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By Lon Santis, David Leidel, John Tatom, Meredith Hardwick

This paper describes the development and methodology of the Institute of Makers of Explosives’ Safety Analysis for Risk (IMESAFR), a risk analysis software program for commercial explosives operations. IME is a nonprofit safety and security association devoted to the safe and secure manufacture, transportation, storage, and use or disposal of commercial explosives in the US and Canada since 1913. The software methodology’s basis is the U.S. Department of Defense Risk Based Explosives Safety Criteria Team’s Safety Assessment for Explosives Risk (SAFER) software. A diverse group of industry and government experts contributed to modifications to SAFER that reflect commercial operations. IMESAFR is intended to supplement the American Table of Distances (ATD) and offer standardized methods of managing risk from a wide variety of commercial explosives operations where the ATD does not apply. The modifications made to SAFER primarily involved the addition of commercial activities and potential explosives sites (PES). A review of commercial explosives accidents and operations over the last 20 years served as the basis for establishing probability of event values. An industry survey of commercial PES types in the U.S. and Canada was conducted to identify and address critical differences in commercial structures as compared to the military structures in SAFER. The paper concludes with discussion of the potential uses for quantitative risk analysis (QRA) and a description of other explosion effects software

Jan 1, 2007

THE following nominations for officers in the, Petroleum Division have been made by the nominating committee, of which Alfred G. Heggem was chairman: Chairman, John M. Lovejoy, Vice-pres., Amerada Petroleum Co., Tulsa, Okla.; vice-chairman for Refinery Engineering, Walter Miller, Vice-pres., Marland Refining Co., Ponca City, Okla.; vice-chairman for Production En-gineering, M. E. Lombardi, Vice-pres., Pacific Oil Co., San Francisco, Cal.; associate vice-chairmen for Produc-tion Engineering, T. E. Swigart, Prod. Engr., Shell Co. of Cal., Los Angeles, Cal.; Joseph B. Umpleby, Vice-pres., Goldelline Oil Corp., Oklahoma City, Okla.; vice-chairman for Production, W. E. Wrather, Cons. Geol., Dallas, Texas; associate vice-chairman for Production, Joseph Jensen, Associated Oil Co., Los Angeles, Cal.; vice-chairman for Transportation Engineering, E. P. Bly, Engr., Pipe Line Dept., Standard of California, San Francisco, Cal..; vice-chairman for Economics., Joseph E. Pogue, Cons. Geol., New York City. The election will take place, at the annual meeting of the Division in New York in February. Any independent nominations received before Jan. 20 and endorsed by ten members, will be announced in MINING AND METALLURGY for February and placed before the meeting for considera-tion. Extensive plans are being made for the meeting and a large number of excellent technical papers have already been received.

Jan 1, 1927

By W. Birch

The traditional concept of scaled-distance modelling for predicting blast induced ground vibration holds many drawbacks, not least of which is the major effect data scatter imparts on confidence determination. An investigation by the Department of Mining and Mineral Engineering, The University of Leeds, England has resulted in the development of simple but effective method of improving prediction capacity through the reduction of effective error by incorporating individual location response into a scaled-distance model. The work is the product of an l&month blast-monitoring campaign at a limestone quarry situated in North Yorkshire, England. The data, when presented in the form of a scaled-distance model, indicates a typical scenario where a good overall correlation becomes marred by the extent of data scatter. Examination of the individual monitoring locations however indicates that the response of the individual location is an important factor in the explanation of the large residuals. The novel approach thathas been developed incorporates a series of locational site factors which when incorporated into a scaled distance model reduces the effective error and therefore improves prediction capacity. The approach is based on using a standard computer package “spread sheet” on the understanding that these are commonly available on all quarry or home computers. This approach has been validated by comparison with a more rigorous statistics method.

Jan 1, 2001

In contrast to the '50s and '60s, the period of the '80s and '90s seems likely to have low growth in demand but much greater levels of technological change. In such a climate there will be pressure on costs, productivity will continue to rise and competitiveness will be closely associated with maintenance of the most effective technology. The penalties for inappropriate investments, whether short sighted or mistakenly based on a particular view of the future, will be greatly enhanced. Accordingly, there will be a need for significantly improved anticipation of technical change and thus for better planning. Study of the funding and direction of the world's R&D effort can provide a useful input to the planning processes within industries and individual firms. Such a study also suggests some insights into the characteristics of those countries which have achieved substantial growth and high standards of living over the past two decades. These characteristics may offer significant reminders for our own development. The particular implications for the Australian minerals industry include the need for direction that is sensitive to changing market requirements and customer practice. This is not simply "more of the same." In particular it appears essential for both basic and applied R&D to provide a sound basis for the purchase and ongoing development of the new technology required to achieve international Competitiveness.

Jan 1, 1986

By P G. Fuller

The Woodlawn Mine near Canberra faced the challenge of poor ground conditions from the commencement of underground operations 1987. Talcose shears bounded the dense massive sulphides on both the hangingwall and footwall side of the orebody. In another area the talc existed not only on the edges of the orebody but through out it as well. The country rock was relatively weak shales compounded by a low stress environment that allowed the wall rocks to fall apart quite easily. The challenge for the operators was to overcome the poor ground conditions. This was done by attacking the problem from three directions:technology, how technology is applied, human relations and leadership by all levels of the Management team, and by ensuring that these processes meshed together well.Woodlawn in it early days as an underground mine enlisted the assistance of BFP (Formerly Barrett Fuller and Partners) as a second set of eyes to assist with the assessment of the ground control procedures. The results are discussed in this paper. The progression to this end result included:non-contract payment systems; ground control training for the full range of mining personnel; the development and enhancement of cable bolting and shotcreting equipment; the development of Practical Standard Work Procedures by mine operators; and innovative use of shotcrete and cables bolts to control extremely poor ground conditions.

Jan 1, 1998

 Increasing concern about the impact of alluvial mining discharges on the water quality of some West Coast rivers lead to a joint West Coast Gold Miners Associate, Trade and Industry funded study by Water Technology (NZ) Ltd. The objective of the study was to assess the treatability of West Coast alluvial gold mining discharges and to develop simple treatment systems which could be effectively adapted to a variety of sites in the region.   The approach was to apply standard water treatment techniques to field situations using low cost technology. Initially the various types of alluvial gold mining operations were identified then after preliminary site investigations and laboratory studies were carried out, site pilot plants were set up. The results of the trials particularly those using chemical aids were encouraging and it was found that chemical aid performance was largely dependent on the degree of mixing at and downstream of the chemical addition point. Design alterations to settling pond configurations in conjunction with optimised chemical addition yielded dramatic results in the form of reduced effluent turbidities.   A generalised approach to effluent treatment was developed and some of the specific 'mix and match' requirements were identified for different types of sites. The general conclusion is that improved physical treatment combined with good plant management and operation and (where necessary) chemical treatment, will produce water of acceptable discharge quality.

Jan 1, 1989

By Carleton K. Smith

Due to special job or client requirements, there will always be some variation in the philosophy of organizing and controlling construction under a project management contract. In typical cases, however, some standard procedures apply. Controls on a construction project are best described only in general terms. They should apply to the total job and can be most effective only when all pieces of the job organization fit together to support a control system for the entire project. Controls are more than a system of reports, schedules, and tabulations-they are the result of an integrated organization dedicated to getting a job done on time and within budget. One of the most important aspects of project control is the construction organization. It must include the right people, facilities, and site equipment, as well as the authority to do what's necessary to accomplish the work. This should be set up to function with as little involvement from off-site or the home office as possible. However, the jobsite construction group must work within established policies and guidelines and is subject to continuous off-site or home office monitoring. In other words, the job-site leaders need to have a clear definition of their responsibility, their authority, and the necessary people and equipment to make things happen. With that philosophy in mind, this is how Bechtel sets up a new job to be

Jan 10, 1980

By D Hodson

Current classification of resources is entirely a subjective task. The various international reporting codes (such as the JORC Code) provide Competent Persons and practitioners with little specific guidance on the standard of work and levels of uncertainty required to classify resources into Measured, Indicated and Inferred. Furthermore, little guidance is given in the conversion of Resources to Reserves and the potential impacts on classification of uncertainties in the modifying factors. Working back from the intended use of the resource estimates, and in understanding the tolerance for uncertainty by the end user of such estimates, insights into the objective and requirements of classification can be determined. Following this approach a comprehensive set of (quantitative where possible) guidelines have been determined that will ensure resources meet the desired objective of each classification, and are consistent and comparable. The guidelines look at what is required for each step in the resource estimation process in order to ensure the final resource estimate meets the desired level of confidence. This approach provides a transparent, comprehensive, justifiable and largely objective method of classification. The implication of introducing such a guideline or approach is to highlight areas of a resource estimation that do not meet the requirements (ie drive the uncertainty beyond the objective) and then focus in on the risks that may flow on from that particular uncertainty, to mitigate or attempt to control those risks.

Jan 1, 2006

By A. V. Tarasov

The natural resources of lead and zinc are primarily constituted by polymetallic and lead-zinc ores. Beneficiation of these types of ores to produce standard nonmetallic concentrates inevitably results in an increase in the loss of base and precious metals with tailings. An improvement in the grades of lead and zinc concentrates can be achieved by re-cleaner flotation, but it results in production of intermediate products (middlings) to which substantial amounts of lead, zinc, copper and precious metals report. Without an appropriate technology for treating such intermediate products, the recoveries of valuable constituents from lead-zinc ores would remain unsatisfactory. A process has been developed in the Gintsvetmet Institute for processing of polymetallic intermediate products produced at the ore beneficiation plants. This process is based on electrothermic smelting to produce lead bullion containing precious metals, commercial-grade copper-lead matte and high-zinc slags (up to 15-20% Zn) from which zinc can be extracted by slag-fuming or Waelz process. Tests have indicated that the recovery of lead from intermediate products into lead bullion and matte is about 83-85% and 13-14% respectively (the total recovery is 97-98%), while copper recovery into the matte and zinc recovery into the slag is 90-92% and 95-96% respectively. Precious metals (about 96-97%) report into the lead bullion.

Jan 1, 2006

By J. F. T. Agapito

Significant economic benefits can result when rock mechanics is applied within a practical framework and integrated within the other engineering functions of the mine organization. Such application and integration requires management support and understanding of rock mechanics as a practical tool to help attain high standards of safety, productivity and resource recovery. For such an approach, a long-term geotechnical program is needed in most operations to build an adequate data base and to ensure that design and ground control issues are handled in a cost-effective manner. Best usage of rock mechanics in mining occurs when management recognizes the application as a long-term investment, where time is needed to realize good returns. The need for this approach is due to the difficulty in accurately predicting ground conditions ahead of mining. The practical application of rock mechanics must follow an iterative process of design and verification based on site-specific experience to account for geologic and mining impacts. Ground conditions experienced during mining must be used to check the initial mine design and, if necessary, to provide a basis for design modification. Such a practical rock mechanics program includes comparative experience, in situ instrumentation and numerical modeling. The program begins with the geologic site investigation and continues throughout the life of the mine. It is an integral part of mine planning and operation.

Jan 1, 1991

By Bruce W. Cavender

During the last few years, the minerals industry has been confronted by increasingly stringent environmental regulations that are significantly altering the economics of the industry. Heightened media attention, threats of litigation and decreasing support by the general public have exacerbated the industry's difficulties. Regardless of their merit, environmental issues present a serious threat to the continued viability of mining companies. Firms have reacted to these regulations by escalating their environmental activities to meet the new requirements. They have simultaneously adjusted their corporate schedules to reflect the substantially longer time periods required to obtain construction and operating permits and ensure compliance with legal requirements before mine abandonment. Companies have also been forced to adapt to a considerably greater amount of uncertainty and expense associated with the development of mineral projects. This has resulted in a significant erosion of the profitability of some mining companies. Most of the changes in corporate environmental activities have been reactive. Pending regulations present formidable but uncertain technical requirements for compliance, and future regulatory developments are difficult to predict. This problem is aggravated by depressed market prices for many mineral commodities. Past expansions of environmental standards have led to the closure of mines and processing facilities due to economic hardship, as occurred in the smelting segment of the US copper industry in the 1980s (Cro¬zier, 1992).

Jan 1, 1994

Zinc produced by pyrometallurgical processing techniques suffers the disadvantage of restricted market potential because of its impurity contents, typically lead and cadmium. Market zinc to the Special High Grade (SHG) standard can only be produced by reflux distillation refining, which is costly in terms of energy and equipment, and potentially capacity limiting. Recent published laboratory work suggested that molten salt electrorefining of zinc metal is a potentially much cheaper alternative to the reflux distillation refining. The extrapolation of the laboratory results to an industrial configuration, however, resulted in an estimated power consumption for electrorefining and associated costs offering no advantage over current reflux distillation practice. A review of this estimate now shows that a serious error in calculation was made, and that the energy consumption for the electrorefining of molten zinc would be an order of magnitude lower than that for reflux distillation refining. While this is a promising indication, further research is required before development towards an industrial scale operation is warranted. This would particularly relate to the extent to which adverse electrolyte deterioration may take place and its potential effect on the anode and cathode efficiencies of the process. This paper considers the laboratory investigations required to explore the industrial potential of the molten salt electrorefining of zinc and foreshadows some of the practical problems to be solved in further development.

Jan 1, 2000

By Robert L. Bates

On April 2 and 3, 1970, more than 100 geologists attended the Sixth Annual Forum on Geology of Industrial Minerals at Ann Arbor, Mich. After this brief appearance, the Forum apparently ceased to exist- but it didn't really, and another spring will see it again in action, in another corner of the country. The organization might be characterized as the country's largest permanent floating conference on the geology of industrial minerals. What is the Forum, where did it come from, and what is it up to? The idea originated in 1964 with a small group in the Department of Geology at Ohio State University, Columbus. This group felt that a forum was needed for the exchange of geologic information on industrial rocks and minerals. They envisioned an approach-which has subsequently been adhered to--that would be dominated neither by geological academics interested in theoretical problems nor by practical engineers concerned with processing large tonnages of rock. It was proposed to focus attention on the middle part of the spectrum, especially on practical problems of geological occurrence and how these problems affect extraction and use. In terms of the standard rock-products flow sheet, which starts with a truck unloading into the primary crusher beneath the words 'from quarry,' it was proposed to focus geological attention on what is beyond the primary crusher, out in the quarry.

Jan 1, 1970

By Albert R. Ledoux

With the improvements in design and efficiency of machinery the element of danger in its use is becoming less, but it is a question whether the strain involved in operating modern plants is not increasing somewhat the danger of accident due to human fallibility. I propose to describe a somewhat uncommon casualty resulting from a not infrequent incident in the use of air-compressors. It is not necessary to state the location of the mine in which the accident occurred nor the makers of the compreseor, and the object of this brief paper is more to draw out suggestions from members more familiar than am I with the practical handling of mining machinery, than to point a moral. The compressor in question was a three-drill machine of standard make. At the time of the accident it was furnishing air to a single drill working in an upraise from a well-ventilated tunnel, and giving ventilation to a winze below the tnnnel where two men were hand-drilling. The compressor also furnished power to a small hoist in the winze, but the hoist was only operated occasionally, and never while the drills were working. The drills were located about 1200 ft. from the compressor. The engineer testified that he never had been short of air, and that there had been no complaillts that the

Jan 1, 1904

By J. D. Austin

Currency fluctuations affect the rand revenues of all exports of mineral commodities, as well as influencing their price on local markets. Of the more than 50 mineral commodities produced by South Africa, about 75 per cent derive 40 to 100 per cent of their revenues from exports. . Although supply and demand are largely beyond its control, management can maximize its revenues despite fluctuating overseas prices and exchange rates by using the right market at the right time. Management can operate in the futures markets, which involve a specific commitment to deliver a specific quantity of a standardized commodity at a set time in the future and at a price that is determined on a futures exchange in open auction; or management can use the options market, in which a producer can insure against the risk of a falling price by taking out a put-option, which gives the holder the right (but not the obligation) to sell the commodity at a stated price at an agreed time in the future. In the forward markets, management has three available tools; forward currency transactions, trading of currency options, and money market hedges. Revenues, currencies of exchange earnings, purchasing power of the rand, and world price trends are shown in over 40 diagrams and tables for the main mineral commodities produced in South Africa.

Jan 1, 1984

By R. K. Datta, T. S. Davis

YVO4:EU, excited under 3650A radiation, shows a marked increase in total brightness with in~rease in temperature. At 25°C the response to 3650A radiation is about 48 pct of its maximum response which occurs at about 350°C, Fig. 1. In an attempt to explain the phenomenon, one of the present authors' (R.K.D.) investigated the diffuse reflectance spectra of the phosphor at different temperatures (up to -150°C) and was unable to observe any significant change to which the increased brightness could be reasonably ascribed. Since then diffuse reflectance spectra at elevated temperatures have been obtained in this laboratory using an improved device. A significant decrease in the diffuse reflectance of a phosphor in the ultraviolet region—especially in the longer wavelength region—at -300°C has been observed. The purpose of this note is to describe the device used for high-temperature reflectance measurements and to explain the increased brightness of YVO4:Eu phosphor at elevated temperatures under 3650A excitation. Experimental. YVO4 and YVO4:Eu samples were prepared as previously described.' The elevated-temperature reflectance spectra were obtained with a Cary 14 spectrophotometer equipped with a diffuse reflectance accessory and a ring collector. CaF2 was used as the standard. The cell used

Jan 1, 1969

By A. W. Hahn

THE importance, to geologists and metallurgists, of knowing the mineralogical forms in which the silver occurs in ores has increased during the past few years, and will continue to increase as long as working hypotheses are converted into proved theories and rule of thumb methods are supplanted by scientific data. The methods used for the determination of these silver minerals have been: (1) careful study of polished ore sections with the microscope, and more recently, (2) metallurgical separation of the ground ore by flotation, tabling and panning, supplemented by microscopic examination of these separated minerals, and chemical analyses. During the course of some experimental work carried on by the testing department of the International Smelting Co. and myself, it becomes important to determine, in a general way, the distribution of the silver values in the minerals, as they exist in Tintic Standard and North Lilly siliceous oxidized lead-silver ores. These mines are in the East Tintic Mining District, State of Utah. In this work the second method was used. Differential flotation tests were run, separating the sulfide from the oxidized minerals, and the products were assayed. Various concentrates were carefully panned and the separated products assayed; special samples of ore were selected and assayed. The microscope was used only for the purpose of determining whether the individual minerals were in the so-called "free" state.

Jan 1, 1929

By Thomas H. Dubaniewicz

Thirteen miners died as a result of 2 explosions in the Jim Walter Resources No. 5 mine near Brookwood AL in September 2001. Both explosions were ignited in intake air entries, and both were probably ignited by electrical equipment. With few exceptions, permissible equipment is not required in intake air entries of US underground coal mines Researchers with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Pittsburgh Research Laboratory. studied the electrical equipment ignition sources for the Brookwood and other w disasters to develop recommendations for preventing similar disasters Adherence to National Electrical code® requirements for flexible cords installed in hazardous (classified) locations may have prevented the second massive Brookwood explosion. The 30 CFR Part 7 requirements for battery assemblies should be reevaluated, taking into consideration United Mine Workers of America recommendations and the Zone 1"increased safety" standard requirements for battery assemblies, Class 1 Division 2 or Zone 2 explosion protection techniques are recommended for intake air equipment so that they do not present a methane air ignition source under normal operation before mine power is shut down during emergencies Battery powered circuits intake air that are likely to remain energized during emergencies should be protected by more stringent protection techniques, to protect rescue/recovery personnel. Index Terms -Class 1 hazardous location, mine explosion, flexible cord, battery assembly, permissible equipment

By William H. Hartwig

A paper by Rose1 has called attention to some of the problems of wetting-liquid relative permeability measurement. The premises and conclusions set forth by Rose, namely the applicability of the Hassler scheme of measurement, will be accepted. In addition, it will be concluded that certain electrical analog circuits can be used as a pattern for consideration of possible hydraulic systems of measurements. NEW SCHEME OF MEASUREMENT The object of this note is to propose a new scheme of wetting liquid relative permeability measurement. It is significantly different from those heretofore described, nonetheless it is based on Hassler concepts. The scheme is illustrated in Fig. 1 in terms of the corresponding electric circuit analog. It may be designated descriptively as the "comparison" method of wetting-liquid relative permeability measurement. In this circuit, R, represents the resistance of the core sample which is being studied for relative permeability characteristics, R represents a "standard" resistance, R represents the combined series resistance of the barrier pads, R R2 represent the combined series resistance of barrier pads in the manometer circuit, C, C represent the capacitance of the manometers, E is a constant voltage source, S is the switch or stopcock. The following conditions are imposed upon .the network: Rb » R, and R, R,» R, R, » R., and the condensers C, and C,

Jan 1, 1953

George B. CoRless, Chairman. Superintendent, Gulf Coast Division, Humble Oil & Refining Co., Houston, Texas. W. H. Geis, Associate Chairman. Geologist, Los Angeles, California. Benjamin C. Craft, Secretary-Treasurer. Associate Professor, Petroleum Enginecring, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, La. Executire Committee George B. Corless, Chairman. M. Albertson, Production Engineer, Shell Petroleum Corporation, Houston, Texas. D. R. Knowlton, General Production Superintendent, Phillips Petroleum Co., Bartlesville, Oklahoma. R. P. McLaughlin, General Manager, Dominguez Oil Fields Co., Los Angeles, California. Hallan N. Marsh, Production Engineer, General Petroleum Corporation of California, Los Angeles, California. Theron Wasson, Chief Geologist, The Pure Oil Co., Chicago, Illinois. Production Engineering M. L. Haider, Vice-chairman. Petroleum Engineer, Carter Oil Co., Tulsa, Oklahoma. Joseph Chalmers, DeBataafsche Pet. Maatschappij, The Hague, Netherlands. Emile HugUenin, Deputy State Oil and Gas Supervisor, Los Angeles, California. Carl E. Reistle, Jr., Petroleum Engineering Department, Humble Oil & Refining Co., Houston, Texas. Production J. TERry Duce, Vice-chairman. Geologist, The Texas Company, New York, N. Y. Basil B. Zavoico, Associate Vice-chairman. Geologist, The Chase National Bank, New York, N. Y. Engineering Research R. L. Huntington, Vice-chairman. Associate Professor, Petroleum Engineering, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma. Economics Sidney A. SwensrUd, Vice-chairman. Assistant to the President, Standard Oil Co. (Ohio), Cleveland, Ohio. Refinery Engineering Walter Miller, Vice-chairman. Vice-president, Continental Oil Co., Ponca City, Oklahoma. 10

Jan 1, 1938