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By P. Harvey

"Following initial discovery in 1991, BHP Billiton Diamonds Inc. opened Canada’s first diamond mine, the EKATI Diamond Mine (EKATI) in the Northwest Territories on October 14, 1998. Four short years later, on November 29, 2002, saw the opening of North America’s first underground diamond mine, the Koala North mine. Nestled between the original Panda open pit and the new Koala pit, which is in the early stages of production, Koala North represents the only underground kimberlite mining venture in Arctic conditions outside the new underground mines being developed by ALROSA in the Yakutsk region of eastern Russia. Extensive underground kimberlite mining has been practiced in the Republic of South Africa for much of the 20th century and continues today.Underground mining represents a key component of the long-term business plan for EKATI. As various open pits reach their economic limit, continued recovery of high-value ore at depth is dependent upon the ability to productively mine the kimberlite pipes by underground methods. As a function of its location, size, and value, the Koala North pipe is ideally positioned to host the first underground mine at EKATI. Koala North is designed and approved as a learning mine, from which to gain valuable experience in preparation for the potential mining of other larger, higher value pipes by underground methods in the development, the Koala North mine is well into its production ramp-up phase and currently producing at around 1,200 t/day from the first two production levels."

Jan 1, 2005

By Robert H. Townsend

The following paper discusses the mining, transportation, and crushing methods, with costs, at the San Andreas plant of the Calaveras Cement Co. It is one of a series, prepared for and published by the U. S. Bureau of Mine describing methods used in cement-rock quarries throughout the country. These papers are designed to disseminate technical information regarding the methods used. The cost tabulations represent operating expenditures only and not total cost. It is recognized that publication of total costs mightin some instances cause embarrassment to individual producers as well as to the industry as a hole. On the other hand, operating costs are essential to the technical discussion and study of the methods employed. The attention of the reader is specifically called to this differentiation in order that no misunderstanding of the scope of the cost-tabulations shall ensue.

Jan 1, 1933

By E. D. Gardner

Oil shale, a long-considered potential source of motor fuel in the United States, is found over an extensive area in the Green River formation in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming.4/ Oil has been retorted commercially from shale in Scotland for many years,5/ and work done by the Bureau of Mines and other investigators has shown that it is technically feasible to extract oil from American shales.6/ By refining, the shale oil may be converted into marketable products similar to those manufactured from crude petroleum. The present paper, which was finished in 1936, discusses methods that would be adaptable to mining certain American shales, and the treatment applies specifically to conditions iii the Green River formation on Naval

Jan 1, 1942

By E Jak, M Shevchenko, D Shishin

One of the key aspects to develop sustainable metallurgical production is to ensure that the predictive power of thermodynamic tools is brought up to a new level of accuracy and reliability. Exploring new polymetallic processes, integrating primary and recycled materials, means utilising the uncharted areas within the Cu-Pb-Zn-Fe-Ca-Al-Mg-Si-O (major) – Cr-Na (slagging) – As-Sn-Sb- Bi-Ag-Au-Ni-Co (minor) slag-solids-metal-matte-speiss-sulfate system. This requires extensive integrated experimental and thermodynamic modelling study, which is underway at PyroSearch at the University of Queensland (UQ).

Aug 21, 2024

By Frederick B. Henderson

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has tried many regional and laboratory efforts to develop measurement and monitoring techniques using environmental remote sensing technologies. In 1997, the agency established the Advanced Measurement Initiative (AMI): This is a eadquarters-level program, operating under the auspices of the EPA Office of Research and Development. The program is one result of the April 30,1996 White House Conference on Advanced Monitoring of the Environment. The EPA was encouraged to work with other federal agencies to leverage its remote sensing capabilities and use them to improve the efficiency, cost-effectiveness and flexibility of environmental measurement and monitoring for regulatory compliance and reinvention. During the fall of 1996, the EPA and the Department of Energy developed an interagency effort to broaden the use of governmental technologies for environmental measurement and monitoring. In addition, the EPA and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) conducted joint workshops on the use of NASA remote sensing and other technologies for water quality and pollution applications. In the meantime, the EPA proceeded with an industry-proposed workshop to explore ways to cooperatively examine new research and to develop commercial remote sensing systems. It also examined how these systems might become accepted by the EPA in the regulatory and compliance processes. In particular, industry was interested in where new remote sensing capabilities might fit in with EPA's efforts at regulatory reinvention. Historically, the mining and petroleum industries have been reluctant to experiment with or use environmental remote sensing. They were concerned with the unknown liability from potential discovery of previously unknown environmental problems. Moreover, resource industries have been reluctant to use remote sensing for environmental applications where the EPA did not accept such data or information as part of the compliance process. Acceptance by the EPA of these advanced measurement and monitoring technologies (AMMT) will be a major reason for industry's increasedd use of remote sensing in environmental "applications for regulatory compliance. In July 1997, the EPA Office of Research and Development hosted at the Colorado School of Mines a stakeholders workshop on the AMI program and industry-government collaboration. The workshop's aim was to demonstrate the usefulness of AMMT technologies for environmental applications. Stakeholders included the mining and petroleum industries; environmental services companies; state environmental agencies and local governments; remote-sensing, value-added companies and data suppliers. The workshop used specific technologies and applications as a way to develop collaborative demonstration projects for several AMMT technologies covering different environmental problems. The workshop focused on the use of highly sensitive hyperspectral (very narrow spectral bands), geographic information systems and surface mapping to identify active acid-producing mine dumps and wastes from benign wastes at Leadville, CO. NASA's advance infrared imaging spectrometer (AVIRIS) was the instrument used. It was developed at California Technology's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The EPA, the US Bureau of Land Managment (BLM), the US Geological Survey and several environmental service contractors sponsored the overflight and data evaluation. The AVIRIS study demonstrated reliability (95% correct surface mineral identification) and cost-effectiveness of this technology to accurately map and discriminate active acid-producing mine wastes from benign wastes. It could also predict which streams would be effected by acid and toxic mineral drainage. The BLM'said that the AVIRIS overflight could save it $500,000 a year in surface sampling costs at Leadville. The AMI workshop further outlined five 1997 funded AMI projects of potential interest to the mining industry. They were: ? Mine waste characterization using remote sensing methodologies at Asarco's Ray Mine in Arizona. ? Predictive emissions development and testing in

Jan 1, 1997

By J. W. Craig

THERE are, broadly speaking, three classes of refractories: acid, basic, and neutral. Fireclay, diaspore, silica, and the sillimanite group of minerals are included in the acid class, which for the most part are not very resistant to basic slags. The neutra! class includes chrome, graphite, and silicon carbide, while most important in the basic class are magnesite and dolomite. Although chrome is a neutral refractory, it has no sharp distinction from magnesitic refractoriness. The two are mineralogically (1) and chemically related, and there is available on the market a complete range of brick from straight chrome to straight magnesite. In many indus trial applications, one. type may be replaced by another. The present paper is confined entirely to such refractories. The following types of basic and neutra! brick, each sold under sorne special trade name, are available for use in Canada: (1) Burned chrome from crude ores (2) Burned chrome from treated ores (3) Chemically bonded (unburned) chrome-magnesite ( 4) Burned chrome-magnesite (5) Chemically bonded ( unburned) magnesite-chrome (6) Chemically bonded (unburned) high-iron magnesite (7) Burned high-iron magnesite (Regular) (8) Burned low-iron magnesite (9) Burned olivine-magnesite (10) Burned magnesitic dolomite-chrome (Magnecon) (11) Chemically bonded magnesitic dolomite-chrome (Magmecom) (12) Dolomitic brick

Jan 1, 1936

By D. Bleazard

Barrick Goldstrike Mines, Inc. is actively involved in improving the reliability of mining and processing equipment through the use of failure analysis and condition monitoring activities. Program results include an increase in equipment capacity and an overall reduction in operating costs. The identification of equipment failure modes and the development of associated capital asset management practices can minimize failure consequences. Successful programs have included; alterations to management practices, equipment modifications, and/or the implementation of condition monitoring programs. By controlling or minimizing the effects of incipient equipment failures, corrective actions can be taken earlier in the failure cycle, resulting in an associated reduction to repair costs and equipment down time.

Jan 1, 1997

By D Flint, K Vague

The Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WA) (WHS Act; DMIRS, 2020) and associated Work Health and Safety (Mines) Regulations 2022 (WA) (WHS Regulations; DMIRS, 2022), supporting guidance materials and other laws, such as the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth) (SD Act), have imposed new duties on every person or business conducting an undertaking (PCBU) in Western Australia, including those operating in the mining industry. These laws and associated guidance materials combine to require owners, operators and contractors to discharge positive duties and better report and manage psychosocial hazards in the workplace. For mine operators, there is a positive duty to not only identify and eliminate hazards relating to psychological harm, sexual harassment and gendered violence at work, but to also report incidents to the safety regulator that could result in serious harm, even while internal and police investigations are ongoing. Traditional mines safety teams are navigating the evolving frontier of psychological and gendered safety as the duties relating to psychosocial safety and sexual harassment at work continue to expand. This paper will review the legal obligations on PCBUs to conduct internal investigations into critical psychosocial incidents and gendered violence on mines, whilst balancing the demands and sensitivities of investigations by the safety regulator and police. There are emerging approaches to safety investigations that can aid PCBUs in managing their investigations of psychosocial incidents and gendered violence, including trauma-informed investigation techniques, collaboration with psychological experts and the use of limited legal privilege. Well managed and sensitive investigations can foster trust amongst workers, result in improved incident reporting by workers and lead to enhanced safety outcomes for the resources industry whilst preserving the legal positions of involved PCBUs. Specifically traversing the new duty to consult, cooperate and coordinate, this practical session will arm mine managers, safety professionals and human resources professionals, from mine operators and mining contractors alike, with tools and processes to bring to safety investigations, particularly on residential mine sites.

Apr 16, 2024

"A bed, British Columbia, Canada, coal, carbonizingproperties B 510Pa., coal, washing characteristics RI 4941A' bed, Pa., coal, washing characteristics RI 4834"

Jan 1, 1960

By I. S. Blair

The introduction of the 36 MVA smelting furnace at Mufulira, and the experience gained during the first five years of operation have been described previously (6). Based on this experience the furnace was rebuilt in 1977., Details of the modifications made during this rebuild are described. Subsequent to the rebuild, refractory failures, particularly in the electrode ring bricks of the sprung arch roof, continued to cause concern, and repair and improved roof control methods are described. Electrode breakages continued, but developments in casing design and electrode preparation have resulted in significant improvements. Modifications in the electric furnace gas handling system are outlined, together with details of further changes to be implemented in the near future. The systems developed for metallurgical control of the furnace and the thermo-dynamics of the process are discussed. The electric furnace at Mufulira is now operating at above design production levels, and has decisively justified the choice of this technology in situations with inexpensive electric power. The potential for further increases in production capacity from the Mufulira unit, and improvements in design for new units are discussed.

Jan 1, 1983

By M. Bunch

"THE SUPER CYCLE IS GONE The utopia of the rising sales volume, for mining companies from 2002-2011, was entirely due to rising production volume and prices. The Australian mining sector experienced an 18 percent annual growth rate in revenues, and 11 percent growth in prices. (1) However, EBIT remained flat during the same time period. In addition, Australian mines saw a 7 percent annual decline in both labor and capital productivity. (2) Mines in the U.S. and Canada produced similar results, whereas the world-wide mining industry has seen a productivity drop of 40% since 2001. (3) The decade “Bull Run” of rising prices was trashed by companies that chased low-quality assets while increasing debt on their balance sheet. It seemed everyone believed the “super cycle” would last forever, while completely ignoring the history of cycle downturns. Worldwide mining operations are as much as 28 percent less productive today than a decade ago, according to new McKinsey research. The results from McKinsey’s new MineLens Productivity Index (MPI), which adjusts for declining ore grades and mine cost inflation, show that the pronounced decline in productivity is evident across different commodities and is seen in most mining players and geographies. (4) McKinsey sees three important areas of focus to address the root causes of productivity decline. 1) Embed effective management operating systems at mines 2) Prioritized operational excellence and capabilities development 3) Focus on innovation Reality has now settled back in and companies are struggling to make ends meet. The basic management staple of controlling costs and improving the production/productivity that was lost in the excitement is now back in play. Traditional cost-cutting approaches, such as across-the-board spending cuts, layoffs, and hiring freezes are only short-term initiatives and will not permanently improve a company’s cost structure or improve long- term competitiveness. This can only be accomplished by engaging front-line employees and empowering them to make necessary improvements in their daily work. It is time for leaders to lead and develop cultures of continuous improvement within their organizations in order to sustain their mining project to the end of mine life. Successful operating managers require two different skill sets of Leadership and Management; knowing how to lead people in their organization and how to manage the work they do."

Jan 1, 2016

By M D. Uttarwar, R R. Yerpude

India is the world’s third-largest producer of coal and is endowed with the fifth-largest coal reserves in the world. Surface mining straddles the entire domain of the Indian coal mining industry, yielding over 88 per cent of production. With continually rising domestic demands, it has to shoulder the responsibility of sustaining the requisite increase in coal production and chasing commensurate stripping targets. Such an ambitious task calls for the deployment of smart technologies. In such a demanding situation, cast blasting of overburden has emerged as a promising alternative for enhancing production and productivity of dragline pits.The cast blasting technique reduces stripping costs significantly as it utilises the chemical energy of explosives in place of mechanical energy to move large volumes of overburden quickly. Proper application of cast blasting not only reduces overall mining costs but also increases coal production. This paper investigates and evaluates the potential of the cast blasting technique, with special reference to dragline pits employing the rehandle method of extended bench. The economic feasibility of the technique is also ensured under different scenarios so that considerable benefits would accrue to the individual surface coalmines. To underline the efficacy of the technique, different cast blasting models have been formulated under a range of operational and economic scenarios that resemble present day practices in India. In order to test for economic variability in the application of the technique, a risk analysis of all the formulated cast blasting models is performed using net present value.CITATION:Uttarwar, M D and Yerpude, R R, 2015. Potential of the overburden cast blasting technique in Indian surface coalmines – a modular approach and its financial implications, in Proceedings 11th International Symposium on Rock Fragmentation by Blasting, pp 655–664 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Aug 24, 2015

By C. F. McCarroll

[Laboratory research and, control in the production an. utilization of petroleum and it 3 products have expanded greatly during the past decade, and much of the routine control and experimental equipment now rewires the constant daily use of liquid mercury. In spite of this ;;renter use, very little consideration has been given to the hazard that might be occasioned by the toxic vapors of mercury unavoidably spilled' of otherwise exposed to the atmosphere during the normal procedure of laboratory open at ions. A simple visual examination ).'.' son-,, r° the laboratories reveal the presence of a considerable quantity of mercury in the cracks of floors, on work tables, and on ark, around equipment stands. Usually this mercury is contaminated with oil3/ and dirt so that it remaining in a finely divided state and a ;mall amount pre presents a relatively large surface for evaporation. Since :mercury shows measurable volatility at a temperature v,.^ lo.! 5o F., mercury vapor will be present in, the mercury _3 exposed promiscuously.]

Jan 1, 1939

By Peter C. Finlayson

Rapidly rising gas and oil prices and the falling quality of coal is forcing energy users in many parts of the world to consider the application of low grade fuel, particularly coal, for steam raising and power generation. However, the use of such low grade coal is normally resisted by the consumer because of operational problems associated with high ash content, sulfur emission and, in some instances, slagging problems caused by low melting temperature constituents in the ash. Recently developed technology involving 'fluidized bed combustion' offers a potential solution to these operational problems. Much of the early work was conducted in Britain, where rig tests were commenced during the early 1960's. This has led on to the successful conversion and operation of a fluidized bed fired industrial boiler at the Renfrew works of Babcock & Wilcox Ltd. Orders for the first commercial boilers incorporating this technology have recently been announced. Significant development work on fluidized combustion is now being undertaken in various parts of the world, in particular North America, Germany and Japan, and the first large scale units are under construction or being commissioned. This paper concentrates on the development of the technology in Britain, outlines the reasons for applying fluidized bed combustion and de-scribes its application at atmospheric pressure for steam raising and at elevated pressure for power generation . Coal Processing Consultants is a Partnership between the National Coal Board and Babcock & Wilcox Ltd. of Britain and has been established in order to provide technical advice and economic evaluations on all aspects of coal processing and utilization. In view of the involvement of its Parents in the development and exploitation of fluidized bed combustion technology, Coal Processing Consultants has been retained by clients in various parts of the world to provide expert advice on the application of fluidized combustion for particular coals and project situations.

Jan 1, 1978

By QINGXIANG CAI, Lin Li, PENG LIU, IZHAR MITHAL JISKANI, XIANG LU, Wei Zhou, YONGLI ZHOU

The concept of green mining is to improve the mining industry in a holistic way so that it is safe, efficient, and environmentally sustainable. The purpose of this study was to develop an evaluation index system of green surface mining based on the theory of green grades. The evaluation model is comprised of three attributes (safety, efficiency, and environment), nine criteria, and 35 indicators. The fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method was used to determine the weights of indicators by taking into consideration degree centrality, closeness centrality, and betweenness centrality. Findings indicate that the environment is the most critical aspect of green surface mining, followed by efficiency and safety. The top five ranked green mining success indicators were the application of new technology, starting-off-rate of equipment, science and technology input to total investment, the number of accidents (decreased), and the production (increased). It was observed that more improvements are needed to overcome water, air, waste, and sound pollution. Attention should also be paid to land reclamation and post-mining land uses, which are key factors in green mining. The proposed model can be applied to evaluate and improve the level of green surface mining in other regions. This study provides a tool for decision-makers that can offer technical assistance to green mining.

May 26, 2020

By John R. McWilliams

This is one of a series of reports being published by the Bureau of Mines on mining methods and costs at various mines throughout the United States. Including the Holden mine in this series is particularly appropriate at this time. The mine was operated on a low-cost, large-scale production basis to compensate for low-grade ore. Even with the best conditions and the most efficient methods, the margin of profit was small. Under the present situation of rising costs and lowering metal prices, the profit margin vanished. On June 28, 1957, the mine operations ceased; therefore, this report can review the entire life span of the mine.

Jan 1, 1958

By J. G. A. Stevenson

GENERAL Location of Property THE Stirling zinc-lead-copper deposit is in Richmond county, Cape Breton, about a quarter of a mile southwest from Stirling P.O., and some 45 miles southwest from Sydney. The property is accessible by road for at least nine months of the year, and during the navigation period coastal boats maintain a service touching at the port of Fourchu, eleven miles from the mine. When flying conditions permit, the Cape Breton Flying Club, of Sydney, will carry passengers to or from the property, a service which has been particularly advantageous on two occasions when hospitalization was urgently required. The Company has mining rights on leases Nos. 73-74, 78-80, and 101-104, inclusive, and owns 166 acres at Stirling and one acre at Fourchu. The ore deposit is in lease No. 73. History The Stirling deposit was discovered in the 'nineties', probably about 1895. The original discovery is said to have been made in the bed of Copper creek, which traverses the ore-zone. For a number of years, indifferent development work was carried on with a view to copper production only, and it was not until1915-16 that attention was directed to the possible production of zinc. Previously, the ore had been considered too complex for metallurgical treatment. During the period 1916-24 several operators attempted to develop the property, among them being the Stirling Exploration Company, Stirling Mining & Smelting Company, New Jersey Zinc Company of New York, Hayden & Stone Company of Boston, and The Eastern Mining & Milling Company. Up to 1924, the work was limited mainly to trenching, stripping, ? diamond drilling, and shot drilling.

Jan 1, 1937

By P. V. Brough, K. B. Gillaspie

DECISION to build a mill at the Bayard property was made in May 1942. Western-Knapp Engineering Co., of San Francisco, assisted by engineers of U. S. Smelting, handled the design and construction. Much of the milling equipment was moved from the Company's mill at Goldroad, Ariz. Wartime restrictions necessitated wood construction and paper sheathing except for structures adjacent to the Bullfrog shaft. Construction started in September 1942 and milling in March 1943. Bayard ores are processed in a single-ection mill. About half of the ore treated during the past year was hoisted through the Bullfrog shaft and the rest was trucked from other shafts. Coarse storage includes four bins, two of 120 tons each for Bullfrog ores and two of 85 to 120 tons each, served by a truck ramp. The low capacity figure refers to

Jan 1, 1948

By W. W. Adams

Coal mining in the United States, had a somewhat higher death rate per million man-hours of exposure among the employees in 1937 than in 1933 to 1936. However, the rate in 1937 was lower and therefore more favorable than that in any year since 1921 but previous to 1933. The nonfatal injury record, which began in 1930, was lower and therefore better in 1937 than in any other year since 1930. Separate figures covering bituminous-coal mines in all States showed a lower fatality rate in 1937 than in any year since 1920 but before 1933, and a lower nonfatal injury rate than that of any year since 1930 except 1933 and 1936. Reports for anthracite mines in Pennsylvania revealed a better safety record for fatal accidents in 1937 than in any year since 1930 except 1933, 1934, and 1936 and a better record for nonfatal injuries than in any year since 1930 except 1933.

Jan 1, 1940

By Gregory J. Chekan

This Bureau of Mines report presents three methods for designing bulkheads to impound water underground: (1) thin and thick plate design; (2) South African plug design; and (3) single and double bulkhead seal design. Related areas critical to the long-term effectiveness of underground water impoundments are also addressed. These include bulk-head anchorage, concrete specifications and placement, the grouting of permeable strata, and the sizing of barrier pillars. A case study involving hydrostatic tests conducted on a single bulkhead seal constructed in the Safety Research Coal Mine of the Bureau's Pittsburgh Research Center is presented in an appendix.

Jan 1, 1985