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By V. M. Karve, K. K. Majundar, K. V. Viswanathan, J. Y. Somnay

The effect of calcium, magnesium, iron (both ferrous and ferric) and aluminum ions, which are commonly encountered in a typical beryl ore, was studied in the flotation of pure beryl, soda-feldspar and quartz. The vacuumatic flotation technique was employed. With sodium oleate as collector and in the absence of any activator, beryl floated in a pH range of 3 to 7.5, whereas feldspar and quartz did not float at any pH up to 11.5. The pH range of flotation increased in the presence of the ions studied. With calcium and magnesium ions beryl floated from 3 to 11.5 pH and beyond, soda-feldspar floated beyond pH 6 and quartz floated beyond pH 8. Ferrous ion activation was found to be similar to that of calcium and magnesium. Activation by ferric and aluminium ions was found to be complex and the lower and upper critical pH for all the three minerals was around 2 and 10 respectively. These studies indicated the possibility of separation of beryl from feldspar and quartz even in the presence of calcium, magnesium and ferrous ions between pH 4 and 6. Flotation tests on a mixed feed of pure minerals in a 10 g cell revealed that beryl can be selectively floated from feldspar and quartz if ferric ion is reduced to ferrous state or if it is complexed. Beryl occurs mostly in pegmatites, and hence is associated with feldspar, quartz and micas and small amounts of other minerals such as apatite and tourmaline. The separation of beryl from these minerals is difficult because all the silicates accompanying beryl have more or less the same physical properties. Specific gravities of beryl, feldspar and quartz are 2.70, 2.56 and 2.66 respectively. Electrostatic separation has been suggested but no work has been reported. ' The adsorption of sodium tri-decylate tagged with Cl4 on beryl, feldspar and quartz reveal similarity in surface properties. Much work has been reported on the flotation of beryl from ores, either directly or indirectly as a by-product, but little is known about the fundamental aspects of beryl flotation. Kennedy and O'Meara3 laid emphasis on prior cleaning of the mineral surfaces with HF. Mica is removed first by flotation of beryl with oleic acid, around neutral pH. Runke4 introduced calcium hypochlorite conditioning in a final separation stage for activating beryl in a mixed beryl-feldspar concentrate, and after washing to remove the hypochlorite, floated beryl with petroleum sulphonate. The Snedden and Gibbs5 procedure is somewhat similar to that of Kennedy and O'Meara. Emulsified oleic acid is used as collector. Recently Fuerstenau and Bhappu6 studied the flotation of beryl, feldspar and quartz with petroleum sulfonate in the presence of activators and stressed the importance of iron in the flotation of beryl. From the studies conducted in this laboratory, it was found that feldspar and quartz as such do not float with sodium oleate, but in practice selective flotation of beryl from feldspar and quartz in an ore is found to be impossible with sodium oleate as collector. A glance at the chemical analysis of typical beryl ore indicates the presence of several ions like Ca ++, Mg++, Al + + + and Fe+++ in abundance and Ti++++ and Mn++ in traces. Hence, in an attempt to explain the behaviour of feldspar in the beryl flotation, the effect of Ca++, Mg++, Al+++ and Fe+++, which are known as gangue mineral activators7'8 has been investigated. Materials and Methods: Lumps of beryl ore (hand picked) were boiled with 10% sodium hydroxide and washed with distilled water. They were further boiled many times with 10% hydrochloric acid till no positive test for iron was obtained with ammonium thio cyanate. This was followed by thorough flushing with double distilled water. The lumps were crushed in a porcelain mortar and pestle under water. The minus 65 + 100 mesh fraction was used for testing and was always stored under distilled water. Pure feldspar and quartz were similarly prepared and the minus 65 + 100 mesh fractions collected. Inorganic ions tried as activators were ca++, Mg++ , Fe++, Fe ++ and A1 +++ . Calcium nitrate, magnesium chloride, ferrous ammonium sulfate, ferric ammonium sulfate and aluminum nitrate of G.R.E. Merck grade were used. B.D.H. technical grade sodium oleate was used as a collector. The vacuumatic flotation technique developed by Schuhmann and Prakash was used for studying the effect of pH on flotability. 7 The indications given by this work were confirmed by using 10 g miniature cell.'

Jan 1, 1965

By L Cain, C Every, S Mirlatifi, J Ashley

This paper presents a geographic information system (GIS) based method for the prediction of ground movement and the associated impact on existing buildings and structures due to tunnelling in the North West Rail Link (NWRL) project. The NWRL is a priority rail infrastructure project for the New South Wales (NSW) Government and includes 15 km of twin tunnels between Bella Vista and Epping, which will be Australia’s longest rail tunnels. The NWRL tunnels will be constructed in an urban environment where the prediction of ground movements induced by tunnelling and the associated impacts to existing structures must be assessed in the early design stages of the project. An assessment process was developed using GIS able to respond to design changes.An iterative GIS analysis methodology was developed to generate ground settlement contours and identify impacted buildings and structures in response to multiple changes in tunnel alignment during design development stages. The GIS analysis undertook to rapidly provide detailed and accurate parameter information including tunnel depth from surface, tunnel separation, diameter and sample point proximity to the tunnel and assess ground movement contours along the project alignment. Determination of the ground surface settlements were based on empirical methods proposed by Peck (1969) and Mair (1993). The control parameters and the relationship between damage categories and risk classifications for impact assessment were based on Burland, Broms and de Mello (1977), Rankin (1988) and Boscardin and Cording (1989) methods.The GIS-based ground movement impact assessment approach adopted for the NWRL project demonstrates an efficient, iterative and robust approach and could provide an initial framework for other similar tunnelling projects where rapid design changes and early understanding of tunnelling impacts are required to bring greatest benefit to all stakeholders.CITATION:Mirlatifi, S, Cain, L, Ashley, J and Every, C, 2014. An iterative geographic information system based approach for the assessment of tunnelling impact to existing buildings and structures, in Proceedings 15th Australasian Tunnelling Conference 2014 , pp 647–652 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Sep 17, 2014

By A. R. MacPherson

The procedure to arrive at an energy efficient autogenous grinding plant is carried out in the following steps: First Step - Determine power requirements to grind a particular ore. This work carried out on small samples ground in a 450 mm diameter Aerofall Hill and the results are checked against a standard Bond Index test. Second Step - A bulk sample from the ore zone is ground in a 1.8 m diameter pilot mill. This work is carried on until the power objectives as indicated from the first step have been realized. Third Step - Correlate the pilot mill data, with the data from the numerous samples ground in the small 450 mm mill and arrive at design criteria for the commercial plant. Ensure commercial mill design will be suitable to obtain similar results as those obtained in the pilot mill.

Jan 1, 1981

By F. E. Chase

Mobile roof supports are shield-type support units mounted on crawler tracks. Mobile roof support (MRS) units are used during retreat mining, and they eliminate the setting of roadway, turn, and crosscut breaker posts which are required during pillar recovery operations. Mobiles are a more effective ground support than timbers, and their usage enhance the safety of section personnel and reduces material handling injuries. MRS usage is rapidly increasing, and approximately 40 U.S. coal mines have successfully employed this relatively new technology. This paper is in response to increasing requests from operators, State and Federal Regulatory Agencies, and others on the practical aspects of MRS usage in underground coal mines. During this investigation, nearly half of the U.S. mines which have utilized mobiles were visited. This report depicts the more common pillar extraction methods which operators have found successful. The Christmas tree and outside lift methods are illustrated and discussed. Roof control plans that do not require breaker posts or allow pillar extraction with fewer than four mobiles are also examined. In addition, operators' experiences with setting pressures, loads, and rates of loading during pillar extraction are addressed. Mining and support strategies to more effectively control hillseams, weak roof, and gob overrides which have entrapped equipment are also discussed.

Jan 1, 1996

By Eder Villarreal, Jorge Chira, César Vilca

Este presente trabajo tiene como objetivo mostrar que el Instituto Geológico Minero y Metalúrgico, ha tenido un papel muy importante en el descubrimiento de yacimientos minerales. Referirnos a estos descubrimientos es remontarnos a las décadas de los 60, 70 y 80; en ese entonces, el Servicio Geológico del Perú (ahora INGEMMET) realizó una serie de convenios internacionales con los gobiernos de Japón, Francia, Alemania e Inglaterra, para estudiar Áreas de No Admisión de Denuncios

May 1, 2008

By David Mitchell

MANY of the difficult operating problems of the preparation of coal for market, of sampling coal shipments and in the utilization of coal are caused by segregation in the coal mass. Segregation may be of two kinds: i.e., "size segregation," in which parti- cles of the same size in a mass of coal containing a range of sizes collect to-gether and "density segregation," in which particles of the same density or specific gravity in a mass of particles of varying density gather together. MECHANICS OF SEGREGATION Size segregation cannot take place with closely sized coal. As the size range increases, the tendency for size segregation increases. Similarly, cleaned coal with particles of approxi- mately the same specific gravity have very little tendency for density segrega- tion. The wider the density range of particles and the more particles of different density, the greater the chances are for density segregation. FIG. 1.-SEGREGATION IN A SIDE-FILLED The following discussion deals primarily BIN with coal of a wide size range as screenings and of wide density differ-ences as uncleaned or run-of-mine screenings. If a mass of coal containing particles of a wide size range is subject to the stream action of a moving current of water, the small particles are transported farther than the coarser. Particles of different density in a stream of moving water are subject to the laws of classification, the heavier settling out first. The familiar sluice box of the gold miner and the action of rivers and other streams in classifying material according to

Jan 1, 1937

By K. H. Singh, J. N. Szuck, J. A. Riddell

"Hydraulic rock drilling equipment has been in use at Falconbridge over the past two years in both production and development situations. This paper deals with the experience gained in the application of hydraulic drilling in the company's mines and discusses the benefits and problems encountered during their use. The paper primarily focuses on technical, operating, maintenance and economic aspects of the machines, and does not attempt to compare the performances of different machines from the various manufacturers.IntroductionThe Sudbury Operations of Falconbridge Nickel Mines Limited are comprised of five operating mines and two mines under development. All the production comes from underground mines, mostly at depths below 1000 metres. The company, faced with increases in operating costs and difficult mining conditions, has continued to seek solutions with the help of new mining technology.The development of electric-hydraulic drilling machines in Europe had been pursued with great interest and, in 1979, a decision was made to test these machines to prove their technical and economic viability under operating conditions. Since then, a number of electric-hydraulic machines have been evaluated in different situations and currently nine hydraulic machines are being used in the company's various mines. These machines are comprised of two-boom drilling jumbos for development, one-boom machines for longhole drilling and a large-hole-diameter drilling rig for blasthole drilling. One hydraulic jumbo has also been used in a cut-and-fill stope."

Jan 1, 1982

By C. E. Beecher

The application of gas or air under pressure to obtain more oil from a sand which has been practically exhausted by ordinary production methods has been practiced to a limited extent for many years. Until recently such methods were confined to the Eastern fields, principally those of Ohio and West Virginia, where in many cases the production obtained after applying pressure for a few years was nearly equal to the total production prior to that time which had been obtained by the usual production methods. As early as 1917, J. 0. LewisL called attention to this method of increasing the recovery of oil and cited the phenomenal results obtained by H. E. Smith, I. L. Dunn and 0. C. Dunn, who pioneered the application of air or gas pressure recovery methods. With this information available it would appear that other oil-producing sections of the country have been extremely slow to realize the advantages of repressuring. However, after a few successful projects in the Mid-Continent area, the oil producers appreciated t' e value of this method for obtaining further and profitable production from their practically exhausted leases and are now making extensive use of it. In general, it has been the practice to apply pressure to the sands when production has declined to a small yield per well. The purpose of this paper is to discuss some of the advantages which may be expected from returning gas under pressure to the oil sands during the early stages of development, before the rock pressure has been dissipated and the gas exhausted, and to stimulate discussion of this subject on which comparatively little actual field data are available. The Function of Gas Gas associated with or dissolved in the oil is the source of energy causing movement of the oil to the well. When this energy is dissipated production ceases. The exception to this general statement is found in fields where hydrostatic water pressure may supply energy after the gas

Jan 1, 1929

The BLEG (Bulk Leach Extractable Gold) technique is a semiquantitative measure of cyanide extractable gold contained in a sample. A 5kg sample is leached in cyanide solution for 24 hours and gold is precipitated out of the pregnant solution using zinc and assayed by AAS. The detection limit is reported as ppb (parts per billion). Telfer is located 1300km north north-east from Perth in the Great Sandy Desert. The climate is one of hot summers with irregular rainfall and mild winters. A large portion of the area is covered by aeolian sand and seif dunes with poorly developed drainage, rare outcrop; topographic relief is a maximum of 96m. Poor outcrop and poorly developed drainage render conventional stream sediment sampling and soil geochemistry inadequate. Therefore a technique providing a minimum number of samples with maximum accuracy and sensitivity was needed. Consequently BLEG orientation surveys were conducted over the Telfer Mine area in 1983, 1984 and 1985.

Jan 1, 1988

The Mississippi river was discovered by French explorers that came southwestward, by way of the Great Lakes, from eastern Canada. Vignan, Joliet, De Champlain, and others of the French pioneers in the first half of the seventeenth century, dreamed of a short cut to China by means of the great waterways they explored. In a geographical book published in London in 1726 by Daniel Coxe an account is given of "a new and curious discovery and relation betwixt the river Meschachebe [Mississippi] and the South Sea, which separates America from China, by means of several large rivers and lakes". Louis Joliet, a fur-trader, and Jacques Marquette, a Jesuit missionary, reached the Mississippi and paddled their canoes on its broad waters on June 17, 1673.* They descended the river as far as the entry of the Arkansas tributary, and then returned overland to Canada, being deterred from going farther south by reason of Indian hostility. Several years later Robert de La Salle, a French trader, starting from Quebec, went westward to Lake Michigan and thence to the Illinois river, which he and his comrades descended in their canoes to the junction with the Mississippi, and then followed it to the sea. They reached the Gulf of Mexico on April 9, 1682. Thus the great central waterway of North America was made known. These French-Canadian voyageurs, or boatmen, traded with the Indians for furs in the Upper Mississippi valley, and when in need of bullets they noticed the outcrops of lead ore, from which, probably in the last decade of the seventeenth

Jan 1, 1932

By Alexandre Bellegard Farina

O sistema MgO-NiO é um dos importantes sistemas para o entendimento das reações metal-escória na elaboração das ligas de à base níquel. As ligas à base de níquel usualmente apresentam adições de magnésio com o intuito de melhoria da plasticidade destas o que permite o seu processamento através de processos de conformação mecânica. Neste trabalho foi realizada a modelagem termodinâmica deste sistema utilizando o modelo de células de Kapoor-Frohberg-Gaye e o módulo PARROT® do pacote Thermo-Calc® com objetivo de complementar o banco de dados SLAG®. Como resultado foi obtido um conjunto de parâmetros termodinâmicos que descrevem as fases deste sistema.

Aug 17, 2017

In this study, the flotation performances of ethoxycarbonyl thionocarbamate (ECTC), dialkyl thionocarbamate (DATC) and xanthate copper sulfide collectors are compared by the structure-reactivity relationship using generalized perturbation theory and density functional calculation at the B3PW91/6-31G(D) level. The electron-donating power of xanthates is strong and, therefore, xanthates can strongly react with metal cation on the surfaces of copper and iron sulfide minerals through the formation of normal covalent bonds. This explains the poor selectivity of xanthates and also the high pH levels (above 13) required for the flotation separation of copper/iron sulfide minerals. DATCs are more selective for copper sulfide flotation, particularly against gangue iron sulfides. Although less powerful than xanthates, DATCs can perform copper/iron flotation separation at lower operating pH (commonly at pH levels below 11.5). ECTCs use an ethoxycarbonyl replacing an alkyl N-substituent in DATCs. The presence of the ethoxycarbonyl group effectively changes the functional group of collector from -C(=S)NH- to -C(=S)NHC(=O)-. The strong electron-withdrawing ethoxycarbonyl group adjacent to the C=S group decreases the electron density of the sulfur atom, which improves ECTC?s selectivity against iron sulfide minerals at slightly alkaline conditions. The lowest unoccupied molecular orbit (LUMO) of ECTC, which is constituted by the pz-orbit of every atoms in the conjugate -O-C(=O)-N-C(=S)-O- group and which is pleased with accepting richly d-orbital electrons (feedback electrons) from the (t2g)6(eg)3Cu(II) or t6e4Cu(I) configuration of copper cation on the surfaces of copper sulfide minerals, resulted in the formation of dative p-bond. The iron atom, which has a (t2g)6Fe(II) or (t2ga)3(ega)2 Fe(III) configuration on the surfaces of iron sulfide minerals (Fe(III) is the predominant composition at alkaline conditions), has difficulty in offering its d-orbital electrons (feedback electrons) to ECTC?s LUMO. ECTC collectors are powerful for copper sulfide minerals and very selective against iron sulfides, which has been further confirmed by UV spectra and bench-scale and industrial-scale flotation tests.

Jan 1, 2008

By J. A. Kost

The objective of Contract J0295041 was to determine if the addition of a surfactant (wetting agent) to the water used for dust control in underground coal mines results in the reduction of airborne dust. Laboratory wettability tests, including the capillary rise test, a coal dust sinking test and zeta potential measurements, were used to select a coal seam/surfactant combination for in-mine testing. Four surfactants were selected for underground testing: Surfynol 465, Aerosol MA-80, DC-13, and Dustallay. The underground tests in the Lower Kittanning seam, Indiana County, PA, involved a Wilcox Mark 20 auger mining system, equipped with spray nozzles located on the cutting augers, Conflow venturi sprays, and a spray manifold. Respirable dust samples were provided by MSA Model G personal samplers and Simslin II instantaneous dust monitor; total airborne dust samples were provided by MSA Model G samplers with UNICO filter cassettes. Based on data obtained from 24 test periods surfactants, as compared to plain water, reduced the airborne respirable dust an average of 27 percent and total airborne dust an average of 36 percent.

Jan 1, 1980

By R. P. Heuer, Paul M. Tyler

THE literature on refractories, although fairly extensive, is so scattered through books and periodicals as to be difficult of access to the general reader and most of the individual papers serve merely to illuminate some particular phase of the industry. Two general treatises by American authors8.16 are available, also the somewhat older works by a well-known British authority, 12,13 but these make their appeal to the technically minded ceramic engineer. Another small group of publications deals with the use of refractories, mainly in the iron and steel industry.1, 3,5,6,11,15 Raw materials utilized by the refractories industry have been covered by sundry books and articles. For the relatively nontechnical reader and economist, however, there appears to be no single review that purports to describe the industry as a whole. Furnace linings and other products that are classed as "refractories" are designed primarily to withstand high temperatures but this important property is by no means the only requirement; a suitable refractory material must likewise withstand slagging (chemical' action), abrasion (physical wear), and spalling, as well as the various other stresses and physical phenomena induced by heat, of which softening or incipient melting is only one phase. Nevertheless, subject to these highly practical considerations, the definition of a refractory material is based upon temperature resistance. Broadly speaking, any material that shows obvious signs of fusion after being heated slowly to 1500°C (2732°F) cannot be classified as a refractory material. The characteristic properties and requirements of refractory materials are conveniently summarized in Fig 1, prepared on the American Refractories Institute Fellowship at Mellon Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Most of the factors of service and properties of refractories given in this chart are interdependent and are greatly affected in degree by the functions of temperature and time. The factors in the chart are believed to cover the commoner questions.

Jan 1, 1949

By R B. Stewart

Where pasture production is the intended land use of the areas to be reclaimed, the creation of a suitable growing +medium is a major objective. To achieve this land reclaimers require a sound understanding of the proposed mining plan and a knowledge of the physical, biological and chemical properties of materials intended for resurfacing disturbed areas. Where the original soil is not being replaced in its natural state, research is usually required to determine an alternative growing medium. Results from field research conducted on waste material from the Waihi Gold mine are reported with emphasis on the significance of soil depth in relation to pasture production in this environment.  Problems in extrapolating field research to large scale operations are also considered.   Essentially the requirements for successful pasture production, on surrogate growing medium, are akin to conventional approaches used in New Zealand in the development of unimproved agricultural land. High inputs of fertiliser are initially needed, especially where volcanic soil is used, and careful management of pastures and soils is required to minimise soil erosion and create a sustainable system. In the first three to five years of pasture production, grazing use of the land requires to be dictated by pasture availability and soil conditions and not by animal feed requirements. The use of light stock (young dairy or sheep) is recommended.   Successful land restoration requires a team approach by a range of cooperative specialists including engineers, soil scientists, farm managers, agricultural contractors, landscape architects and environmental officers.

Jan 1, 1991

By Christopher J. Bise

INTRODUCTION The principal means for transporting men, supplies, and mined material in an underground or surface mine are rail systems, conveyor belt systems, or a combination of the two. Typically, large underground mines use rail haulage from the mining sections to the hoist, with conveyor belts being used within the sections. Small mines use conveyor belts in the mains and sub- mains as well as in the panels. The size and layout of surface mines also contribute to variations in the way these haulage systems are applied. The following sections address the typical problems confronting mining engineers in designing these haul- age systems. For rail, these include rail selection and turnout design, locomotive tractive-effort calculation, and motor sizing. Belt haulage calculations include belt width and speed specifications, tension and take- up requirements, idler spacings, and motor sizing. TRACK LAYOUTS Introduction The adequacy of mine track layouts is dependent upon such factors as rail weight (Table l), suitable ties, a well-drained roadbed, and properly designed curves, grades, and track alignment. As long as the installation conforms to the manufacturer's recommendations, good service can be expected from the rail system. Typically, mining-engineering calculations for rack layouts have dealt almost exclusively with the design of turnouts. As such, the following section provides the necessary information for computing the theoretically correct dimensions of turnouts. Turnout Design Fig. 1 shows a typical turnout with an identification of the component parts. Fig. 2 identifies the variables that are used to determine the turnout dimensions. The formulas that concern the mining engineer are those listed: [ ]

Jan 1, 1986

By Fred DeVaney

THE coercimeter, as its name implies, is an instrument for measuring the coercive force? of magnetic substances. It was developed by Davis and Hartenheim in the Special Studies Section, Metallurgical Division. A detailed description of this apparatus may be found elsewhere.2 The coercive force determinations of magnetic materials are inter-esting because of the relationship established by Gottschalk,4 who showed a linear relationship between the magnetization coercive force and the specific surface of comminuted particles. The value of this relationship in determining grinding efficiency has been shown by Dean.3 The determination of the surface contained in the subsieve sizes has always been a difficult problem for investigators. They made approximate measurements of the surface of coarse materials by sizing on screens, but for the determination of the surface of the sub-sieve sizes it was necessary to make detailed grain counts or, elutriation tests, or to study dissolution rates. The technical literature contains many references to other methods for determining these surfaces, either by some special apparatus or by mathematical calculations based on distribution lines. Many of the methods are long and tedious, and the results of some, at least, are questionable. The turbidimeter gives quick results on ground cement. By using magnetite as the material to be ground, a simple determina-tion of its coercive force by the coercimeter, requiring 10 minutes or less, can be transposed directly and accurately into units of relative surface. This subject has been pursued further by the U. S. Bureau of Mines in cooperation with the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy, Rolla, Mo., and the following is a description of the results.

Jan 1, 1938

By Michael A. Berdine

Twentymile Coal Company?s first longwall face in the late 1980?s was oriented approximately 45 degrees to the major coal cleats and 45 degrees to the primary horizontal stresses. This combination of stress and coal cleating resulted in frequent violent bursts of coal along the longwall face. The bursts created particles of sufficient size and force with the potential of causing injury to employees and occasional damage to shield components. Partial web cutting was subsequently developed in an attempt to relieve the stress on the coal face and required the shearing machine to travel to the tailgate and back for a full 36 inch web. The partial web cutting pattern is focused on first cutting the lower 90% of the seam to relieve the stress as the shearer travels from the headgate to the tailgate. The web depth during the headgate to tailgate pass is typically in the range of 70% to 80% and varies with conditions to maximize production rates. The top and bottom of the seam in the remaining 20 to 30% of the web are then cut out to allow the shields and face conveyor to advance. 100% of the web is cut at each gate end for a distance of approximately 19 shields. This paper addresses some general mine geology and the procedures and benefits of partial web cutting with respect to safety, production and maintenance on a high production longwall face.

Jan 1, 2004

By Yoginder P. Chugh

Effects of moisture absorption on the behavior of the Dykersburg shale overlying Harrisburg coal seam in Southern Illinois are presented in this paper. Cylindrical samples of the shale 2.5 cm in diameter and 5.0 cm long were studied for weight gain and swelling strains at 90, 95, and 100 percent relative humidity and under immersed water conditions. After attaining equilibrium conditions, the samples were studied for changes in the strength and deformation behavior. The depth of moisture penetration was measured using the Vickers microhardness measurements. Using the basic mass transfer concepts, effective diffusion coefficients were computed for the shale.

Jan 1, 1980

By G. Whittle, R. Peevers, P. Moryoussef

Enterprise optimization is a relatively new optimization approach to mine planning used to jointly consider all aspects of a mining operation affecting the mine planning process and related valuation. In this paper, it is applied at SEMAFO's Mana operations in Burkina Faso, consisting of several open pits and a proposed underground mine. The surface-minable ore is relatively shallow, and the pits are long and linear. The underground operations, as currently envisioned, will consist of a stoping operation accessed by two ramps from the surface. Power is a concern at this property due to local power being produced largely by diesel generators, and it has become one of the key optimization constraints. Other important parameters are the mining and processing rates, underground configuration and cutover elevation. Enterprise optimization was found to improve net present value for the Mana Operations property by simultaneously optimizing multiple parameters and constraints to arrive at an optimal pit and mining phase design, optimal cut-off grades over time, and optimal ore feed based on ore hardness, power constraints, and head wades. Reserves were expanded several times over the course of the study to improve the valuation of the mining operation and put SEMAFO in its present enviable position of ongoing reserve increases.

Jan 1, 2011