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By Hll J. K, Zhang Y. G

The wear mechanisms of impregnated diamond drill bit matrices are complex and believed to be the key point in solving drill bit self-sharpening problems. A method has been developed to find the change in c,, the wear rate of matrices having different fracture toughness K_ at the increment of drill pressure P. The worn surfaces of specimens were placed under a scanning electron microscope to examine the wear patterns and wear mechanisms at different pressures, and were compared with the worn surface of a practical drill bit. A model is proposed that within a wide range of pressures there exist two different wear mechanisms and three wear regions for cemented car- bide matrix materials. In region one (linear region), at low pressure, the major wear mechanism is plastic deformation in which the preferential wear of the binder phase of the matrix results in the loss of WC, tung- sten carbide particles. Wear rate is controlled by hardness, H as Archard's formula predicts. Wear enters region two and three (non-linear region) simultaneously as pressure is being increased. Consequently, wear transfers to fracture mechanism in which micro-fracture occurs at the root of wear grooves and the material is removed mainly in piece and mass. It has been shown fracture toughness K,, plays a more important role than hard- ness H. It is concluded that for a specific drilling condition, the pressure on the matrix should be carefully controlled and a balance between hard- ness and toughness of the material is essential for a steady drilling Condition.

Jan 1, 1989

By Miquel Lamadrid, Changshow Sun, Chris Johnson

To reduce blasting overbreak and improve stope stability, several new blast designs were proposed for current and future stopes. Based on the analysis of the powder factor, and the extent of damage zone, the appropriate new blast design was selected. Excellent results were achieved from the new blast design. Comparing the new blast design with the old one, the largest of the overbreaks decreased more tan two times and average overbreak reduced more than two times. The new blast design is currently applied in all mining zones in Leeville underground mine.

Jan 1, 2008

By E. J. Boome, A. C. Schmidt

Pert, and how Pert techniques can be used in modern mine management By E. J. Boome, A. C. Schmidt C.A. (S.A.) This paper covers the stages of planning required to be performed and the implementation of the plan from grass roots to the partial completion of the sinking of a mine shaft system. The various steps involved in the planning are also examined in some detail. The experience gained in this project and the conclusions reached convince the authors that Pert Planning is a valuable aid to top management.

By R. Svensson

Mill linings play an important role in all comminution processes with tumbling mills. The selection of the lining profile and the lining material has a great impact on overall grinding cost and mill throughput. The cost of the lining itself is minor in comparison with media cost, energy cost and the value of the material produced in the mill. The total scope must be considered when mill linings are selected. This paper presents case stories and explains the technology behind: - Different lining profiles in rubber and steel. - Orebed magnetic lining. - Steel-cap rubber lining.

Jan 1, 1995

By A. M. Copeland, A. J. Barrett

The use of hydraulically placed backfill in the deep gold mines of South Africa has increased rapidly over the past decade. The backfill that is delivered to the placement areas has a relatively high moisture content, and it is therefore pumped into geotextile containment bags that allow excess water to drain out but retain solid particles. The specific problems associated with this process that are addressed in this paper include the loss of solid particles entrained in the excess water, the rate of strength gain of the backfill, and the post-placement shrinkage of the backfill. The results of laboratory, surface stope, and underground tests are described. The parameters that were varied included the slurry density, the particle-size distribution, and the feed rate of the slurry the concentration of added flocculant; and the type of geotextile used as containment. Suggestions are given for the optimization of the placement properties of backfill.

Jan 1, 1994

By Tzou-Shin Ueng

Rock reinforcement of rock anchors and rock bolts are commonly used for the support of large rock caverns. The rocks at the location of most large underground openings are usually under very high initial stresses prior to excavation. Hence, the stress redistribution caused by excavation will induce considerable rebound deformations of rocks surrounding the caverns. Since the pressures exerted by the reinforcement are generally far below the initial rock stresses, the reinforcement will be stretched along with the rock deformations, and the stresses in the reinforcement increase accordingly. It is not uncommon for the stress in the reinforcement to reach the yield strength, and in some cases the reinforcement may even have failed. Therefore, the increase of stresses caused by the rebound deformations of rocks should be taken into account in addition to the force required to stabilize the caverns. It was found that the measured stress increases of the prestressed tendons after installation were in good agreement with those computed based on the measured rock deformations between surface and the anchoring point of the reinforcement. The rebound rock deformations and the stress increases in the reinforcement can be estimated based on the results of the finite element analysis and experiences in previous field measurements incorporated with considerations of the geologic conditions, rock properties, rock reinforcement and construction procedures.

Jan 1, 1986

Water Balancing in Mineral Processing - Issues and Opportunities

Sep 13, 2010

PRESENTATION of the 1922 Washington Award to Capt. Robert W. Hunt, honorary member and twice president of the Institute, was made at the annual dinner of the Western Society of Engineers, in Chicago, on June 18, 1923, in the presence of 250 mem-bers and guests. W. L. Abbott, Chairman of the Award Commission, when delivering the presentation address, said The life of the Govern-ment of this country, as the lives of governments are usually measured, is short, barely 150 years, but meas-ured by what it has accom-plished, this country has reached a venerable age. The first 75 years of our country's existence were necessarily preparatory to the greater developments which came in the second, and that last half of our country's existence is ex-ceeded, by ten years, by the span of life of our honored guest. "Very little iron and steel were produced in this coun-try until after the birth of Robert W. Hunt. And it was not until after 1860, when as a boy of 21 he joined his fortunes with those of the Cambria Iron Works, that the iron and steel business of the country really took root. After a year or two with the Cambria Works, he left a promising position to go into the army, where he served for four years. After the close of the war he returned to the iron works and qualified himself as a metallurgical chemist.

Jan 7, 1923

By Christopher W. Corti

A major aim of the GOLD 2003 conference, is to promote new gold related science and technology with a view to developing new useful industrial applications for gold. Current industrial uses have provided a steady annual industrial demand for gold of around 350-400 tonnes in recent years, the bulk of which is centred on electronics applications, with dental uses constituting the second largest application. However, there is good reason to believe that whilst gold will continue to play a major role in these sectors in the future, substantial growth of demand is not anticipated. Increased industrial demand for gold is only likely to come through the emergence of new applications, probably most significantly in five broad market sectors: ? Pollution and emission control technologies, including fuel cells. ? New uses for gold in advanced electronics, electrical systems and devices. ? Chemical processing of a range of bulk and speciality chemicals, using gold based catalysts ? Advanced coatings exploiting the novel properties of gold, particularly in nanoparticulate form. ? New biomedical uses for gold including medical treatments, drugs, implants, sensors and devices. There is cause for optimism that many new applications for gold could emerge in these sectors over the next decade and that this will lead to a substantial growth in demand for gold. It is clear that many of these new opportunities will be based on a chemical approach to synthesis of useful products rather than what has historically been a materials or mechanical approach. To turn this expectation into reality requires sustained support of R & D and a determination to exploit this new science and technology into viable commercial applications.

Oct 1, 2003

By A. S. Prokopovitsh

A spectrophotometric method for the determination of small amounts of copper in tungsten metal powder using the principle of solvent extraction has been developed by the Federal Bureau of Mines. The metallic sample is dissolved in hydrogen peroxide, tartaric acid added, the pH adjusted, and the excess peroxide destroyed by boiling. Copper is reduced to the cuprous state, and the reagent neocuproine (2,9-dimethy1-1,10-phenanthroline) is added to form a colored complex with the copper. This colored complex is then extracted into chloroform and the absorbance of the separated chloroform layer measured on a spectrophotometer. Copper contents as low as 1 p.p.m. (parts per million) can be determined. The method is limited to finely divided tungsten powder. The interest of the Bureau of Mines in developing more sensitive methods for the determination of trace impurities in high-purity tungsten prompted an investigation of the possibility of using solvent extraction-colorimetric methods. The organic reagents now commercially available make possible many extremely sensitive colorimetric methods for the determination of metallic ions. Extraction of the colored complex into a small volume of organic phase can be used to further increase sensitivity (4) .4/ This general approach has the added advantage that no special equipment beyond that normally found in an analytical laboratory is required.

Jan 1, 1961

By M. Kanda, W. D. Bensema, J. W. Adams

Two different techniques were used to make measurements of the absolute value of electromagnetic noise in and above an operating coal mine, McElroy Mine, located near Moundsville, Nest Virginia. The electromagnetic environment created by 300 volt dc and 480 volt ac machinery was measured. In one technique noise was measured over the entire electromagnetic spectrum of interest for brief time periods. The noise was recorded using broadband analog magnetic tape. The noise data was later transformed to give spectral plots. In the other technique, noise amplitudes were recorded at several discrete frequencies for a sufficient length of time to provide amplitude probability distributions. The specific, measured results are given in a number of spectral plots and amplitude probability distribution plots.

Jan 6, 1974

By I. Mc Dougall

Finite element models were generated of two submerged arc furnaces of different geometries. A 48MW circular furnace and a 68MW 6-in-line rectangular furnace were studied. The electrodes, raw material, slag and molten metal were included in the model. ANSYS/Multiphysics was used to predict the current density distribution in the electrodes, raw material, slag and molten metal as a result of the three phase AC current. The effect of the electrode immersion on the current path was studied. The ?proximity effect? caused a pronounced asymmetry in the electrode currents in the circular furnace, whilst the electrode currents in the rectangular furnace exhibited radial symmetry. The current distribution in the melt in both furnaces indicated that the bulk of the current flows between phases. The current density is greatest between electrodes. Results were compared to qualitatively similar published work, operating experience and results of furnace dig-outs.

Jan 1, 2007

By L. Cortez, Á. Magalhães, F. Durão

Methods based on regionalized variables theory, commonly known as geostatistics, have been widely used since more than three decades to predict/estimate spatial distributed data, namely mineral resources, with quite good results. However, some restrictive theoretical assumptions, such as the need of some kind of stationarity of data and the linearity of the predictor/estimator, are often wrong options in many applications. An alternative approach based on a finite mixture modelling, or cluster weighted modelling (CWM) technique, is presented and compared, in its theoretical and practical aspects, with the geostatistical methodology. CWM is a general non-linear framework based on the estimation of joint density functions allowing the calculation of the conditional probability function of the target values given their locations. Validation tests are performed in a 2D case study, where testing data proceeds from a soil contaminated by a heavy metal. The results of ordinary kriging and CWM estimations show a very good agreement with actual data. Keywords: Non-linear regression, Geostatistics, Ordinary kriging, Finite mixture modelling, Cluster weighted modelling.

Jan 1, 2003

In the Ora Banda area of the Eastern Gold- fields, the ultramafic rocks tend to be more deeply lateritized than most of the surrounding rock types, and lateritic nickel concentrations have been formed. Extensive drilling_has shown that, of the two intermixed suites be- neath the laterite - an extrusive peridotite- pyroxenite suite and an intrusive, highly magnetic dunite - the latter weathers to a more nickel enriched laterite. The top horizon I of the laterite consists of ferricrete. Horizon II consists mainly of bands of secondary silica in a clay matrix, formed in the reworking zone around the water table and stranded as the weathering profile migrated downwards. Horizon III ('ºaprolite") is composed of serpentinite, magnesite, iron oxides and silica, and grades dowil to the fresh bock composed variously of olivine, ser- pentine, talc, amphibole-chlorite and iron oxides. The main locus of nickel deposition is the zone containing the bottom of horizon II and the top of horizon III. The water table is also at this general level. .

Jan 1, 1973

By Roger A. Harris

INTRODUCTION The Kidd Creek Mine produces a total of 3.6 million tons annually. Geologically the orebody is complex, containing rich values of zinc, copper, silver and lead which are mined and milled as two separate "ore types". Production is mainly from highly mechanized sub-level open stopes of approximately 300,000 tons each. The Mine Engineering Department has developed, and now operates, a computer system that is the subject of this report. It was created specifically to aid the daily work of the mining engineer and has features that are new and possibly unique in the industry. DESIGN OBJECTIVES In 1971 a task force, set up to investigate the subject of computer assistance to mine engineering, specified four design requirements which it felt a successful application had to satisfy. They were:- 1) The computer had to offer a TOTAL SYSTEM that was fully integrated into the routine mine engineering function. 2) The computer had to be directly usable by the current engineering staff, the majority of which had received no formal training in computing.

Jan 1, 1977

By W. B. Tijmann

Maintaining safe, yet economical, slope geometries in a mining operation is paramount. When design analysis and engineering judgement have dictated conservative and usually more expensive problem solutions, monitoring has often proven to be a valuable method in dealing with potential slope instability. A well planned and executed monitoring program can allow operation at a lower theoretical margin of safety. Monitoring provides a valuable check on design parameters and can measure effects of remedial improvements. Warning of impending failure can often be established well in advance. The monitoring problem situations in civil engineering works and open pit mining are much alike. Instruments used for monitoring in both industries are often the same. In this paper, geotechnical instruments for measuring deformation and groundwater pressure in rock and overburden are discussed with a broad-brush approach. Results obtained over extended time periods are presented in a graphical presentation for a case history. Descriptions of various types of instruments, mostly used to monitor stability of rock slopes, are discussed, and data analysis and approximate costs are presented.

Jan 1, 1983

By Mark A. Ammon

The two most widely used methods of measuring hardness are the Brinell and the scleroscope. In the Brinell method a hardened steel ball is pressed into the steel under a definite load and the area of the resulting depression is measured. The load in kg. per sq. mm. of the area of the depression is taken as a measure of the hardness. Within certain limits the hardness number so determined is independent of the load or the size of the ball. In the scleroscope method a small weight carrying a diamond point is dropped through a glass tube upon the steel and the amount of rebound is taken as proportional to the hard-' ness. In both methods the scale of hardness is an arbitrary one; however, they agree in a comparative may, that is, a steel showing 50 per cent. increase in hardness by the Brinell test mill show approximately 50 per cent. increase in hardness by the scleroscope test. Yet upon consideration of the two methods it appears that, upon a steel which has been carbonized, this should not be the case ; for the scleroscope method gives almost exclusively the surface-hardness, and the condition of the material below the surface has but a slight bearing upon the hardness number. The results given by the Brinell method should, however, be the exact opposite; for the depth of penetration 'of a ball pressed into the steel would be dependent to a large extent upon the condition of the material below the surface. This is particularly obvious when it is considered that the size of the ball ordinarily used in the Brinell method is 1 cm. (about 8 in.) in diameter under a load of 3,000 kg., while the diamond point of the scleroscope is in the neighborhood of 0.01 in. across, fitted in a hammer of about 0.5 oz. weight and dropping from a height of 10 inches.

Jan 1, 1913

By Verya Nasri

The Silver Line Phase III Project is the final one mile underground segment of the new Bus Rapid Transit in downtown Boston. The project is expected to significantly reduce existing and anticipated traffic congestion. The twin one-lane tunnels and two station platforms will be built by NATM in Boston saturated soft clay, sand and till layers in proximity to several historical buildings, underpinning two existing cut and cover subway stations and several major utilities in densely built urban area. This paper presents the analysis and design of the NATM tunnels and stations detailing the excavation sequence and support system and various ground improvement and pre-support techniques used in the preliminary and final design of the project

By Ulick R. Evans, Maurice Cook

The structural changes in metals brought about by annealing follow-ing a deformation at a low temperature has been the subject of many investigations. No less than eleven metals and alloys have been studied in some detail; namely, aluminum, tungsten,2 iron,3 copperI4 gold, zinc,6 cadmium, tin: lead: brass,1° and cupronickel. As a result, it is possible to frame a qualitative statement of the effect of the degree of deformation and the temperature of annealing on the structure finally attained.

Jan 1, 1925

By R. M. Treco

THE purpose of this work has been to investigate recrystallization characteristics of zirconium after cold working and annealing. In order to do this, hafnium-contain ing crystal bars of Foote Mineral Co. iodide zirconium were selected for high purity. maximum diameter (about ½ in.), brightness of surface, and absence of core wire. A typical lot analysis is shown in Table I. In order to obtain uniformity of starting material, all bars were cold-swaged to 0.310 in. diam, annealed for 2 hr at 1000°C, and furnace cooled.

Jan 1, 1957