb(ll) to InSb(iiI) at atmospheric pressure and 78°K have been determined independently. Other thermodynamic properties of these phases, the phase boundary InSb(i)/InSb(ll), and the relative positions of the triple points are calculated. The pressure-Dolume term is shown to be more critical than the internal energy difference in making the phase InSbQ) less stable than InSb(II) at high pressures. Observations on partially transformed specimens suggest that the transformation of' metastable InSb (III) takes place in the two steps InSb(lll) — InSbQI) and InSbQI) — InSb(l). The compound InSb can exist as several phases depending on the temperature and pressure. The phase InSb(I), which is a semiconductor having the zinc-blende structure, transforms into the phase InSb(11) at a pressure of about 23 kbar and room temperature.'-3 The phase InSb(II) has the 6 tin structure,4-6 is metallic, and becomes a superconductor below 2.lok7 An orthorhombic phase of InSb has been reported to occur above a pressure of approximately 30 kbar at room temperature.' This phase is also a superconductor below about 3.4k9 The phase InSb(I1) is retained at atmospheric pressure if it is quenched to 78°K under pressure,6,7 but tends to transform at higher temperatures and does so explosively above approximately 210ok,7 A value of the heat of transformation of InSb(1) to InSb(II) at 210°K and atmospheric pressure has been reported.' A concurrent publication'0 reports evidence for a new solid phase InSb(III), which was formed by annealing InSb above 58 1°K at 37 kbar, above 560°K at 52 kbar, and above 473°K at 65 kbar. Specimens of InSb(II1) had a superconducting transition temperature of 4.lo ± 0.1oK. X-ray diffraction patterns also indicated the presence of a new phase. In this communication, thermodynamic properties of the phases InSb(I), InSb(II), and InSb(II1) are reported and discussed. The phase boundary InSb(I)/InSb(II) and the relative positions of the triple points are calculated. 1) EXPERIMENTAL 1.1) Preparation of Specimens. Specimens of the high-pressure phases of InSb were prepared in a belt-type high-pressure chamber by a tichnique described in detail elsewhere.'' Charges of 0.6 to 0.8 g of Cominco semiconductor grade InSb were used. The temperatures were measured with a chromel-alumel thermocouple, the hot junction of which was within 0.5 mm of the specimen. The specimens were heated under a pressure of 37 kbar for 1 hr at 723°K (which is well above the liquidus) and quenched to room temperature. One set was annealed at 523°K and another set at 623°K for 20 to 24 hr. These annealing temperatures were chosen because 523°K was below and 623°K was above the temperature of the transformation of InSb(II) to InSb(1Tl) at 37 kbar.10 The specimens were then cooled to 125°K by passing liquid nitrogen through the jacket of the belt die before the

Jan 1, 1968