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By Richard L. Ash

A question that frequently arises during litigation concerned with accidents or alleged damages involving blasting is "were the explosives used according to the best known standards"" The question is not confined to only law suits, however, but also everytime poor blasting results occur. Unfortunately, general guidelines that can be used to define what may be considered as proper practice have not been established by any responsible body upon which to base a reliable Judgment; more often than not decisions are made primarily according to personal opinion.

Jan 1, 1975

By H. H. Yancey

In this information circular is presented a summary of the more important articles that nave appeared in the literature pertaining to the experimental work and to the commercial operation of the froth-flotation and Trent processes as applied to the cleaning of fine coal.

Jan 1, 1933

This paper addresses the unique environ- mental programmes which prevail at Ranger and their importance in the future profitability, of Ranger Uranium Mines Pty Ltd. (RUM) Industrial relations, general safety, and occupational health have long been regarded as part and parcel of the concept to 'manage for profits'. More recently, the need for environmental protection has also become an important management consideration. This is particularly so at the Ranger Uranium Mine where environmental protection is very closely and continuously regulated. Since the commencement of operations at Ranger some three years ago the company has operated within these regulations and demonstrated clearly that yellowcake can be produced efficiently, economically and safely. The company also recognises that in order to ensure continuity of production, it will have to continue to operate within these strictly supervised Regulations.

Jan 1, 1984

By II Browne

After a decade of high copper prices, major mining companies are renewing their interest in purchasing operating properties and/or development of ore bodies. An existing operation carries with it a history that can present unique opportunities, while a greenfield operation allows for the establishment of a defined culture. Capital investments are distinctly different. A comparison of BHP Copper Robinson Operation, a greenfield property, and BHP Copper Tintaya Operation, a government owned Peruvian property, will provide insights into mining, concentrating and cultural differences between North and South American Operations.

Jan 1, 1997

By Ernest R. Woakes

Cana, originally called Santa Cruz de Cana, is situated in the province of Darien, in the Republic of Colombia, S. A. The river Cana is a tributary of the Tuyra, which flows into the Gulf of San Miguel, and thence into the Pacific Ocean some 80 rniles S.E. of the City of Panama. • The Espiritu Santo mine lies on the S. side of the Cana river at the foot of the Espiritu Santo range. The plateau of Cana has an elevation of 2000 feet above sea-level, and the mine is about 200 feet above the plateau. The map of the Darien accompanying this paper is the only correct one in existence. It was made by Lucien N. Bonaparte Wyse for the Panama Canal Co., and has been copied fur the present use, with permission, by Mr. L. G. Inglis. The dotted line on this map shows the route from the coast to Cana. As this mine was one of the most celebrated at the time of the Spanish occupation, it is only natural that there are a great many traditions and writings concerning its former workers and production. Dampier mentions it, though he does not seem to have been nearer to it than El Real de Santa Maria, the port on the Rio Tuyra, about 50 miles by road from Cana. Senor Vicente Restrepo's work, entitled Estudio sobre las Minas de Oro y Plata de Colombia, translated by C. TV. Fisher and published in New York in 1886, is, perhaps, the best treatise on Colombian mines. He has devoted a great deal of attention to the subject of the Espiritu Santo mine, and has had access to all that dealt with it in the archives of Bogota. It will be interesting to quote a few pasaages from the above work, which seemed like a romance to the writer of this paper some years ago, when he first came across the history. Being actually in Cana at the time, and knowing the present company had

Jan 1, 1900

By Sah Rameshwar, T. Umadevi, K. S. SRIDHARA

In the magnetite iron ore pelletization process, oxidation of magnetite followed by sintering of the oxidized magnetite (hematite) is desirable. Optimum preheating time & temperature and roasting time & temperature is required to get the desired properties of the pellets with magnetite, hematite, and hematite–magnetite blend. In order to utilize the magnetite resources in a current induration furnace, which is designed for hematite resources, detailed pelletization studies have been carried out to optimize the firing cycle for magnetite concentrate as well as magnetite with hematite concentrate. Under optimum conditions, such as preheating temperature 1000–1150 °C, preheating time 10 min, roasting temperature 1250 °C and roasting time 7.5 min, the cold compression strength (CCS) of magnetite roasted pellets was 325 kg/p, and this was due to recrystallization of secondary hematite particles, and development of the strong slag bond between primary and secondary hematite particles. The strength of hematite concentrate pellets was 260 kg/p. From laboratory studies, it was found that without disturbing the induration furnace firing cycle, which is designed for hematite ore ~5%, magnetite concentrate can be used along with hematite concentrate in pellet blend and the strength of the pellets was 270 kg/p. As the magnetite concentrate increases in the blend beyond 5%, the preheating zone residence time should be increased or a supply of extra oxygen is required. Laboratory as well as plant investigation has shown that the addition of magnetite to the hematite mix blend improved the strength of the pellets compared to hematite pellet alone.

Oct 26, 2020

By W. J. Bennett

WHEN Dr. Horace Fraser, your President, invited me to speak to you today I advised him in confidence that I was leaving my present positions on April 30th. In the circumstances it seemed to me that this audience might prefer to have as its speaker one who wo.uld J1ave a continuing association with the atomic energy programme. Dr. Fraser was kind enough to suggest that my re-marks might he of special interest to you, since I would be able to sum up my views on the atomic energy programme. I hope that I will not disappoint him or you on that score. I am particularly pleased that my last public appearance in my present positions should be at the Annual Convention of the C.I.M. since, as all of you know, a very important part of my work has been in the mining field. As it happens, my first public address on the subject of atomic energy and its raw material -uranium -was made at your Annual Convention in Montreal in April, 1949. It seems fitting that my final address should also be made at this convention -nine years later.

Jan 1, 1958

By W. P. Barnett

In 1988, the U.S. Department of Energy's Pittsburgh Energy Technology Center identified three coal cleaning options for achieving flexible environmental control strategies aimed at reducing energy-related SO2 emissions. These are selective agglomeration, advanced froth flotation, and advanced cycloning. Each technology relies on maximum liberation of pyrite and other mineral matter through feed coal comminution to fine and ultrafine sizes. Research projects designed to expeditiously develop each of these technologies to the point of commercial viability were initiated. This paper will present the status of these projects and the application potential of each technology to coal beneficiation.

Jan 1, 1992

By M. A. Boucher

The purpose of my presentation is threefold: a) to make you aware of what is available in Canada in terms of refractory minerals. b) indicate the mineral deposits that have potential for development. c) show the advantages of Canada as a supplier of electrical energy necessary for the production of electrofused minerals. Canada is a producer of natural refractory minerals, electrofused minerals, and synthetic refractory minerals. Several deposits also have good potential for development. The natural refractory minerals produced in Canada are shown in Table 1. The major minerals by decreasing order of importance in terms of tonnage and values are: dolomite, graphite and magnesite.

Jan 1, 1992

By F. Warnaars

Historically, this area produced gold and silver from many well-known vein deposits, like Tayoltita, Topia, and San Jose de Gracia. Modern exploration identified three categories of deposits: 1) low grade porphyry golds in shallow level dacite porphyries; 2) batholith-related deposits; and 3) those formed in volcanic sequences of Late Cretaceous to Late Tertiary. At least four porphyry golds have been identified, of which Metates is best known. These are formed by and within dacite porphyries, associated hydrothermal breccias and sometimes within surrounding metasediments. Their ages are from mid-Cretaceous to Early Tertiary. Precious metal deposits associated with batholiths occur as veins, contact haloes in metasediments or volcanics, skarns, tectonic breccias, hydrothermal tourmaline breccias, dacite dikes or as disseminated or stockwork deposits such as La Fortuna. Several new gold discoveries were made in older Early Tertiary Volcanic Sequences and in the younger Tertiary volcanics within prominent structures exceeding 3 to 5 km in lengths. Some of these are open-pittable but most have to be mined by underground methods.

Jan 1, 1999

By Erich J. Jacob, Volker O. Meldner

INTRODUCTION Our company has made persistent efforts to utilize the very latest cost-saving technology in tunnel design and construction. However, we were relatively late in joining the clan of slurry shield tunnelers. The challenge came in 1973, when our company was low bidder on a major sewer tunnel in Hamburg, West Germany. The tunnel was to be driven under the harbor region through coarse and fine sands with up to 60 ft hydrostatic head of water. Outer diameter was 15 ft, and length was 2.9 miles. This contract appeared right to enter the new field of slurry face tunneling. We gathered a design-engineering team to develop the machine, called it "Hydroshield", and used it on the project. The good performance of the prototype machine encouraged us to improve and modify the equipment design. The very latest model is now in use on a subway tunnel in Antwerp, Belgium. This tunnel is 21 ft outer diameter and 2.4 miles in total length. In terms of excavated volume it is the world's largest slurry shield contract. While the drive is still in full swing, we are currently preparing for 3 further Hydroshield applications, with diameters ranging from 12 to 32 ft. This paper describes the Hydroshield's salient design features, operational characteristics, construction reliability and performance levels, as experienced in West Germany and Belgium.

Jan 1, 1979

By Charles B. Carpenter

[The Bureau of Mines selected Anahuac for a petroleum-engineering study because it is one of the notable fields of the Gulf Coast region. It is outstanding because the producing formation is very thick; ever modern technique of drilling' and development has been applied; complete records of all operations,, including detailed subsurface information have been kept; the field has ,been developed systematically; and every effort has been made to utilize the reservoir energy efficiently. Data and information pertaining to the development anal operation were collected, compiled, and studied by the writers as if the field were under single ownership. The chief aim of the study was to increase the accuracy of the existing methods of estimating reserves by applying all the data collected during the modern development of an oil field, These scientific aids include coring; electric logging; micropaleontology determinations of porosity, permeability of oil-bearing sands, and their connate water content; subsurface sampling of the reservoir oil; and depth-pressure measurements. Because the reservoir structure in the Anahuac field is extremely complex, special attention was given to methods of calculating the reservoir volume.]

Jan 1, 1941

By Jeffrey M. Listak

This U.S. Bureau of Mines report describes the implications of in-mine ground control on the automated or remotely controlled operation of longwall mining equipment, Perhaps the greatest challenge to longwall automation researchers is the development of systems that will continuously function in the complex and unpredictable underground environment. The high degree of environmental variability, together with conditions brought about by the extraction process, makes complete automation of longwall mining a difficult task. The intellectual thought processes and split-second decision making required to avert disasters are lost when workers are removed from the face. As many mine operators can attest, minor problems, left unresolved, can eventually accumulate and lead to catastrophic consequences. The automation process will have to assess and manage various routine problems that are otherwise resolved through worker observation and experience.

Jan 1, 1990

By Arthur J. Hudson, Lawrence W. Scott

The performance of RETIMET metal foam as a flame arrester on explosion-proof enclosures was investigated by the U.S. Bureau of Mines both in laboratory tests and at the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration's (MSHA's) Approval and Certification Center, Triadelphia, WV. The objective of this research was to develop a permissible pressure vent for use on lightweight, vented, explosion- proof enclosures. In laboratory tests, four grades of RETIMET, a stainless steel foam material, were evaluated: (1) 45 NC-7, (2) 45 NC-13, (3) 80 NC-7, and (4) 80 NC-13. Explosive gas mixtures were prepared by a dynamic flow system. Ignition was by a low-voltage arc. Each grade of RETIMET metal foam successfully arrested the flame front in all methane-air tests. To evaluate RETIMET metal foam on large, commercial size enclosures, a multicompartmented enclosure was designed and tested in MSHA's explosion gallery in Triadelphia, WV. Extensive explosion testing revealed that a minimum vent-area-to-enclosure-volume ratio of 11.33 in2/ft3 is required to keep internal pressure rises below 3 psig. The RETIMET metal foam functioned satisfactorily in all tests as evidenced by the absence of external ignitions.

Jan 1, 1992

By M. M. Botz

There are currently more that 460 mines worldwide that utilize cyanide for gold and silver extraction. Despite this large number of cyanide-related mining operations, there have been no published accounts during the previous 25 years of the death of humans due to cyanide as a direct consequence of major mining-related environmental incidents. All published accounts of human deaths due to mining-related environmental incidents have been the result of physical inundation with tailings or waste rock materials. It appears that major mining-related environmental incidents have not been concentrated in any geographic location, are likely to occur regardless of the size of the mining company and do not occur more frequently with a specific type of mining activity. Several cyanide treatment and recovery technologies have been widely demonstrated to reliably control cyanide levels in mining solutions. With proper use of these technologies, tailings cyanide concentrations can be maintained at levels protective of wildlife while reducing the potential for adverse environmental incidents. The development of an international cyanide code of practice or management plan is recommended and should take into consideration the adoption of a weak-acid-dissociable (WAD) cyanide standard that maintains the levels entering a tailings impoundment below 50 mg/L.

Jan 1, 2001

By I. Kirman, B. Waters

World wide applications for nickel use will be summarized and examples of those uses given. Nickel products are critical to many important aspects of modern society. These products are just as important for modern China as they are in other parts of the world. It is argued that future pattern of nickel use in China should be expected to be very similar to that in the rest of the developed world. Total use of nickel in products in China is already very large. In 2004, it was the largest market for stainless steel (nickel containing) in the world. A survey of Chinese stainless steel applications will be presented. Current high nickel prices have revived speculation about substitution, particularly for nickel containing stainless steels. The presentation will discuss some of the complicating factors that need to be taken into account when considering substitution. These factors are as valid in modern China as they are in other developed economies. Recent substitution efforts and the reaction to them will be examined. The Nickel Institute position regarding appropriate application of the various grades of stainless steel will be discussed. Price-motivated substitution in China, and elsewhere, will occur but it is argued that the extent will probably be limited.

Jan 1, 2005

By R. W. Ruddle

The present state of knowledge on this subject may briefly be summarized as follows: (1) The copper content of the slag increases with the grade of the matte in contact with it; on the other hand, the proportion of copper lost decreases as the matte grade increases, because as a general rule a smaller volume of slag is produced when a high-grade matte is made. (2) The presence of CaO and MgO in the slag decreases the copper content of the slag, and the presence of ZnO increases it; the presence of A1203 seems to have little effect. The influence of the silicate degree is not yet clarified, but on theoretical grounds it seems likely that the copper content increases with the silicate degree of the slag. (3) High slag viscosity, high magnetite contents and low density difference between matte and slag all tend to increase the copper loss. The volume of slag is also an important factor. (4) The effect of bath temperature on the copper loss is not clear and further investigation of this point is needed. (5) It appears possible to recover a large part of the copper in the slag by adding FeS, CaS and other sulphides

Jan 1, 1953

By S. Marx

More than twenty years ago Sasol, ISCOR, and some parastatals played a major role in ensuring that South Africa had sufficient technical skills. When the economy became tight and business and government were pressurized to decrease costs, the first budgets that were reduced were the training budgets. It seemed to be too expensive and too time-consuming to train apprentices. According to Stacey2, this is a major strategic issue facing the mining industry in South Africa. Two factors added to the shortage of skills challenge: ? Skills erosion and job losses ? Artisans ? currently the economy produces 5 000 but the need is 12 500 ? Level of mechanization in South Africa less than 10 per cent ? Average age of operators and artisans is 50 ? Greater awareness of occupational health effects of hand-held drilling. ? Workplace challenges ? The impact of HIV/AIDS and other employee wellness issues ? Changes and challenges in workplace environment i.e. the mining industry.

Jan 1, 2012

By W. G. Deeks

CANADIANS are world leaders in marketing metal and mineral products. Noranda Sales Corporation Ltd. is an international metal and mineral product marketing company operating from Toronto and London, England, where it operates a wholly owned sales subsidiary and is a 50% partner in Rudolf Wolff and Company Ltd., a charter member and the largest metal broker on the London Metal Exchange. Noranda Sales employs 97 people, of whom 52 are university trained and professionally competent in international resource product marketing. We market for 19 companies or divisions in the Noranda Group and 39 companies for whom we act as agent, consultant and purchaser of resource production. Our business in 1976 was 1.5 billion dollars carried out in 45 countries and covering 24 products and materials. Today, ownership of most of the mining industry in Canada has transferred back to Canadians, and this is said with the knowledge that a significant part of the Canadian industry has been Canadian owned and managed from its very early days. Noranda Mines Limited is such an example. It was born in 1922 as the result of a copper-gold showing at Noranda, Quebec, discovered by Ed Horne, a prospector, financed with a grubstake by a syndicate mainly composed of New York businessmen. Shortly after the discovery, when the shares of the company had risen, the syndicate was sold to Canadian interests and, since that time, Noranda has been dominantly Canadian owned and certainly Canadian managed. Today, over 90% of Noranda's shareholders are Canadian, who hold an equivalent percentage of the stock.

Jan 1, 1977

By Erik Vlot

"The mining industry has recognized the advantages of high density backfill or ‘paste’, which is typically pumped with a hydraulically driven piston pump. Due to the discontinuous flow of this type of pump, pressure pulsations can occur in the discharge line. Pressure pulsations are an undesired phenomenon in pumping installations for a number of reasons that include: damage to the pumping system; piping and supports; disturbing noise levels; and even safety risks for operators and maintenance personnel.This paper describes an advanced system on the GEHO® piston pumps, which will prevent virtually no pressure pulsations from occurring, rather than merely reducing the already existing pulsations.INTRODUCTIONThe first GEHO® hydraulically driven piston pump was developed in the mid-1970s. It was an industrial design pump designed to operate in the high-standard industrial environment with regards to operating hours per day, duties, maintenance and lifetime of the pump and spare parts. This type of pump has a proven track record and has been further developed for the type of applications that we are describing today. The special feature of this pump type is its ability to pump extremely viscous slurry with solids content of up to 90% by weight, at high pressures. Typically, in the mining industry, this pump is used for tailings transportation, with a focus on mine backfill and is often referred to as a paste pump.In the 1980’s the hydraulically driven piston pump made its entry into the application of mine backfill, thanks to the high discharge pressure capabilities enabling the mines to pump higher density (i.e. higher solids concentration) slurries and pastes over longer distances.Part of the ongoing development was (and still is) the increase in discharge pressure and flow capacity to comply with the ever growing demands for high power piston pumps. In line with the technological developments and increase in performance duties, the popularity of this pump type increased significantly and many other industrial applications have discovered the benefits of this pump type.Together with the increase in pump discharge pressures and flow capacities the effect of an undesired phenomenon also increased: the phenomenon of pressure pulsations. Before we explore this subject in more detail it is important to first understand the design and the characteristics of a hydraulically driven piston pump."

Jan 1, 2017