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By Marcos C. Filgueiras, Thomas A. Post, Michael A. Giralico, Daniel M. Adams

The leaching of copper, gold, and nickel in tanks requires mixing. Minerals require oxygen, acid and/or base [NH3] to assist in the leaching process. Two basic types of tanks are used for this operation. They are either vertical tanks or closed horizontal tanks called autoclaves. This paper discusses mineral leaching, it's mixing requirements, and autoclaves.

Jan 1, 1999

By J. E. Lees

Advanced remote sensing can be a powerful new information tool to help private and public entities make better environmental and resource management decisions. However, some regulated entities are reluctant to develop or use this tool because of their concerns that it will lead to increased risks and costs of environmental legal liability. They fear that new ways of monitoring the environment will increase liability, undermine existing enforcement agreements, reopen compliance agreements, and generally provide a competitive disadvantage to early adopters by accelerating environmental cleanup costs. Others counter that the increased risks are marginal, and that several advantages outweigh these risks, including the opportunity to more effectively manage environmental operations, target and set priorities, measure and track management and compliance effectiveness, provide more defensible environmental assessments and baseline conditions, make and defend optimal siting decisions, and avoid or resolve environmental disputes. This paper offers strategic advice on ways regulated entities can enjoy the benefits of these powerful new information tools while mitigating down-side legal and compliance risks as much as possible.

Jan 1, 1999

By P. C. Holloway, A. Tshilombo, T. Xue, M. J. Collins, R. Lopetinsky, I. Mihaylov, I. M. Masters

The Voisey’s Bay deposit contains a trace amount of cadmium, which reports to solution during pressure leaching of the nickel concentrate at Vale’s Long Harbour Hydrometallurgy Plant, and must be removed to produce high quality nickel cathode. In 2006, Vale approached Sherritt Technologies to collaborate on the development of a process for removing cadmium to low levels (<1 mg/L) in the nickel raffinate. Following successful bench scale and pilot plant testing at Sherritt’s laboratories, the cadmium removal process was then moved through engineering and construction, culminating in the successful commissioning and startup of a cadmium removal circuit at the Long Harbour Hydrometallurgy Plant in 2017. This paper presents the results of this collaboration and the challenges that were encountered through each stage of development, as well as current results from operation of the commercial cadmium removal circuit. INTRODUCTION Vale’s Long Harbour Processing Plant, with a nameplate capacity of 50,000 t/y nickel, began operation in 2014. In addition to electrolytic nickel rounds, the plant also produces electrolytic cobalt rounds and copper cathode. The Long Harbour Processing Plant uses a unique hydrometallurgical process developed by Vale Base Metals Technology Centre, as shown in Figure 1, to treat a nickel sulphide concentrate produced at the Voisey’s Bay mine and mill located in northern Labrador (VBN concentrate) (Stevens et al., 2009).

Jan 1, 2019

By Zvonimir Ester

The course of motorway tunnel under construction was set only 2 m away from the main motorway. The thickness of the tunnel overburden rock was 9 m. During the tunnel construction the traffic on the motorway was not supposed to be interrupted. The tunneling was carried out by NATM with classical drilling of blastholes and by blasting.

Jan 1, 1998

By McManus D

Situations where in-pit bench stripping methods are favourable are introduced. Examples from Peak Downs Mine are used as a guide to the range of methods available.A number of geological and geotechnical conditions adverse to successful in-pit bench stripping are described. In all cases bench, floor, and/or final lowwall instability can develop and compromise the economics of extraction.

Jan 1, 1992

By J. G. Walters

The method for predicting coke strength developed at Steinkohlenberg-bauverein, Germany, in which experimental parameters are readily determined by small-scale laboratory tests, was found to be applicable to cokes produced from industrially used blends of American coals. Predicted 1-inch ASTM tumbler indices for four industrial blends were found to be in excellent agreement with the experimentally determined values. The laboratory determined prediction parameters include the proximate analysis of the coal the size consist of the coal, and Ruhr dilatometer test data.

Jan 1, 1971

By A. J. Miscoe

A unique machine for inducing bending fatigue in wire ropes was built at the U.S. Bureau of Mines&apos; Pittsburgh Research Center. This machine can produce nine levels of degradation through repetitive cycling of long samples of wire ropes of the types used in the mining industry. This report provides an analysis of the results of the first wire rope to be fatigued on this machine. These results have indicated that as a wire rope accumulates bending cycles, its strength first decreases because of wear and then in-creases due to cold working of the wires. As the amount of cold working increases, more and more of the embrittled wires break and the strength of the rope decreases rapidly. In this test, application of several of the regulatory retirement criteria to various sections of the rope suggests that there may be some inconsistency among them.

Jan 1, 2010

By E. P. Klier

The work of Klier and Lyman1 on the bainite reaction has led to the full description of this reaction for medium-carbon low-alloy steels. Certain experimental data reported by Klier and Lyman appear, however, to be improbable of obtaining in very high-carbon steels. The study herein reported consists of an analysis of the transformation characteristics of a 3 per cent chromium, I per cent carbon steel by means of X-ray and metallographic methods. From the results obtained it is concluded that the bainite reaction in this steel is more complicated than that reported by Klier and Lyman for the low-carbon low-alloy steels. Henever, the mechanism of bainite formation in this steel appears to be essentially the same as proposed for the low-carbon low-alloy steels with the modification that the first volumes to transform are carbon-rich rather than carbon-poor. Experimental Procedure The analysis of the steel studied was: Cr, 2.89; C, 1.02; Mn, 0.33; Si, o.35; S, 0.012; P, 0.020. The stock was received from the Carpenter Steel Co. in rolled bars. Specimen Preparation Specimens were austenitized at 1200°C. (2192°F.) for 25 min. in purified nitrogen. The resultant A.S.T.M. austenite grain size was 0-1. Isothermal transformation was allowed by quenching the specimens into liquid metal baths controlled to 5°C. at 540°C. (1004°F.) and above, and to 2°C. at 490°C. (914°f.) and below. Following the desired degree of transformation all specimens were water quenched. Metallographic Examination Specimens 1/4 in. round by 1/4 in. were used for nietallographic examination. Etch-ants used were Vilella&apos;s reagent (I gram picric acid, 10 ml. hydrochloric acid to make 100 ml. ethyl alcohol solution) and alkalinc sodium picratc (electrolytic). Vilella&apos;s reagent was effective in revealing all microconstitucnts, while the alkaline sodium picrate developed the carbon-rich structures or carbides only. X-ray Examination Two X-ray techniques were used—the Debye-Scherrer method and a back-reflection method. &apos;The small specimens necessary for the Debye-Scherrer method were austenitized and then allowed to transform, or were cut from the larger metallographic specimens. The metallographic specimens were used for the back-reflection X-ray analysis. When it was desirable to determine the structure of the carbide present, sliver specimens were electrolytically etched to develop a carbide coating, then were exposed in the cameras. This technique was frequently necessary to allow positive identification of the carbide.

Jan 1, 1945

By James J. Olson, Richard A. Dick

Blasting practices have shown a recent trend toward larger blastholes and larger burdens and spacings, although some operators, after reconsidering the situation have gone back to smaller blasthole sizes. The greater pull-down capabilities of larger drill rigs and the greater bearing strength of large diameter drill bits give penetration rates for large diameter blastholes approaching, and sometimes exceeding, penetration rates for smaller holes. In practically all cases, large diameter holes can be drilled more quickly and cheaply, based on volume of hole, than small diameter holes. The industry&apos;s shift to dry blasting agents and slurries, products which perform more dependably and efficiently in larger diameters, gives an additional advantage to larger boreholes.

Jan 3, 1972

By H. M. Manasevit, R. L. Nolder, L. A. Moudy

The observation that silicon-on-sapphire crystallo-graphic relationships exist which are unrelated to one another implies that there are regions of sapphire orientations containing these relationships which are separated by boundaries. The presence of these boundaries is demonstrated, initially on rounded cylindrical surfaces md more definitively on flat sapphire substrates with orientations along primary crystallograPhic zones. By means of reflection electron and X-ray diffraction techniques the crystallographic relationships have been studied. Two new relationships have been found, viz., (111) Si (1014) sapphire and (001)Si (1012) sapphire. Also found were multicrystalline relationships. The approximated boundaries between the crystallographic regions for each relationship are shown by means of a stereo-graphic projection. These studies also clarify discrepancies in the literature concerning the silicon-sapphire relationships on the (1120) sapphire substrate. SINCE the first report of the deposition of single-crystal silicon on sapphire in 1963&apos; this epitaxial system has been the object of study by many semiconductor laboratories. In particular, there has been strong interest in the crystallographic relationships between the two materials. In 19652,3 we demonstrated that at least four distinct modes of orientation relationships can occur, namely, (100)Si (0112) sapphire, (111)Si 11 (1124) sapphire, (111)Si (1120) sapphire, and (111)Si (0001) sapphire. Each relationship could be obtained when the substrate plane was at the particular orientation indicated. Other workers as well as our laboratory concurred in general with the initial results. However, two discrepancies were observed. First it was observed by Joyce et a1.4 that on a (1120) substrate a (110) silicon deposit could be obtained. This was actually consistent with the (111)Si (1124) sapphire mode. Second, two other laboratories,5,6 as well as our own,7 have found a deposition on the basal plane which is different than our initial findings. Even though a (111)Si deposit was obtained, the crystallographic relationships were not identical to those previously found. Subsequent work in our laboratories has confirmed that the form found in these later investigations of the basal plane is by far the more predominant, and the original finding was an anomaly. The relationships which have been previously estab1.ished are summarized in Table I. It is seen that at present a rather small number of possible substrate orientations has been investigated. Therefore, it seemed appropriate that a systematic investigation of silicon epitaxy on various sapphire substrate orientations would be of value. It was expected that the answers to three questions could be obtained from such an investigation. These are as follows: 1) Since we know of at least four distinct modes of orientation relationships, over what range of substrate orientation do these modes occur and what is the form of the boundary expected between the different regions in which each mode occurs? 2) Are there other modes which occur on substrate orientations not previously investigated? 3) What is the explanation for the discrepancy between our laboratory&apos;s findings and those results reported by Joyce et al.4 concerning the relationships occurring on (1120) substrates? APPROACHES AND EXPERIMENTAL METHODS Two different approaches were used. Initially, depositions were carried out on rounded cylindrical surfaces which lay perpendicular to the (0112) plane.* By this means the presence of boundaries and their approximate positions could be determined. Finally and more definitively, depositions on flat sapphire substrates with a variety of orientations, mostly along primary crystallographic zones and about the (1120) plane, were studied by means of reflection electron diffraction and X-ray diffraction (using back-reflection Laue patterns and full circle goniometer techniques) in order to determine crystallographic relationships. The sapphire orientations investigated by these means

Jan 1, 1969

By Bogie I, White P. J

Active geothermal systems occur widely in Sumatra and in the Taupo Volcanic Zone (TVZ) of New Zealand. There are also many occurrences of epithermal gold mineralisation in Sumatra, some of which are economic. Minor sub-economic occurrences of gold have been reported in the TVZ but none have yet been mined. There are both similarities and differences in the nature of the active geothermal systems and mineral deposits in Sumatra and New Zealand, which can be systematically related to the tectonic setting. The thicker crust and consequent predominance of silicic volcanism in New Zealand leads to hydrothermal. systems which are little eroded and with limited lateral outflows. The systems in Sumatra are of mixed character, with some of the characteristics of those in andesitic island arcs such as Java or the Philippines, eg a higher proportion of systems with identifiable acid magmatic volatiles, a greater potential for deep erosion and lateral outflows than in New Zealand; but modified by the more oblique component of subduction and thickened crust so that some are localised in volcano-tectonic depressions and consequently have high piezometric levels of primary hydrothermal fluid. The unusual occurrence of calcic zeolites in veins associated with gold mineralisation in Sumatra is thought to be indicative of "satellite" boiling zones along de-gassed hydrothermal outflows.

Jan 1, 1995

By T. J. Cox

The Red River is located within the Sangre De Cristo Mountain Range in northern New Mexico. An approximate 12-mile segment of the river from the town of Red River to the village of Questa (Questa) includes several hydrothermal alteration zones. Alteration ?scars? formed as a result of rapid chemical weathering and physical erosion of pyrite-rich hydrothermally altered rocks. Storm water runoff from the scar drainages contributes metal-laden, acidic water to the river and creates a visible plume of discolored water in the river. Acidic runoff reduces the river pH from 7 to the mid 3s for at least 2 hours during large storms and the low pH water continues downstream. Runoff from scar drainages increases some metal concentrations in the river from below chronic ecological criteria to as much as two orders of magnitude greater than acute ecological criteria, and results in acutely toxic conditions for macro-invertebrates. A general improvement in the river?s water quality occurs downstream due to dilution from tributary inflow from non-mineralized watersheds, the natural buffering capacity of the river, and storm water controls at the Chevron Mining Inc. Questa mine.

Jan 1, 2011

By Richard L. Kerr

The U.S. aluminum recycling industry has experienced rapid growth in both its size and importance over the past two decades. Secondary recovery now makes up about one-third of total U.S .. aluminum supply compared with ]9 percent, of a much smaller total in the early 1970&apos;s. This growth has occurred in part because recycled metal performs as well as new aluminum in most applications, and because it provides major savings in production costs and natural resource utilization. In addition, the recycling industry has played a critical role in greatly expanded -production and reclamation of aluminum beverage cans. Recycled metal makes up over half of the content of aluminum sheet used: to manufacture beverage cans. In future years, both the-production and reclamation of aluminum cans are likely to rise in foreign markets, thus providing the industry with opportunities for further growth. Recyclers may also play a larger role in supplying auto producers who are using increasing amounts of aluminum in passenger cars and trucks. However, in order to take advantage of this growing market, an efficient infrastructure for collection of scrap and production of metal must be developed.

Jan 1, 1995

By P. A. Beck, A. Merlini

Quantitative texture determinations were made for rolled and for rolled and annealed strips of 3, 6, and 10 pct Zn brasses. The main components of the rolling texture gradually shift over a wide composition range from the orientation characteristic of copper to that of 70-30 brass. At least the main features of the corresponding gradual changes in the annealing texture may be accounted for qualitatively on the basis of the oriented growth theory of annealing textures. All the oriented nucleation-type theories are notably less successful in accounting for the observed textures. EARLIER investigations by von Goeler and Sachs,&apos; Dahl and Pawlek,&apos; and Brick, Martin, and Angier" suggested that the annealing texture of copper is more sensitive to the addition of solute elements than the rolling texture. It was reported3 that the cube texture changes over into a brass-type recrys-tallization texture on addition of about 1 pct Zn, while the deformation texture changes only at about 5 pct Zn. Such behavior would be difficult to reconcile with any theory of annealing texture formation that relates the annealing texture to the deformation texture. In particular, the oriented growth theory of the cube texture" is based on a certain orientation relationship between the cube texture and the main components of the deformation texture which could not be reconciled with the reported behavior of low brasses. It was, therefore, of interest to re-examine these textures by means of the quantitative methods now available. The deformation and annealing textures of rolled a brasses with approximately 3, 6, and 10 pct Zn have been determined in terms of (111) and (200) pole figures. Experimental Methods The chemical analyses of the Cu-Zn alloys of commercial purity used in the present work are given in Table I. Chill-cast bars of the tabulated compositions were rolled and annealed according to the following schedule: I—rolling from 1.2 to 1.02 in. thickness, 15 pct reduction area, annealing 15 min at 450°C; 2— rolling from 1.02 to 0.867 in. thickness, 15 pct reduction area, annealing 15 min at 450°C; 3—rolling from 0.867 to 0.600 in. thickness, 31 pct reduction area, annealing 2 hr at 540°C; 4—rolling from 0.600 to 0.400 in. thickness, 33 pct reduction area, annealing 2 hr at 480°C. In the final straight rolling of 96.25 pct reduction area, the strips were reversed end to end after each pass. The final annealing temperature was determined for each alloy by annealing specimens of the cold-rolled strips in salt bath for 5 min at varying temperatures. The results of the hardness measurements are given in Fig. 1, where the final annealing temperature used for each alloy in determining the annealing texture is indicated by a cross.

Jan 1, 1956

By Charles A. Ashburner

At the Philadelphia meeting of the Institute, held in February, 1881,I had the honor of reading a paper on "A New Method of Mapping the Anthracite Coal Fields of Pennsylvania."* At that time the State appropriation for the Second Geological Survey had just expired, and, as a new appropriation was not assured, no detailed plan had been adopted by Professor Lesley, State Geologist, for the practical examination of the mines, and the solution of the geological structure of special localities, or the representation in sections, vertical and columnar, of the general structure of the coal basins and coal beds. I had merely proposed a plan of mapping, as the material for the construction of maps was most available, and it was at that time uncertain what money the Survey would have to enable it to extend the surface and underground explorations, in order to make the examinations complete. After a continuation of the Survey was authorized until January, 1884, by the legislature, in May, 1881, the Anthracite Survey was regularly organized, and a plan adopted for a systematic and exhaustive geological and mine examination of the region. This plan provided for such work, other than that of mapping, as was necessary for a complete and practical geological and mining survey of a coal field. To do any geological work, of however general a character, it was absolutely. necessary that the members of the Survey Corps should obtain unrestricted access to all the mining records of the operators, which have been made with great care and accuracy and at an enormous expense during the past thirty years and more. The unanimous and generous support of the individual and corporate coal operators, of the plan of carrying on the Survey, was promptly assured, on condition that the results should be of such a character as to render them of practical utility to the property-owners and those directly interested. It was hoped

Jan 1, 1883

By P. Hickey, G. Hubert, P. Healy

"J. S. Redpath Limited, an underground contractor with a worldwide presence, has implemented innovative techniques in various projects in Canada to shorten the development cycle. Conventional methods currently used for installing primary ground support are compared with the Australian technique of bolting and meshing with jumbos equipped with twin telescopic booms, in-cycle shotcreting, and the use of two jumbos and two scissor bolters set up side by side in wide headings. Recommendations and lessons learned are presented with the aim of providing realistic expectations with regard to development advance rates in a mining environment.RÉSUMÉ J. S. Redpath Limitée, un entrepreneur minier souterrain d’envergure mondiale, a complété plusieurs projets au Canada où des techniques novatrices ont été mises en oeuvre pour raccourcir le cycle de développement. Cet article présente une comparaison entre les méthodes conventionnelles fréquemment utilisées pour le support de terrain, la technique australienne de boulonnage et d’installation de grillage au moyen de jumbos équipés de flèches télescopiques doubles, du béton projeté appliqué durant le cycle de développement et de l’utilisation de deux jumbos et deux boulonneuses côtes-à-côtes dans des galeries de grandes dimensions. Les recommandations et les leçons apprises sont présentées dans le but de fournir au lecteur des attentes réalistes quant aux taux d’avancement du développement dans un environnement minier."

Jan 1, 2016

Jan 1, 1915

By M. J. Nicol, P. Balestra, E. Schalch

A detailed fundamental study has been made of the various factors that influence the partial reactions comprising the electrochemical model of the cementation of gold from cyanide solutions by zinc. The effects of cyanide concentration, pH, agitation, additions of lead, and the presence of various impurity ions on both the anodic dissolution of zinc and the cathodic reduction of gold have been investigated. The results are used to explain the influence of these variables on the rate of cementation, and possible implications of this work for plant practice are discussed.

Jan 1, 1979

By Robert F. Flagg

This paper reviews the state of the art of precision explosive demolition particularly as it pertains to steel bridges. The two key factors affecting the acceptance of this type of demolition/are discussed as well as the physics and performance of the key explosive tool, the linear shaped charge. Methods of planning and executing typical bridge demolitions are discussed and examples of noteworthy engineering tasks given.

Jan 1, 1976

What Bottleneck? ??Resurgence of BC Mining Industry; ??Climate of heightened activity ?Increases pressure placed upon regulatory agencies; ??Current EA and permitting system, when Federal agencies are involved, remains duplicative and inefficient ?not necessarily leading to better decision making; ??Inefficiencies will impederecovery

May 1, 2006