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By E Rubio, N Morales

Currently, mine plans are optimised by using several criteria as objective functions, like profit, life-of-mine, concentration of some pollutants, mining costs, confidence level or ore resources, with consideration of constraints related to production rates, plant capacities and grades. Whilst this approach is successful in terms of producing high value production schedules, it uses a static opening sequence of the drawpoints and therefore the optimisation is made within the level of freedom left by the original opening schedule, and as a result it is far from the true optimal value of the project. This paper presents a model to optimise the sequence of drawpoint opening over a given time horizon. The emphasis is in the precedence constraints that are required to produce meaningful operational sequences considering the exploitation method (panel or block caving), physics considerations and logical rules. Further on, while it applies the standard approach of maximising net present value (NPV), it considers other targets for optimisation, like the robustness and constructability of the plans. Finally, it applies the model to real data to obtain feasible plans by means of this model. The first tests were done varying the production capacity of the mine.

Sep 26, 2011

By R. F. Coulter

THE Flin Flon concentrating and metallurgical plants (Figure 1) of the Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting Co., Limited, lie adjacent to the town of Flin Flon, on the Manitoba-Saskatchewan border, 400 miles northwest of Winnipeg. Since the start of milling operations in 1930, over 50 million tons of ore from the Flin Flon mine have been treated in the concentrator. During the past few years, newly discovered orebodies have been brought into production and their ores processed at the company's main metallurgical plants. All these properties are within a 75-mile radius of Flin Flon and have aided substantially in augmenting plant metal production as well as retarding depletion of ore reserves in the Flin Flon mine. •Current satellite producers are the Schist Lake, Coronation, and Chisel Lake mines. The Schist Lake mine, located 3 ½ miles southeast of the main plant, is a copper-zinc producer. It was brought into production in 1954. The

Jan 1, 1962

By William J. Kemnitzer

This study was made to show the growth of petroleum coking and to deter- mine trends and characteristics of marketing and utilization of coke on the West Coast, comparing these data with those of the United States as a whole. An earlier Bureau of Mines economic survey of petroleum coke was made in 1930 before the widespread use of coking processes. Data, derived from published and unpublished literature as well as from interviews with industry representatives, show a marked increase in the production of petroleum coke since the end of World War II. This increase resulted from the need of refiners to upgrade heavy residuums for which the demand was diminishing. Increasing coke production as well as significant market shifts away from California-produced coke have created excessive stocks of petroleum coke on the West Coast. The causes of these market shifts were based mainly on (1) economic factors and (2) certain undesirable qualities of some of the petroleum coke produced in California.

Jan 1, 1965

By A. L. Johns, M. V. Healey

This paper presents one of a series of digests of foreign mining legis- lation and court decisions which is being prepared in advance of a general report relative to the right of American citizens to explore for minerals and to own and operate mines in various foreign countries. This interpretation of tie laws of Ecuador has been prepared from the best available information in Washington, but is released subject to correction and amplification, if necessary, by the proper American diplomatic and consular officers to whom it is being referred through the courtesy of the Department of State..

May 1, 1930

By Bill Mariucci, Gary Almeraris

All Rights Reserved. Printed in the United States of America. Information contained in this work has been obtained by SME, Inc. from sources believed to be reliable. However, neither SME nor its authors guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information published herein, and neither SME nor its authors shall be responsible for any errors, omissions, or damages arising out of use of this information. This work is published with the understanding that SME and its authors are supplying information but are not attempting to render engineering or other professional services. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Any statement or views presented here are those of individual authors and are not necessarily those of the SME. The mention of trade names for commercial products does not imply the approval or endorsement of SME.

Dec 1, 2009

By W. W. Dudley

The U.S. Geological Survey, in support of underground testing of nuclear explosives, has developed a technique (Dudley, 1910) to predict the inflow of ground water to large underground chambers that are cylindrical in shape. By treating the chamber as a large-diameter well pumped at constant drawdown, the nonsteady discharge can be computed by the method of Hantush (1961) for analyzing flowing wells under leaky artesian conditions. In mining applications, whether for mineral recovery or for nuclear testing, the most serious departure from the conditions of Hantush's model results from the gradual enlargement of the opening under drained conditions. Inherent in the analytical technique is that the "well" is fully completed at the time that dewatering begins. Because safety is the prime concern, however, initial pumping systems or personnel evacuation procedures must be designed to handle the greatest conceivable inflow. DEFINITIONS Because somewhat different meanings are attached to similar words in different technical fields, the U.S. Geological Survey definitions (Lohman, 1970) of several hydrologic terms used in this report are given below. An aquifer is a formation, group of formations, or part of a formation that contains sufficient saturated permeable material to yield significant quantities of water to wells, and springs. A confining bed is a body of material lying stratigraphically adjacent to one or more aquifers and having a hydraulic conductivity distinctly lower than that of the aquifer. The total head (dimensions L) of a liquid at a given point is the sum of three components: (1) elevation head, he, which is equal to the elevation of the point above a datum; (2) pressure head, hp, which is the height of a column of static water that can be supported by the static pressure at the point; and (3) velocity head, hv, which is the height the kinetic energy of the liquid is

Jan 1, 1971

By Jack E. Fraley

Magnesium oxysulfate cement has been specially formulated as a sealant in underground coal mines for reducing sloughing of shale roofs and coal ribs, for reducing air losses through block stoppings, for constructing sprayed stop-pings over approved jute cloth or metal lath, and for reducing combustibility of polyurethane foam. A standard spray machine (Mining Enforcement and Safety Administration (MESA) approved) was used for the underground testing. Our research shows that a 1/2-inch coating reduces shale and coal sloughing, reduces air losses through block stoppings, and prevents fire propagation through a metal tunnel lined with polyurethane foam. During the underground tests, excess mixing water was used to improve pumping the slurry to the spray nozzle. This was later found to increase shrinkage cracks in the cured coatings. Controlling excess water is important to an acceptable coating.

Jan 1, 1976

By B. J. Moore

This publication contains routine analyses and related source data for 374 natural gas samples from 24 States and 5 foreign countries. These samples were collected during calendar year 1966 as a part of a continuous survey of the free world for occurrences of helium in natural gas. This survey has been conducted in the United States by the Bureau of Mines since 1917. In late 1965, the survey was expanded to include foreign gasfields. The analyses of foreign samples contained in this publication represent the first samples received as a result of this expanded program. The analyses published herein were made by mass spectrometer and a special helium analysis apparatus, which are described in Bureau of Mines Bulletins 4863 and 576.4 Eight previous publications have been made to present the results of 7,244 gas analyses made? by the Bureau of Mines Helium Activity prior to 1966. The first three, Bulletins 486,5 576,6 and 617,7 contain analyses and related

Jan 1, 1967

By Jr. Sillers

To prove to .the satisfaction of all concerned that electrolytic manganese from our low-grade domestic ores could be substituted satisfactorily for ferro-manganese made from high-grade foreign fires, an extensive series of tests was conducted in cooperation with industry, in which electrolytic manganese pro-duced by, the Bureau of Mines at its Boulder City, Nev., Station was substituted for the ordinary ferro grades in the production of ferrous and nonferrous metals and alloys and welding-rod coatings. Over 1,200,000 pounds of manganese was given out for this purpose. The objectives of the tests were accomplished, and for some purposes electrolytic manganese was shown to be superior to other grades because of its high purity. The only serious objection that can be raised against electrolytic manganese is its price, which puts it out of reach for most purposes. Even if the price were to be lowered to a point where it would be in line with ferro grades, it is questionable whether electrolytic manganese from domestic ores could supply more than a small part of the needs of American industry because of the large volume of domestic ore that would have to be processed to supply a satisfactory feed for the electrolytic process. Thus, although electrolytic manganese is highly desirable from a metallurgical standpoint, it could not be expected to substitute for more than a fraction of our domestic manganese requirements.

Jan 1, 1952

By The Hollinger Mill Staff

MR. E. L. Longmore (l), in presenting this paper at the Annual General Meeting, suggested that it was neither desirable nor necessary to read any but the briefest portion of the paper. He wished to emphasize that the scale of the milling operations at the Hollinger not only provided several units in continuous operation to ensure that the test work was being carried on under normal conditions, but also provided a large and competent staff to supervise such an extensive experiment and to criticize intelligently the recorded results. He wished to acknowledge the enthusiastic co-operation of the group of assistants whose excellent work was responsible for the confidence with which the conclusions could be presented. The following data were given as a supplement to the published paper. Following conclusion of the test work described in the paper, the size of the balls fed to the mill was changed from 3-in. diameter to 2Yz-in. Within a short time, a gradual rise in the tonnage rate took place and, as no other condition had been changed, the increased tonnage was credited to the changed character of the ball load. At present, the average daily tonnage for the mill with low discharge is 1,507 tons, an increase of 77 tons over the 1,430 tons ground when feeding a 3-in. ball. A similar increase in tonnage should be credited to the high-discharge test, if the 2;Y2-in. ball had been used at that time. This would raise the 1,117 tons ground at that time to a new figure of 1,177 tons. From a study made to determine those factors influencing the rate of pulp flow through the low-discharge mill, it became evident that the ball screen used on the high-discharge mill must have been restricting the flow through the mill, although this was not recognized at the time. Accord-ingly, it was decided to repeat the high-discharge run. Additional length was added to the 21-in. ring grizzly originally used, and the length of the reverse spiral was increased. The end of the grizzly was left open so that, if necessary, excess pulp might flow out. A coarse mesh 3 ft. by 3 ft. flat screen was provided to catch stray balls.

Jan 1, 1937

By Jan J. Cilliers, Nicolas Barbian, Esther Ventura-Medina

"Froth structure and stability are known to play an important role in determining flotation recovery and selectivity. An industrial sampling campaign was performed to develop a clearer understanding of the effect of flotation variables on froth stability and the role played by the resulting stability on flotation performance.Froth stability was estimated as the fraction of bubbles bursting on the surface of the froth through image analysis and the solids loading on the bubbles at the top surface. It was generally found that high air flowrates resulted in a drop of froth stability showed by a drop in the fraction of air overflowing and a decrease in the solids loading and simultaneously produced low copper recoveries and low concentrate grades. Deep froths only allowed a small fraction of air to overflow and consequently produced low recoveries. An increase from a standard to high frother dosage did not result in a larger fraction of air overflowing, hence producing low recoveries. Likewise, low frother addition only allows low recoveries because the resulting unstable froth cannot support itself. Low aeration was found to be preferential as it allowed high particle loading, therefore high bubble stabilisation, and low gangue entrainment, resulting in the highest flotation performance.Additional laboratory tests were performed to introduce a new stability parameter and to give a clearer understanding of the effect of flotation variables on froth stability. The results confirmed some of the observations made on the plant."

Jan 1, 2003

By John W. Buch

This is the first progress report to be released on the anthracite, mechanical mining research and engineering development program of the Bureau of Mines. This phase of Bureau work, which was initiated as an aid to stimulating wartime production of anthracite, has been continued after the war to assist primarily in improving the general economic position of the anthracite industry. Field work was started in. the 1945 fiscal year with the cooperation of an advisory committee representing management, labor, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. For a beginning, several matters were suggested by members of this advisory committee as being worthy of investigation, and sections of underground mines yore offered for test purposes. Among the suggestions accepted for investigation was the problem of increasing the rate of advance for driving gangways in thin, steeply pitching anthracite beds 4 to 6 feet thick and pitching 60 degrees or more. The problem was undertaken as a field study, and this report relates to accomplishments on this project to June 30, 1947.

Jan 1, 1949

By A. C. Fieldner

[The Sectional Committee on Classification of Coals, functioning under the sponsorship of the American Society for Testing Materials and the rules of the American Standards Association, in its 1934 report recommended to the American Society for Testing-Materials that Specifications for Classification of Coals by Rank be adopted as tentative. These specifications, slightly modified as recommended by the Sectional Committee, in its 1935 report,6 wore approved as tentative standards by the society in 1935. The specifications rover the classification of coals according; to their degree of metamorphism, or progressive alteration, in the natural eerie s from lignite to anthracite. The basic scheme of classification is according to fired carbon and calorific value (expressed in B.t.u.) calculated to the mineral-matter-free basis. The higher-rank coals are classified according to fixed carbon on the dry basis, and the lower-rank coals according to B.t.u. on the moist basis, that is, containing its natural bed moisture but free of visible surface moisture. Agglutinating and weathering indices arc used to differentiate between certain adjacent groups.]

Jan 1, 1935

By Fred N. Kissell

This handbook describes effective methods for the control of mineral dusts in mines and tunnels. It assumes the reader is familiar with mining. The first chapter deals solely with dust control methods, regardless of the application. It is a brief tutorial on mining dust control and will be of help to the reader whose dust control problem does not conveniently fit any of the mining equipment niches described in later chapters. The subsequent chapters describe dust control methods for different kinds of mines and mining equipment. This includes underground coal and hard-rock mines, as well as surface mines, stone mines, and hard-rock tunnels. Because dust sampling has so many pitfalls, a chapter on methods used to sample dust is included. For those occasions when there is no practical engineering control, a chapter on respirators is also included. Except for those listed as ?future possibilities? in the longwall chapter, the dust control methods described are practical and cost-effective for most mine operators. If controlling dust were a simple matter, dust problems in tunnels and mines would have been eradicated years ago. Unfortunately, most underground dust control methods yield only 25% to 50% reductions in respirable-sized dust. Often, 25% to 50% reductions are not enough to achieve compliance with dust standards. Thus, mine operators must use several methods simultaneously, usually without knowing for sure how well any individual method is working. In fact, given a 25% error in dust sampling and day-to-day variations in dust generation of 50% or more, certainty about which control methods are most effective can be wanting. Nevertheless, over the years, some consensus has emerged on the best dust control practices. This handbook summarizes those practices.

Jan 1, 2003

By C. E. McCarthy, A. George Stern, Stanley J. Green

The national interest prompts consideration of any new source of mineral wealth even though the immediate need may be of minor importance. A critical shortage of potash in the United States during the World War of 1914-18 stimulated broad development, which established an American potash industry on a basis so sound that this commodity is not even listed as urgent in the present war program. However, this should not minimize its importance, and the need remains, not only for adequate supplies of the usual potash salts (the chloride and the sulphate) but of all potash chemicals. Potassium carbonate (known commercially as pearl ash) has been a high-cost commodity; in consequence, the quantity used by industry has been relatively small. By a combination of fortuitous geographical circumstances, there is opportunity to produce a low-cost potassium carbonate with the possibility that this might become an important source of chemical potash. The following paper considers a recently developed process1 taking advantage of these conditions. Wyomingite Deposit For many years it has been known that a deposit of potash-bearing igneous rock known as wyomingite occurs in the south- western part of Wyoming at Zirkel Mesa, which is 44 miles northeast of the town of Green River (Fig. I). The western escarpment of this deposit is about 3 miles east of the Superior Branch of the Union Pacific Railroad. This mesa alone covers approximately 3300 acres, and the average thickness of the wyomingite flow is 75 ft. It has been estimated2 that about one billion tons of wyomingite occur in this one deposit, all of which can be mined by open quarrying without overburden. In addition, there are several smaller deposits within 10 miles, so that the aggregate wyomingite in the area approaches two billion tons. This is one of the world's largest sources of leucite, and the only known deposit of its kind in the United States. The wyomingite (which is in the form of a lava flow and numerous small craters), with the mineral leucite as its most important component, has a mineral composition3 of: leucite, 50 per cent; phlogopite, 15; diopside, 12; kataphorite, 15; glass and apatite, 8. The phlogopite is present in visible phenocrysts 1/8 to 1/2 in. in diameter, but the leucite usually is almost microcrystalline and not capable of liberation by grinding. Chemically, the Wyomingite has a potash Content averaging slightly higher than eleven per cent K2O. The potash is mainly in the leucite, but part of it is in the phlogopite and a small amount is in the feldspars that are occasionally seen as undigested occlusions of the granite country rock, through which the leucite-bearing lava intruded, and as sanidine feldspar both in the crystalline and glassy phases of the rock. A typical analysis of the wyomingite from Zirkel Mesa is as follows:

Jan 1, 1948

By A. George Stern, Stanley J. Green, C. E. McCarthy

The national interest prompts consideration of any new source of mineral wealth even though the immediate need may be of minor importance. A critical shortage of potash in the United States during the World War of 1914-18 stimulated broad development, which established an American potash industry on a basis so sound that this commodity is not even listed as urgent in the present war program. However, this should not minimize its importance, and the need remains, not only for adequate supplies of the usual potash salts (the chloride and the sulphate) but of all potash chemicals. Potassium carbonate (known commercially as pearl ash) has been a high-cost commodity; in consequence, the quantity used by industry has been relatively small. By a combination of fortuitous geographical circumstances, there is opportunity to produce a low-cost potassium carbonate with the possibility that this might become an important source of chemical potash. The following paper considers a recently developed process1 taking advantage of these conditions. Wyomingite Deposit For many years it has been known that a deposit of potash-bearing igneous rock known as wyomingite occurs in the south- western part of Wyoming at Zirkel Mesa, which is 44 miles northeast of the town of Green River (Fig. I). The western escarpment of this deposit is about 3 miles east of the Superior Branch of the Union Pacific Railroad. This mesa alone covers approximately 3300 acres, and the average thickness of the wyomingite flow is 75 ft. It has been estimated2 that about one billion tons of wyomingite occur in this one deposit, all of which can be mined by open quarrying without overburden. In addition, there are several smaller deposits within 10 miles, so that the aggregate wyomingite in the area approaches two billion tons. This is one of the world's largest sources of leucite, and the only known deposit of its kind in the United States. The wyomingite (which is in the form of a lava flow and numerous small craters), with the mineral leucite as its most important component, has a mineral composition3 of: leucite, 50 per cent; phlogopite, 15; diopside, 12; kataphorite, 15; glass and apatite, 8. The phlogopite is present in visible phenocrysts 1/8 to 1/2 in. in diameter, but the leucite usually is almost microcrystalline and not capable of liberation by grinding. Chemically, the Wyomingite has a potash Content averaging slightly higher than eleven per cent K2O. The potash is mainly in the leucite, but part of it is in the phlogopite and a small amount is in the feldspars that are occasionally seen as undigested occlusions of the granite country rock, through which the leucite-bearing lava intruded, and as sanidine feldspar both in the crystalline and glassy phases of the rock. A typical analysis of the wyomingite from Zirkel Mesa is as follows:

Jan 1, 1948

By C. E. McCarthy, A. George Stern, Stanley J. Green

THE national interest prompts consideration of any new source of mineral wealth even though the immediate need may be of minor importance. A critical shortage of potash in the United States during the World War of I9I4-I8 stimulated broad development, which established an American potash industry on a basis so sound that this commodity is not even listed as urgent in the present war program. However, this should not minimize its importance, and the need remains, not only for adequate supplies of the usual potash salts (the chloride and the sulphate) but of all potash chemicals. Potassium carbonate (known commercially as pearl ash) has been a high-cost commodity; in consequence, the quantity used by industry has been relatively small. By a combination of fortuitous geographical circumstances, there is opportunity to produce a low-cost potassium carbonate with the possibility that this might become an important source of chemical potash. The following paper considers a recently developed process1 taking advantage of these conditions. WYOMINGITE DEPOSIT For many years it has been known that a deposit of potash-bearing igneous rock known as wyomingite occurs in the southwestern part of Wyoming at Zirkel Mesa, which is 44 miles northeast of the town of Green River (Fig. I). The western escarpment of this deposit is about 3 miles east of the Superior Branch of the Union Pacific Railroad. This mesa alone covers approximately 3300 acres, and the average thickness of the wyomingite flow is 75 ft. It has been estimated2 that about one billion tons of wyomingite occur in this one deposit, all of which can be mined by open quarrying without overburden. In addition, there are several smaller deposits within 10 miles, so that the aggregate wyomingite in the area approaches two billion tons. This is one of the world's largest sources of leucite, and the only known deposit of its kind in the United States. The wyomingite (which is in the form of a lava flow and numerous small craters), with the mineral leucite as its most important component, has a mineral composition3 of: leucite, 50 per cent; phlogopite, 15; diopside, I2; kataphorite, 15; glass and apatite, 8. The phlogopite is present in visible phenocrysts 1/8 to 1/2 in. in diameter, but the leucite usually is almost microcrystalline and not capable of liberation by grinding. Chemically, the wyomingite has a potash content averaging slightly higher than eleven per cent K20. The potash is mainly in the leucite, but part of it is in the phlogopite and a small amount is in the feldspars that are occasionally seen as undigested occlusions of the granite country rock, through which the leucite-bearing lava intruded, and as sanidine feldspar both in the crystalline and glassy phases of the rock. A typical analysis of the wyomingite from Zirkel Mesa is as follows:

Jan 1, 1944

By K. D. Hester

This paper will review the metallurgical aspects of the completed expansion program at Quirke, and the current rehabilitation and refurbishing program at Panel. During the Quirke program, completed at the end of 1977, the plant capacity was increased from a nominal 4,500 to 7,000 short tons per milling day. The expansion of crushing, grinding, neutral thickening and filtering, leaching, partial neutralization, sand-slime separation, sand washing, C.C.D., clarification, ion exchange, mine water treatment, and tailings neutralization and pumping will be considered. The application of Enviro-Clear thickeners in the mine water treatment circuit and in the C.C.D. will be briefly reviewed. An automatic grinding and classification circuit for limestone will also be covered. The refurbishing program underway at Panel will be discussed. The Quirke and Panel plants will be contrasted and compared. In particular, reference will be made to environmental considerations. The innovative system for producing yellow cake at Panel, LAMIX, will be considered as well as the proposed treatment system for Panel tailings.

Jan 1, 1979

By W. Hermanson

This report, which covers the period from January 16 to October 21, 1974, describes the work performed in compliance with the requirements of contract no. H0242028 and modifications 1 and 2 thereto. The purpose of the contract was to further reline and modify three of the canopies (shuttle car, loader, and roof drill) which were developed under contract no. H0220031, and to conduct further testing and demonstration of the relined designs. Modifications I and 2 involved conducting further in-mine evaluations of the face. drill and cutter canopies, also developed under contract no. H0220031. In addition to the canopy modifications, the contract involved an evaluation of an operator's seat concept for a shuttle car which was developed for the USBM by another contractor.

Jan 1, 1974

By Rafael Humberto Mota de Siqueira

A conformação a laser (Laser Beam Forming – LBF) é um processo mecânico sem contato realizado pela introdução de tensões térmicas na superfície de um material com laser, a fim de induzir a deformação plástica. Neste estudo, foram realizadas conformações em chapas de 1,6 mm de espessura, de alumínio de alta resistência, classe AA6013-T4, com uso de um laser de Yb-fibra operando em modo contínuo. A potência do laser foi variada entre 200 e 1000 W e a velocidade entre 3 e 30 mm/s, com o feixe desfocalizado em 5 mm sobre a superfície da chapa. O ângulo de dobramento das chapas variou entre 0,1 e 2,5° por passe, dependendo das condições experimentais. Na condição de maior ângulo, 1000 W e 30 mm/s, a poça de fusão atingiu 0,6 mm de profundidade, porém sem alterar a microestrutura da parte inferior da chapa. Em todas as condições, a dureza se manteve constante em aproximadamente 100 HV, sendo semelhante ao material de base. Para verificar a aplicabilidade do método, foram desempenadas chapas previamente soldadas na configuração T. O método mostrou-se eficiente em corrigir o empenamento de chapas com inclinação de até 5°.

Aug 16, 2017