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By D A. Kepert, D Clark

During early 2004, Fortescue Metals Group (FMG) began an aggressive exploration and drilling program in the Chichester Range, targeting iron enrichment developed in the Nammuldi Member at the base of the Marra Mamba Iron Formation. The timely recognition by FMG of distinct zones of (hypogene) microplaty hematite (mplH) enrichment overprinted by extensive supergene mineralisation led to an early reappraisal of the geological history of the area and characterisation of the possible structural and stratigraphic controls on mineralisation. Regionally, the Chichester Range dips gently at less than 5¦ to the south, however, detailed mapping shows that this regional limb is overprinted by low amplitude, long wavelength, north/south to northeast/southwest trending folds. The locations of major structures in the Marra Mamba Iron Formation, combined with spectral analysis of known mineralisation, allowed extrapolation and prioritisation of exploration target areas. The delineation under cover and understanding of these structures was enhanced by detailed airborne magnetic data. Recognition that supergene mineralisation was associated with a palaeotopography that continued significantly under cover to the south under sediments of the Fortescue River valley led to the discovery of extensive supergene mineralisation together with additional mplH mineralisation. A model for the landscape evolution and preservation of enriched Nammuldi Member was generated in order to help communicate both the complexities involved with targeting drill holes beneath cover and the potential limits to the lateral extents of mineralisation.

Jan 1, 2005

By Norman Brown

It is suggested that the difference in ease of cross-slip among the fcc metals determines the relative amounts of [111] and [100] wire texture which occur in each metal. Since the ease of cross-slip is controlled by the stacking fault energy, it turns out that the amount of [111] texture should increase as the stacking fault energy increases. Arguments and existing data are presented to support the above suggestion. THE fcc metals generally have a dual texture, [11 and [loo], after wire drawing. As yet no fundament explanation exists concerning the variation of the amounts of each texture among the metals. Barrett&apos; has compiled data which show how the relative amounts of each texture vary from 100 pct [Ill] in the case of aluminum to 25 pct [l1] for silver. In this paper it is suggested that the value of stacking fault energy plays a major part in determining the amount of each type of texture. The double texture has its origin in the classical rotation of a single crystal under tension. An equilibrium position of the crystal is one in which three or more equivalent slip systems are operating simu taneously. Most crystals, initially, tend to rotate toward the [1ll] or the [l00] pole depending upon its initial orientation. This single-crystal behavior is essentially the same as the rotational behavior of the polycrystalline metal as worked out by Taylor.2 The next point to consider is whether the [Ill] or [100] orientation is more stable. There have been many discussions of this question3&apos;" which, in general, have lead to the conclusion that 11111 is most stable. For example, Pickus and Mathewson 4 suggested that a [Ill] texture produces more effective flow becake the [ 110] slip direction makes a smaller angle with the [111] than with the [loo]. A crude statistical argument will be presented which again favors the (1111 orientation. In order to maintain a pure [loo] wire texure, slip must occur in equal proportions in four of the six possible <110>slip directions. In order to maintain a pure [Ill] texture, slip must occur in equal proportions in only three of the six <110>directions. Since the <110> directions are the only slip directions in a fcc metal and if it is assumed that each of these six directions is equally probable, then the relative probability of a [1ll] texture vs a [l00] texture may be calculated. The statistical weight of a particular texture is the multiplicity of a texture times the probability of obtaining any one. The statistical weight for [Ill] is

Jan 1, 1962

By Geir Martin Haarberg

Modern electrolysis technologies can provide possibilities for developing sustainable processes in terms of energy and environment. Laboratory experiments were carried out to study electrodeposition of iron from molten salts and aqueous solutions using an inert oxygen evolving anode to eliminate the emissions of CO2. The possibilities of molten salt electrorefining of metallurgical grade silicon to produce solar grade silicon were also investigated. Electrochemical techniques were used to study the electrochemical behaviour of dissolved iron, silicon, and titanium species. Bulk electrolysis was carried out to deposit pure iron, silicon, and titanium. The quality of the deposits was studied by SEM/EDS and XRD analyses. Calculations based on laboratory studies indicate that great improvements in terms of reduced energy consum

Jan 1, 2010

By Francis Welington Moraes da Cruz

O sistema de despoeiramento prim&aacute;rio da Aciaria da thyssenkrupp CSA &eacute; um equipamento complexo utilizado durante o sopro no conversor para capta&ccedil;&atilde;o, limpeza e resfriamento dos gases. Estes gases s&atilde;o indiretamente resfriados em uma caldeira de recupera&ccedil;&atilde;o de calor quase vertical de grande altura. Em seguida passa por resfriamento direto (resfriador evaporativo) com inje&ccedil;&atilde;o de &aacute;gua e vapor, onde h&aacute; uma decanta&ccedil;&atilde;o das part&iacute;culas maiores. Em seguida os gases penetram no precipitador eletrost&aacute;tico, onde &eacute; retirada quase a totalidade do p&oacute; restante. Um ventilador de grande pot&ecirc;ncia faz a exaust&atilde;o destes gases, atrav&eacute;s da caldeira, resfriador evaporativo e precipitador eletrost&aacute;tico, para em seguida comprimi-los para a chamin&eacute; ou para o &uacute;ltimo resfriamento dos gases antes do envio para o gas&ocirc;metro. A chamin&eacute; possui um queimador piloto que queima o mon&oacute;xido de carbono (CO) transformando-o em di&oacute;xido de carbono (CO2). Do gas&ocirc;metro, os gases podem ser fornecidos para outras unidades da usina onde &eacute; consumido como combust&iacute;vel. O objetivo deste trabalho foi aumentar a energia do g&aacute;s BOF (Basic Oxygen Furnace), atrav&eacute;s de um conjunto de a&ccedil;&otilde;es, visando &agrave; redu&ccedil;&atilde;o de emiss&atilde;o de g&aacute;s CO2, redu&ccedil;&atilde;o de consumos de g&aacute;s natural e aumento da gera&ccedil;&atilde;o de energia.

Jan 16, 2018

By Samuel B. Christy

Jan 1, 1889

By W. R. Shimer, F. O. Kichline

The investigation herein described was carried out for the purpose of studying, both by chemical and metallographical means, the extent of over-oxidation of steel that can be accomplished by excessive overblowing in a Bessemer converter. 111 addition there are appended some results of basic open-hearth and crucible steels. Remarks on Chemical Methods. The test block used was hemispherical in shape, 4.5 in. in diameter and 2 in. thick. Drillings for analysis were obtained by drilling through the entire solid part of the block, carefully avoiding all cracks and blow-holes and mixing these drillings thoroughly. Drillinga were carefully examined for scale and the finest were gone over with a microscope to be sure all scale from whatever source had been removed. Oxygen was determined by the well-known method of Ledebur, modified according to Cushman,1 with, however, the removal of the preheating tube, which was found unnecessary. This method has been found to give concordant results. Blanks run from 0.0003 to 0.0006 g. Duplicate determinations varied not more than 0.001 to 0.003 per cent. It seems to be generally supposed that the hydrogen method gives only that oxygen which is combined with iron. Whether this be true or not, the content of oxygen existing as iron oxide no doubt predominates sufficiently, so that the result obtained is sufficient to indicate whether the steel is over-oxidized or not. We are well aware that the oxides of manganese and chromium, when existing alone, are not reduced by hydrogen at a red heat. To learn of their action in steel the following work was carried out: A sample of ferro-manganese and of ferro-chrome were each exposed

Jan 1, 1914

On the 18th November, 19&apos;58, the first coal was delivered to the Morwell Power Station from the adjacent Open Cut using conveyors for the transport of the coal from the working face to the boiler bunkers. As the cut develops the coal seam will be worked for its full depth of about 360 feet from four benches, each feeding a conveyor line along th.e face and up out of the cut to the power station and briquette factory. By 1970 the estimated maximum daily demand reaches 60,000 tons and the total annual output 18 million tons. The complete conveyor installation will then total some 9 miles with a capital cost of over &#163;3~ million.The choice of conveyors in place of the more usual rail system was made possible by the development of movable belt conveyors which use mechanical conveyor shifting, high belt speeds and flexible high strength belts and the paper deals with these and some other aspects of the scheme.INTRODUCTIONThe development of brown coal deposits is usually based on open cut workings equipped with a few large dredgers giving an almost continuous output of coal or overburden which has to be hauled a comparatively short distance. These are ideal conditions for conveyor operation, and it is surprising that, until recently, rail transport has been used almost exclusively in brown coal open cuts. In some cases inclined conveyors have been introduced to take the coal from the coal levels up out of the cut to bunkers at groundlevel, but trains have been left to operate between the ditch bunker feeding the conveyor system and the dredger.

Jan 1, 1960

By John Griffen, David H. Davis

Much of the ground to be covered by this paper was ably covered by a paper presented by Messrs. Morrow and Jordan1 before a joint meeting of the Iron and Steel Section of the Engineers Society of West-ern Pennsylvania and the A.I.M.E. Pitts-burgh Section at Pittsburgh in the spring of 1940. As that paper was not published, the present authors have availed them-selves of Mr. Morrow&apos;s kind permission to use information given therein. Similar figures for the latest years available have been added to many statistics originally presented. It is unfortunate that Mr. Jordan&apos;s death removes his stimulating guidance and help, which the authors would have welcomed and have found invaluable in the past. One interested in the Pittsburgh seam should not fail to read the exhaustive and authoritative paper by Eavenson2 presented in 1938. As Allegheny, Fayette, Greene, Washington, and Westmoreland Counties contain practically all the reserves and furnish nearly all of the production from the Pittsburgh seam in Pennsylvania at the present time, this area only is intended when reference is made to the Pittsburgh seam in Pennsylvania. On much of the seam in Greene and Washington Counties, which contain a large proportion of the total reserves, insufficient data are available to determine the detailed characteristics of the seam with any degree of finality. It is hoped that the data presented here will fairly well indicate the probable characteristics. Economic Importance of the Pittsburgh Seam The Pittsburgh seam in Pennsylvania is of primary importance as a coal resource, not only because of its substantial reserves but because it contributes such a large proportion of the coal used in the country and an even larger proportion of that used in the manufacture of coke. Mr. Ashley3 placed the estimated recoverable reserves (1935) of the Pittsburgh coal bed in Pennsylvania at 7,500,000,000 tons.* Although a considerable portion of this tonnage is not now suitable for coking coal, because of its high sulphur content, undoubtedly the supply of coking coal will last for many years and that not suitable for coking will furnish industry with an ample supply of energy. In attempting to assess the contribution of the Pittsburgh seam to total coal production and to that of coal used in making coke, one finds that the statistics published annually by the U. S. Bureau of Mines, Minerals Yearbook, do not give tonnages classified as to seams but only as to districts or states and counties. However, it happens that, at present and during much of the

Jan 1, 1944

By David H. Davis, John Griffen

Much of the ground to be covered by this paper was ably covered by a paper presented by Messrs. Morrow and Jordan1 before a joint meeting of the Iron and Steel Section of the Engineers Society of West-ern Pennsylvania and the A.I.M.E. Pitts-burgh Section at Pittsburgh in the spring of 1940. As that paper was not published, the present authors have availed them-selves of Mr. Morrow&apos;s kind permission to use information given therein. Similar figures for the latest years available have been added to many statistics originally presented. It is unfortunate that Mr. Jordan&apos;s death removes his stimulating guidance and help, which the authors would have welcomed and have found invaluable in the past. One interested in the Pittsburgh seam should not fail to read the exhaustive and authoritative paper by Eavenson2 presented in 1938. As Allegheny, Fayette, Greene, Washington, and Westmoreland Counties contain practically all the reserves and furnish nearly all of the production from the Pittsburgh seam in Pennsylvania at the present time, this area only is intended when reference is made to the Pittsburgh seam in Pennsylvania. On much of the seam in Greene and Washington Counties, which contain a large proportion of the total reserves, insufficient data are available to determine the detailed characteristics of the seam with any degree of finality. It is hoped that the data presented here will fairly well indicate the probable characteristics. Economic Importance of the Pittsburgh Seam The Pittsburgh seam in Pennsylvania is of primary importance as a coal resource, not only because of its substantial reserves but because it contributes such a large proportion of the coal used in the country and an even larger proportion of that used in the manufacture of coke. Mr. Ashley3 placed the estimated recoverable reserves (1935) of the Pittsburgh coal bed in Pennsylvania at 7,500,000,000 tons.* Although a considerable portion of this tonnage is not now suitable for coking coal, because of its high sulphur content, undoubtedly the supply of coking coal will last for many years and that not suitable for coking will furnish industry with an ample supply of energy. In attempting to assess the contribution of the Pittsburgh seam to total coal production and to that of coal used in making coke, one finds that the statistics published annually by the U. S. Bureau of Mines, Minerals Yearbook, do not give tonnages classified as to seams but only as to districts or states and counties. However, it happens that, at present and during much of the

Jan 1, 1944

By W. B. Greer

The performance of seals in boreholes, shafts, and tunnels is an important concern in mine safety, in the control of effluents from operating and abandoned mines, and in the underground containment of hazardous wastes (Einarson and Abel, 1990; Mining Waste Study, 1988). Despite the clear need for effective seals, few documented test results are available concerning the performance of in-situ seals. Some evidence indicates that horizontal or near-horizontal holes are especially difficult to seal properly (Kelsall and others, 1982). This research involved the installation, extensive hydraulic testing, removal, and post-test examination of a l0-cm-long by 10-cm-diameter cement grout seal in a near-horizontal borehole in limestone. The work was performed in an underground mine on Marble peak in the Santa Catalina Mountains, Arizona. A test hole was diamond cored in the re-crystallized limestone of the Escabrosa formation. The hole is 33.24 m long, 10 cm in diameter, and dips at 10.4 degrees. The hole extends between two drifts and thus is accessible from both ends.

Jan 1, 1992

The annual report of the Secretary of the Southern California Local Section for the year ending May, 1919, says that the Section was called upon to give all the assistance possible for the different Liberty Loan drives, for the Red Cross drives and not only in the canvass of our membership, but the canvass of all of the mining companies represented in this city. The committee on the Red Cross drive on which we were represented raised a larger proportion of the total amount than any other in the city. The subscriptions for Liberty Bonds from the members of our&apos; Section that were credited to the Committee of the Joint Technical Societies exceeded in amount the subscription from the members of all the other technical societies combined. Members of our Section slid splendid and efficient work throughout the first half of the year at the Red Cross headquarters in this city, and under the leadership of A. B. W. Hodges and F. B. Close, systematized the work of handling the enormous quantity of material that passed through that organization. Mr. E. A. Montgomery directed the canvass of the mining companies of this city in the bond drives, and the Executive Committee did its part in solicitation among the mining engineers. The Section, together with the local sections of the American Chemical Society, American Institute of Architect, American Institute of Electrical Engineers, American Society of Civil Engineers, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and the local Engineers and Architects Association, forms what is called the Joint Committee of the Technical Societies. of Los Angeles. The honor of having the first president of this combined organization of engineers was given to us with, the election of Mr. Seeley W. Mudd. Upon Mr. Mudd&apos;s entering the service, Mr. George A. Daman of the Electrical Engineers was elected to the position and served splendidly during the latter part of the year. It devolves upon this Section to be represented upon this Joint Committee by three members, and it is our duty to supply a speaker once in six weeks to address the engineers in attendance at the weekly luncheon. During the year not a few of the most prominent men of the engineering professions have spoken upon subjects of the greatest interest to us all. Had it not been for the organized team work in the engineering profession available through this Joint Committee, there would have undoubtedly been passed in the recent session of the legislature of this state a bill for licensing and registering all professional engineers in this state, which, in the opinion of your Executive Committee and a large proportion of the membership of this Section, would have fallen far short of either protecting the engineer or protecting the public from impostors. That the public is awakening to the importance of what our National Society represents in the profession of mining engineering can be well inferred from the increasing number of inquiries your Secretary receives regarding the reputation of mining engineers. The necessary qualifications which a membership in the Institute requires and the membership of an engineer in this National Organization is more and more a criterion as to the ability of an engineer who represents himself as such, to the general public.

Jan 9, 1919

Two new inorganic-organic hybrid polymers, Al(OH)3-polyacrylamide (Al(OH)3-PAM) and Mg(OH)2-polyacrylamide (Mg(OH)2-PAM) were synthesized and successfully applied for the treatment of oil sand tailings. The results indicate that both Mg(OH)2-PAM and Al(OH)3-PAM were unaffected by the change in pH, and could be applied to oil sand tailings with varying sand-to-fine ratio (SFR). The optimum dosages for the Mg(OH)2-PAM and Al(OH)3-PAM were about 330 g/ton and 650 g/ton, respectively for SFR 3.75. The flocculated oil sand tailings dewater quickly producing 66-68% solids. The flocculated tailings produced similar filtration rate before and after shear. Mg(OH)2-PAM treated oil sand tailings produced twice the filtration rates (220 ml/min) compared with Al(OH)3-PAM. This study clearly indicates that Mg(OH)2-PAM and Al(OH)3-PAM is a viable solution while decreasing the mass-production of tailings and increasing the rate of water-recycle.

Jan 1, 2012

By H. Tudeshki, A. Tayebi

"The large extent of global production and consumption of aggregates from quarries, grabs one´s attention and makes its substantial and essential standpoint in the world today pretty clear. A great amount of aggregates is utilized in civil engineering applications such as road construction, railway industry, concrete production, etc. Considering this fact that igneous rocks display a higher strength and abrasion resistance, this type of rock is preferred in the field of civil engineering. For all these applications, rock quality assurance is a key factor and certainly unavoidable, and it has great influence on the quality of constructions in civil engineering. One of the major problems encountered by both the producers and users of igneous rock is the fact that, with the passage of time, some specific rocks lose their strength, up to a complete loss of structure or in other words, their disintegration and degradation. In the last decades, different methods and procedures such as Glycol test, methylene blue dye test, as well as the Los Angeles test have been introduced to distinguish these rock properties, and to identify these problems. However, as these methods are time consuming, hard to perform, only to be applied to hand-piece samples, requiring special laboratory equipments, and only possible to be accomplished under laboratory conditions, their application has always been limited to some specific cases, and they are neither recommendable nor advantageous. In addition, these methods provide partially different results for the same rock. To address this widespread quality management problem of the quarry industry, a relatively quick, easy and user-friendly approach is necessary. It calls for a systematic solution with a device that can simply be used day to day in a mine for quality control of the quarry´s daily production. This scientific research is concentrated on developing a systematic method for early recognition and diagnosis of rock quality, in order to control and manage the quality of the quarry production in advance. This method was developed, based on the procedure of the magnetic susceptibility measurement. The obtained values can lead to valuable information regarding the quality of the rock and allows the quality control process to be accomplished and performed at the borehole location. This approach has been assessed through extensive field and laboratory studies. A detailed and comprehensive discussion will be made on the results of the experiments. The advantages and impacts of the application of this method, on increasing the reserves and environmental protection are also discussed."

Jan 1, 2011

By Morris Cohen, Robert C. Ruhl

The phases in Fe-C alloys over a wide composition range have been studied after splal quenching from the liquid state. Binary alloys containing 0 to 5.1 wt pel C as /cell as a large number of ternary Fe-C-Si alloys with 2.5 to 5.0 wt pct C and 0.3 to 5.1 wt pct Si were attlong those sludied. Olher Fe-C-X alloys, zcilh X being Co, Cr, ,Wn, Ni, and Ru , were also inrestigated after splat quenching. At high carbon contents, a new hcp phase (designaled 6 phase, but different from e carbide) is retained upon splat quenching. The .fraction of this phase varies up lo 97 pcl for a Fe-4.K-1.9% alloy. The composition of the E phase ranges from about 3.8 10 4.8 wt pet C, and the corresponding laltice parameters increase linearly ulith carbon content, while the c/a ratio remains essentially conslc~nl. The E phrtse appears to he a solulion of carbon in E iron, the latler being nornially found only at high pressures. It is deduced that the unit cell of the E phase corresponds to the formula Fe12C3, and llzal il is relaled to tlie ordered slruclures 0.f 6 iron carbide and c iron nilride. The E phase is compared and contrasted to the olher known carbides and nitrides of iron and nickel. An exlrapolaTion of the atomic volume 1,s carhon conlent of /he E pllase lzcts giz.en a neu7 estitnale jor /he alomic volume of E iron, 11.30 cu A, a1 atmospheric pressure and temperature. Other alomic volume relalionships lead to /he co~zpositioti Fe2.iC tor E iron carbide, /he unit cell fortr~ula being -Fe2rClo The E phase undergoes a lulo-slage decomposition upon healing, .forrning firsl rnarlensile plus E carhide, a/ler 1 hr at 140" lo 200°C, slid then ferr ite Plus cementile, after 1 lir a1 330" to 460°C. A1 carbo,l contents between 1.5 and 3.0 LC/ pcl, (he predo.wirzar/t plzase alley quenching is fcc austenite. The retained carbon content of this phase increases with itlcreasing silicon in certain concentration ranges, reaching a maximum of 2.37 wt pct C itz a Fe-2.6C-4.OSi alloy. This is the highest carbon conten1 reLaitled in austenite to date. These high-carbon aus-tenites can be partially tm?zsforttled lo tnartensile hy severe deformation in the temperature range of — 190 to -50°C. TECHNIQUES for splat quenching from the liquid state have been utilized in numerous recent investigations to produce metastable phases in a variety of alloy systems. Among the several ways of splat quenching, the shock-tube method appears to yield the highest cooling rates1-3, 7, 8 and was adopted here. Estimated cooling rates attained in the present experiments ranged from 10&apos; to 10 80Cper sec.&apos; As a part of a research program on interstitial al- loy phases, the Fe-C system was selected for splat-quenching studies. It was hoped that splat quenching would allow high metastable supersaturations of carbon to be retained in solution. Also of considerable interest were the conditions governing the occurrence of the various intermediate phases upon solidification. The alloys investigated included both binary Fe-C compositions as well as six ternary Fe-C-X alloy systems. The known phases in the Fe-C system are summarized in Table I.* Only the ferrite and graphite are ent investigation.14 and is described in detail herein Table II summarizes corresponding data on Fe-N phases, which are also of interest here because of their similarity to the Fe-C phases. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES Alloys were prepared by melting the elements. 99.9 pct purity, in an inert gas nonconsumable electrode arc furnace. The buttons. weighing about 5 g. were remelted twice. were then fragmented. and their interior surfaces were examined for uniformity: if any doubt existed. they were remelted again. Chemical analyses were performed on all the alloys. the accuracy being about k0.05 wt pct. At high temperatures, carbon-containing alloys react with alumina crucibles as follows: If the atmosphere in the splat-quenching furnace does not contain sufficient carbon monoxide the alloy can be depleted of carbon and contaminated with aluminum. Calculations and experimental observations showed that 50 to 100 torr CO partial pressure effectively blocked the above reaction in all the alloys investigated. The splat-quenching equipment in Figs. 1 and 2 provides for evacuation and back-filling with CO-Ar mixtures. The furnace is capable of operation up to 1650°C. and the gettering action of the graphite heating element reduces the oxygen partial pressure in the furnace atmosphere to below 10-5 torr, thus preventing oxidation of the specimens.

Jan 1, 1970

By Rameshwar Sah, PK GHORUI, LR SINGH, SIVALINGARAJU BARISETTY, SHYAM YADAV

Fly ash is a by-product generated by the combustion of coal in thermal power plants. Its disposal is a major environmental concern for these power plants. Though a considerable part of fly ash is used in cement making and brick manufacturing, a substantial quantity remains unutilized. Bentonite is commonly used as binder in the micropelletization of process waste to attain the mechanical strength required for handling and transportation. The present paper deals with the partial replacement of bentonite with fly ash in the micropelletization process without affecting the quality of the micropellets. The mechanisms of both the binders are discussed. The bonding of particles by bentonite is a physical mechanism, while fly-ash bonding is a chemical mechanism. Silica and alumina are the major constituents present in fly ash along with lime. In the presence of water, the alumino-silicates and unhydrated lime present in fly ash undergo a pozzolanic reaction and form cementitious bonds, which hold the particles together. Use of fly ash as alternative binder for bentonite has cost benefits besides providing a better utilization option for fly ash.

By D Elder, S Bell

Over the last five years Solid Energy New Zealand (SENZ) has gone through a series of changes in response to both external and internal factors. These changes have included corporate reorganisation and funding restructure, as well as modifications to medium and long term business objectives. The nature and size of its coal reserves and markets requires SENZ to continue developing new mines as existing mines are depleted. As well, there are opportunities to develop new mines as coal markets change or to realise value from existing coal resources. To assist in this process, a set of mine project assessment guidelines which are relevant to the size and scale of anticipated mine developments have been developed for SENZ. These project guidelines are structured to operate from the early stages of project or resource review through to final feasibility study stage. The guidelines provide both a basis for planning and budgeting, and a control mechanism within the company. They also enable clear understanding of the status of individual projects and provide a framework for comparison between projects. SENZ now has a defined method to plan, monitor and control this important aspect of its business. The paper explains the development and structure of the guidelines, as well as providing examples of their application. and use. It demonstrates how SENZ integrates its long term planning, five year planning, annual planning, project planning and risk management to maximise the value of individual projects, business units and the company overall in a consistent manner.

Jan 1, 2002

By H Barrie, L Ameglio

"Current methods for acid rock drainage (ARD) mitigation revolve around insulation of the waste from oxygen in the atmosphere with water and dry (soils and liners) covers. Both are of limited effectiveness and present significant drawbacks. Furthermore, while they reduce oxygen influx, they reduce but do not prevent ARD.The inert gas mixture (IGM) technology has been designed to overcome the deficiencies of gas transfer into tailings and waste rock materials across the surface and instead block oxidation by controlling the transfer of oxygen from the atmosphere. Inert gas is injected into the mine waste at low flow rates and the positive but low flow purges the oxygen that tends to diffuse into the sulfide waste across the surface. The positive flow of IGM compensates for inward oxygen diffusion and creates a pressure drop across the cover layer preventing inward diffusion of oxygen and, hence, acid generation.The IGM processes are evaluated in this paper: theoretically, with a review of the theory of ARD and the current state of knowledge about the performance of notably dry covers as atmospheric oxygen barriers via models to predict the performance of the IGM technique practically, with a bench-scaled experiment.The results demonstrate the effectiveness of IGM to prevent oxidation of sulfide minerals and ARD in waste rock. The laboratory experiments further identified key variables to be used to monitor performance and control efficiency of IGM, which is now awaiting field-scale application.The IGM technology is a patented process by Terraquest Technologies Ltd (Canada) in USA, Canada and Australia. The IGM technology can be cost-effectively manufactured on-site with commercially available compressors and gas filtration membranes. It is predicted that low-cost covers can then be utilised with IGM, which in turn lowers the overall capital costs of ARD mitigation.CITATION:Ameglio, L and Barrie, H, 2015. Acid rock drainage prevention using inert gas mixture technology, in Proceedings Tailings and Mine Waste Management for the 21st Century, pp 85–96 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Jul 27, 2015

By Michael J. Rinker, R. V. Nicholson

Waste rock and tailings from a proposed nickel-copper mine were evaluated extensively for potential on-land and under water disposal. Standard humidity cell and column tests were conducted over a two year period and underwater tests were conducted for more than one year. Nickel concentrations or release rates from the waste were consistent with nickel to sulphur ratios in the solids. This relationship provided a tool to assess the risk of metal leaching in wastes using nickel and sulphide assays. Nickel release and mobilization was found to occur for both oxidizing leach tests and under water tests even when pH values exceeded 7.0. Geochemical model calculations showed that iron oxyhydroxide solids can scavenge nickel from leachate and that the nickel inventory can be released from solids at relatively lower, but neutral pH values.

Jan 1, 2000

By G. Pierson

Explanations of commodity price levels, or movements, commonly focus on the supply and demand fundamentals of the particular commodity, or else are assigned to speculative activity. Comparisons of metal price histories with monetary and other economic data support the argument that the supply of and demand for money are no less important in price determination than are the supply and demand of the commodity itself. That these relationships should exist is evident in the price identity and are consistent with monetary theory. The patterns developed have limited usefulness as predictors, but their recognition is essential for the construction of price scenarios for planning purposes.

Jan 1, 1996

Calaverite is a gold telluride found in the Kalgoorlie region, Fiji, Cripple Creek Colorado and numerous other locations. It is known that a high pH is necessary for calaverite cyanidation, with the leach rate increasing substantially above pH 12 due to the hydroxide ion concentration. In most circumstances lime is used to achieve high pH, however lime saturates at approximately pH 12, limiting the maximum pH obtainable in a critical region for calaverite leaching. Plant observations, laboratory experiments and thermodynamic modelling show that the maxi-mum hydroxide ion concentration that can be achieved with lime (CaO) is strongly dependent on common ions. The presence of calcium, as commonly found in saline waters, substantially diminishes the maximum pH that can be obtained with lime. Conversely the presence of sulfate ions, as generated through oxidation of sulfides, substantially increases the maximum pH that can be achieved with lime. Sulfide oxidation during cyanide leaching of complex ores may generate acid and sulfate ions, making overdosing with lime at the front of the circuit, or staged addition down the leach train, important to maintaining the maximum hydroxide concentration.

Jan 1, 2014