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By Jerry Handford

Investing in the Development of our Future Workforce ?Collaborative partnerships with educational institutions, industry associations, governments and other businesses. ?Programs: »Co-op / Discipline Student Program »Trades Development Initiatives »Operator Training Programs »General Student Program »Careers Next Generation / Community Careers Co-operative

May 1, 2006

1. In 2002, 14,520 mining operations reported employment statistics to the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). Almost half (49%) were sand and gravel mines, followed by stone mines (30%), coal mines (14%), nonmetal mines (5%), and metal mines (2%).

Jan 1, 2004

1. In 2003, a total of 258 metal mining operations reported employment to the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). Metal mines were the smallest mining sector, comprising 1.8% of all mining operations.1 • Gold mines comprised 44.2% (n = 114) of all metal mining operations. Other common types of metal mines were iron ore (n = 29; 11.2%), copper ore (n = 28; 10.9%), and lead and/or zinc ore (n = 21; 8.1%). • Nevada had the largest number of metal mines (n = 48; 18.6%) followed by Alaska (n = 29; 11.2%).

Feb 1, 2005

General design of pillars to ensure a continuing roof support during ex- traction is discussed. Practical problems associated with pillar extraction are Outlined.

Jan 1, 1974

By W. S. Ayres

By Zhang Youdi

According to general guidelines, deposits suitable for surface mining can be divided into two basic categories: horizontal or flat-bedded deposits and inclined or dip-buried deposits. A series of mathematical models for surface mine long-term planning (SMLTP) has been developed and can be used for any kind of deposit. The basic theory and methodology of the models are oriented- graph simulation which combines graph and network theory with a systems simulation technique to form a new approach. From the viewpoint of surface mining and long-term plan modeling, the main differences between the two categories of deposits are analyzed, an important algorithm is put forward, and the structure of the models and some results of applications are introduced. Dynamic and comprehensive optimizations have been completed by the SMLTP model series. Combining different OR branches, the new approach has been proved to be a powerful tool to solve the strategic problems of surface mine planning.

Jan 1, 1989

Increase the recycling of critical and strategic materials by simplifying the indentification and segregation of scrap. Background Because the United States is dl-most totally dependent on imports of such critical metals as chromium, cobalt and nickel, Bureau of Mines research has been directed towards conserving these metals by increasing the recycling of the complex scrap materials that contain them. Experienced scrap sorters, using the traditional techniques of object recognition, spark tests, chemical spot tests, color, apparent density, and magnetic properties, can adequately sort a wide variety of alloy groups. However, the complex nature of new materials entering the scrap market has made sorting both more difficult and more important. Some new alloys contain so many components that separation by discrete alloys becomes a prerequisite for effective recycling. The Bureau has completed Investigations on two methods for rapidly sorting complex scrap mixtures. One method uses a combination of two low-cost instruments. The other uses a single sorting instrument. Both approaches are reported.

Jan 1, 1986

By M. S. Klima, A. Simard, M. L. Turek

Laboratory testing was carried out to evaluate several devices for recovering clean coal from bituminous coal refuse material. The bulk of the testing focused on using a dense-medium cyclone to process -0.6-mm refuse material. A hindered-settling column and a spiral concentrator were also used to process 1.2x0.15-mm material. Product yields and ash contents were obtained for all tests, while partition curves were generated for selected tests from which the characteristic performance parameters (relative density of separation and probable error) were determined. The results indicated that the dense-medium cyclone was capable of cleaning down to 0.037 mm, while the other devices were effective to 0.15 mm.

Jan 1, 2002

By Charles L. Kimbell

Comprehensive data on market prices for crude minerals and mineral products for the world as a whole do not exist, and even the data that are available are not necessarily compatible between countries, particularly between the market economy countries and the centrally planned economy countries. Further, it should be evident that the actual delivered price for a small quantity of any specific commodity at some point substantially removed from a production facility or a seacoast port will differ appreciably from that for a large volume of the same product at or near its production source or a major import center. Nevertheless, the regularly published prices of selected major mineral commodities in key market areas can be regarded as indicative of general world price trends.

Jan 1, 1992

As economic, technological, regulatory and other forces continue to present the global mining industry with new opportunities and challenges, agile mining equipment manufacturers are stepping up their efforts to anticipate and meet the evolving needs of surface and underground mining operations. Operational excellence û the pursuit of efficient, lowest-possible-cost production û is a prime objective for all mines. As mineral commodity markets experience cyclical price highs and lows, mine operators, increasingly, look to their equipment suppliers for equipment and support that can help reduce multiple tangible and intangible operating costs. This paper explores how two mining equipment manufacturers û P&H Mining Equipment, a supplier of surface mining equipment and Joy Mining Machinery, a supplier of machinery for underground mining û are responding to the mining industryÆs aggressive pursuit of obtaining reduced operating cost with innovative products and support programs.

Jan 1, 2000

BULLETIN 177. The decline and ultimate production of oil wells with notes on the valuation of oil properties, by C. H.- Beal. 1919. 84 pp., 4pls., 80 figs. BULLETIN 179. Abstracts of current decisions on mines and mining, reported from September to December, 1918, by J. W. Thompson. 1919. 166 pp. TECHNICAL PAPER 214. Motor gasoline; properties, laboratory methods of testing, and practical specifications, by E. W. Dean. 1919. 33 pp., 2 figs. TECHNICAL PAPER 219. Combustion and flue-gas analysis, by U. S. Fuel Administration. 1919. 12 pp., 5 figs. TECHNICAL PAPER 223. Cost-keeping for small metal mines, by J. C. Pickering. 1919. 46 pp. Only a limited supply of these publications is available for free distribution. Publications should be ordered by number and title. Applications should be addressed to the Director of the Bureau of Mines, Washington, D. C.

Jan 7, 1919

By F Pothitos, S Hewson

The geological and geotechnical conditions at the Cadia Hill Open Pit are very complex. This complexity coupled with high mining rates has required significant technical input into the design and optimisations of the pit slopes, accesses, cutbacks and scheduling. A multi-discipline team of NML engineers, geologists and external consultants has been conducting comprehensive geological and geotechnical programs in order to achieve an optimum design of the pit slopes. Extensive data collection, analysis and interpretation has led to the formation of working geotechnical models of large structures, rock masses, and back-analysed slope performance charts. The current Cadia Pit Optimisation Project focuses on the risk-and-return principle for pit design and on the integration of geotechnical, hydrogeological, mining engineering and scheduling. The risk management for pit design has also been incorporated into the short term and long-term operation of the pit mining to ensure safety and production.

Jan 1, 2003

By Donald A. Wilson

As part of a continuing effort to maximize metal recovery from domestic secondary resources, the Bureau of Mines investigated a process for recovering the metallic portion of scrap alkaline batteries. A pyrometallurgical method for recovering nickel and cadmium from Ni-Cd scrap batteries previously developed on a laboratory scale, was scaled up to 25-and 43-pound charges. The method employed reduction and/or decomposition in a retort using a minimum of 2.5 percent carbon as a reductant. Metallic cadmium was distilled at atmospheric pressure and a minimum of 900° C. Purity of the recovered cadmium was 99.8 percent minimum and the nickel-iron residue contained less than 0.02 percent cadmium.

Jan 1, 1981

By Ning Liu, Xuming Wang, Yongqiang Lu, Jan D. Miller

Bench-scale flotation experiments have been conducted to study the effect of nonionic polyethylene oxide (PEO) polymer surfactants on the flotation of Florida phosphate rock. It has been found that PEOs having a molecular weight from 1,200 to 8,000 are effective. Flotation results demonstrate that the addition of nonionic PEO has a favorable effect on phosphate flotation, especially on the flotation of coarse phosphate feed. At about the same collector level, phosphate recovery can be improved by 10-30% with PEO addition. The surface chemistry of phosphate flotation using the fatty acid/fuel oil/PEO system has also been studied to better understand the phenomena involved. The increase in phosphate recovery with PEO addition has been attributed to improved dispersion of fatty acid, which leads to better froth stability and a more hydrophobic surface state.

Jan 1, 1999

By Bahram Rezai

Fine particles float poorly and less-selectively under normal flotation conditions. One of the promising methods for fine minerals is the utilization of the principle of Flocculation. Hydrophobic flocculation flotation (or floc flotation) was tested on a magnetite concentrate that was finely ground to be micron particles, for producing a concentrate with sulphur grade less than 0.1%. After that, slurry dispersing with water glass as dispersant, pyrite fines were subjected to hydrophobic flocculation induced by xanthate and a small amount of kerosene then the slurry was transferred to a flotation cell for recovering the hydrophobic flocs. The experiments carried out indicated that through one-step rougher and two-step cleaner flotation, sulphur grade was reduced from 1% to 0.1%. It has been found that the separation efficiency of the floc flotation process closely correlates with the main parameters of hydrophobic flocculation such as xanthate addition, conditioning time and kerosene addition.

Jan 1, 2006

By Wei Yun-Jie

Columnar jointed basalt is a fractured rock, with a lot of small spacing structural planes and poor integrity of the rock mass. On the basis of the comprehensive study of the columnar shape of Columnar joints, rugosity of the fracture surface and the chemical composition of basalt, columnar joints of Bai hetan dam area were formed as a result of the cooling and shrinkage effect of magma. Columnar joints basalt are mainly chlorite, kaolinite, epidote, tremolite chemical reactions and the content of columnar joints are mainly chlorite by slice identification and chemical analysis. Columnar joints basalt showed high uniaxial tension test, low coefficient of friction and high cohesion by indoor physical and mechanical test. Columnar joints rock mass showed high strength and large deformation by field shear test and deformation test. Columnar joints basalt can be used directly as a foundation of dam as long as we follow the rules and reduce disturbance strictly.

May 1, 2009

By Stephen G. Wright

Jan 1, 1985

By Henning Nielsen

SIX weeks ahead of schedule, the International Nickel Co. of Canada Ltd. has brought a 30-mile rail line into the newly born town of Thompson, Manitoba. Its construction spurs the development of a rich new mining region slated to become the world's second largest nickel-producing area-exceeded only by Inco's Sudbury, Ont., workings. Two mines, the Thompson and the Moak Lake, will be opened to meet International Nickel's scheduled annual production goal of 385 million lb of refined nickel by 1961. Accomplishment of this aim will mean an additional 75 million lb of the metal available to consumers. In addition, stepped-up out- put of Inco's Sudbury holdings may increase this figure by another 25 million lb. (For an earlier report on these developments see MINING ENGINEERING News, January 1957).

Jan 12, 1957

Jan 1, 1947

Jan 1, 1947