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By Thomas M. Barczak

A critical safety component for all underground mining is intrinsic and standing support systems. Specifically, tabular hardrock mining exploits a wide variety of deposits that require various methodologies to safely mine the ore material. Several new support systems have been developed in recent years for hard rock applications which have been modified or applied in a variety of ground control applications. These include prestressing devices, improved cribs, and free standing supports. Various standing support and prop-type systems have been designed for hard rock applications with seismic loading conditions to accept prestressing. The prestressing, using water-filled cells, creates an active load upon installation and is considered essential to maintain support during and after the blasting of the mine faces. Heavy seismic activity is also present in these mines and the prestressing units can provide some energy absorption capability to help preserve the integrity of the support. This paper presents an overview of these innovations in support technology.

May 1, 2007

By H Han, d S. Hapugoda, L Lu

With the recent rapid development of Chinese steel industry, the world iron ore resources of good quality are depleting rapidly. As a result, iron ore deposits of lower quality have been or are being developed to meet the market demand and are becoming increasingly important to iron and steel companies. As concentrates have advantages of high Fe grade and less harmful impurities, they are ideal sweeteners to maintain sinter grade and quality when high proportions of low-grade ores are used in the sinter blends. However, due to their fine nature, addition of concentrates will inevitably increase the proportion of adhering fines and reduced the proportion of nucleus particles of the sinter blends, which can adversely affect the green bed permeability and sintering productivity. In the present study, lab scale sintering tests were carried out under the conditions similar to the sintering process to examine the effect of concentrates on the high temperature sintering characteristics of sinter blends and the structure and strength of the resultant sinter analogues.

Sep 18, 2023

By R. Batterham

"The history of mineral processing is indeed long and has always been tied to mining methods of the day. While many new processes and devices have been developed, the most significant trend in recent times has been the ever increasing scale of operations. There is serious doubt this ongoing trend is enough to match the global trend of falling grades and rising energy demands needed for mineral processing. As well we see that globally, the social licence to operate for mining (and hence mineral processing) is far from secure. Indeed, some argue that mining as we know it is dying and in the future, mining will be much more environmentally secure, even to the extent of insisting upon “in place” recovery and only bringing to the surface the valued product. In this paper we comment on the ramifications of broader uptake of more sustainable mining for mineral processing methods and address the specific question of whether recent progress in in place recovery will lead to a timely breakthrough. The answer proposed is that this is possible in the next 10 - 20 years but in the meantime, the focus is just as likely to be on removal of waste much earlier in circuits. Either way, mineral processing as we know it will change significantly. INTRODUCTION Mineral processing has a long history well covered in a recent publication (Habashi, 2006) who points out “the ancient Egyptians knew already that it would be easier to melt an earth rich in gold particles than another which is poor. As a result, all efforts were made to enrich the gold by washing away the light gangue minerals. Similarly, another ancient method for enriching gold particles from a river stream was by means of fleece, hence the Greek myth of the “golden fleece”. Since the middle ages, striving for improved economics has driven a string of innovative developments in milling and separation. The reader is again referred to the informative and illustrative text by Habashi."

Jan 1, 2018

By J. Worden, D. Hughes, S. Smart, H. Zughbi

The enterprise wide optimization (EWO) of steelmaking and manufacturing is a multi-level, hierarchical problem which spans higher level corporate planning and scheduling through to the lower level operations of processes that produce and manufacture steel. External and internal system dynamics combined with process unit co-ordination create complex changing circumstances for the enterprise. This paper presents a scoping study as a prelude to enterprise wide considerations at an integrated steelworks to help inform the choice of appropriate model types and optimization techniques. The hierarchical, multi-level structure of the enterprise and the important spatial-temporal scales to consider are defined. Insights into the system were gained by analyzing a large set of dynamic operational data. Over two years of data were subject to both univariate and multivariate analysis with the intent of understanding the complex interrelations of energy flows on site, the inherent system dynamics of the energy network, system operational modes, aspects of planning and scheduling and the coordination between major processing units. This analysis was further used to evaluate the performance of the system in regards to energy utilization and understand the potential economic benefits derived from improved operational decisions.

Jan 1, 2015

By S. C. Tadolini

The use of resin-grouted cable supports to control large ground movements in several types of underground mines has increased substantially since being introduced in 1991. Cables offer several advantages over traditional support systems, having large support capacities coupled with the flexibility to be used in low openings. Cable slings have been designed to be installed on-cycle using no-spin technology or a two-piece unit that can be placed with hand-held drilling equipment. Additionally, yielding cable supports have been developed and are being used to control large amounts of movement in coal and evaporite deposits.

Jan 1, 1998

By R. A. Lord, H. M. Prichard

efficiency is discussed from both experimental and

Apr 1, 1994

By Arcy R., D&apos George

Removal of S02 from smelter gases is being investigated, using an innovative technique that results in the almost simultaneous recovery and production of elemental sulfur. S02 is removed from the gas stream by scrubbing with suitable aqueous salt solutions or high-boiling organic fluids. The S02-laden liquor is then reacted with H2S Crystalline, high-purity sulfur is instantly precipitated and, after filtration, the regenerated liquor is recycled. The H2S required for the process is produced by reacting a portion of the recovered sulfur with hydrogen or with methane and steam. The chemistry and results of preliminary laboratory research are discussed.

Jan 1, 1969

By B. Tiryaki

Longwall shearers usually suffer from excessive pick and pickholder consumptions and severe wear of the back plate of the clearance ring section of shearer drums. In practice, most of the drums were seen to be withdrawn from the face due to the abovementioned problems, while vane picks and their holders were intact due to the improper lacing design of the clearance ring picks. However, few underground investigations and their results on the effect of lacing arrangement of clearance picks on the service life of shearer drums have been published. Nevertheless, the pick consumption characteristics of shearer drums were not investigated in detail, since these are fewer pick consumptions with shearers when compared to roadheaders. This paper is concerned with the comprehensive in situ trials on the effect of lacing of clearance ring picks on the lifespan of shearer drums, and the pick consumption characteristics of longwall shearers at Cayirhan Coal Mine in Turkey. The lifespan of shearer drums employed with shearers in this mine increased 70 per cent, while the consumption rate of clearance ring picks decreased threefold through using an alternative lacing for clearance picks, indicating the significance of utilizing proper design techniques for clearance ring picks for the service life of shearer drums. Statistical analyses carried out, using the raw pick consumption data, implied that the clearance ring picks experienced much higher loads than vane picks, revealing that special attention must be paid to designing clearance ring picks. An average maximum consumption value of 41 was determined for clearance ring picks, with corner-cutting picks having the most replacements, while it was 35 for vane picks, on three-day based pick replacements.

Jan 1, 2004

By B. Ignasiak

Laboratory studies suggest that improvements of coke strength brought about by pre-heating caking coals before carbonization accrue from inadvertent oxidation rather than from other low-temperature changes in the coal mass. Controlled oxidation of highly caking coal, followed by laboratory carbonization, produces cokes which, in terms of a laboratory scale tumble test index, are equivalent to those obtained from prime metallurgical blends. Appropriately formulated blends of exhaustively oxidized and fresh caking coal similarly yield cokes with strength indices comparable to those of cokes made from the same coal after oxidation under optimum conditions.

Jan 1, 1979

This Bureau of Mines report comprises tables listing the name, location, and other pertinent data concerning certain future fuel-related projects. The tables include information on projects involving the proposed or planned development of fuel resources, as well as the development of storage, transportation, and conversion facilities; the report covers the 26 States east of the Mississippi River. Of the total 594 projects for which information is provided, 492 concern coal mines and electric generating plants.

Jan 1, 1976

By B. C. Scott

Every year more and more mining companies are entering joint ventures to look for minerals. Large companies join large companies, small companies join small companies, and large companies join small companies. Mining companies join oil companies, chemical companies, machinery companies, and companies with no other connection to the minerals business. And well they might, for here is a way for both minerals-oriented companies and those that have no background or knowledge of the minerals business to get actively involved in an outwardly-attractive but high-risk enterprise with the chance to participate in a lucrative minerals find. Thus, for reasons beyond those normally associated with joint ventures in many other fields, corporations, companies, groups, and even individuals are looking to joint exploration ventures as the answer to all problems of getting into or staying in mining.

Jan 1, 1972

By N. Paas

Diesel powered equipment has been operated in underground coal fir mare than 50 years. According to the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), there are approximately 3,000 diesel units operating in underground coal mines in the United States. This number is expected to reach 5,000 diesel units in 250 coal mines by the year 2000. Also, there are approximately 5,000 diesel units operating in metal/nonmetal mines such as trine, potash and salt mines: and more than 3,000 diesel units operating in Canada. This increased popularity of diesel powered equipment over trolley wire, electric trailing cable or battery powered equipment is because of improved safety, greater mobility, higher productivity and increased power of diesel equipment. The operation if diesel powered equipment is not without challenges. Diesel engines generate exhaust emissions, in particular carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, sulfur dioxide, unburned hydrocarbons, and diesel particulate matter that must be maintained at safe levels. The chief method to control ambient exposure has been dilution by ventilation. A new concept to ensure continued safe ambient emissions levels from diesel equipment in underground mines is the EMISSIONS MANAGEMENT PROGRAM™. The program encompasses all factors that will influence diesel emissions. By ESTABLISHING low tailpipe emissions through technology, such as clean engines, clean fuel selection, exhaust aftertreatment devices and filtration of the exhaust gases via the Dry System ™, this program ensures that the baseline emissions are at their lowest technically feasible concentrations. The DST Dry System™ exhaust conditioner reduces DPM by over 98%, as demonstrated through laboratory research at the West Virginia University. Carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon emissions and odor are similarly reduced. MAINTAINING these low emissions requires an expanded training program for operators and mechanics, onboard feed-back devices and a maintenance program with special focus on events and faults that can alter emissions. Finally, an on-board emissions sampling system allows the mechanic to VERIFY emissions levels and help diagnose engine faults. If the tailpipe emissions fall outside an established limit for a particular equipment, corrective actions will be initiated.

Feb 24, 1997

U.S. Borax’s mine in California’s Mojave Desert is the source of nearly half the world’s supply of refined borates. These minerals are used in hundreds of products, including essential plant nutrients that increase crop yield and quality, and safe building products that protect homes from insects and the elements. Borax’s workforce is also safe. In fact, it is among the safest in the nation. In 2003, the company was recognized by the U.S. Mine, Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) for achieving the best safety record among large U.S. mining operations. It was also recognized by its parent company, Rio Tinto, for achieving the best record among its nearly 80 worldwide mining operations. Borax’s safety performance is five times better than the national average. And its workforce recently achieved more than two million hours without a lost-time injury.

Jan 1, 2004

By George F. Becker

A Nere record of Emmons's professional career would very inadequately represent the man. That he was eminent mc know, and our successors will realize in due time; but they must depend upon us for knowledge of a singularly ~vholesome, modest, unselfish personality, and of a character that did honor to a profession in which trustworthiness is indispensable. Those members of the Institute who met Emmons are his friends, and I never knew .one of these who was not the better for that friendship. Emmons was born in Boston, Mar. 29, 1841, the son of Xathaniel H. and Elizabeth (Wales) Emmons, and was named Samuel Frankliri after an ancestor who was of the sarne family as Benjamin Franklin. He took the degrcc of Bachelor of Arts at Harvard in 1861, and soon afterwards went abroad to complete his education. From 1862 to 1864 he attended the courses at the fieole Impkriale des Mines at Paris, Elie de Beaumont arid Daubrke being among his professors. The year 1864-1865 he spent at Freiberg under Cotta and other famous teachers; after which he spent another year in traveling through Europe. Like many other renowned geologists, he approached his ultimate profession from its economic side, and was thus from the first imbued with a sense of high responsibility in the promulgation of scientific opinions or conclusions. With hypotheses which were interesting merely because they were ingenious or even plausible, he would have nothing to do. In 1867 he joined the Geological Exploration of the Fortieth Parallel at its organization under Clarence King, serving at first as a volunteer, but soon receiving a regular appointment. This expedition was the first one of purely geological character sent out by the United States government. As Emmons has shown in his admirable presidential address on " The Geology of Government Explorations," its work was founded on a com-

Jan 1, 1912

By E. Swart

The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the current legislative framework for mine closure within South Africa as well as the new requirements in terms of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, 2002. The roles and responsibilities of Government, the mining industry and other stakeholders and confusion caused are also highlighted.

Jan 1, 2003

By Fang-Qui Zu

Understanding the nature of liquid structures and properties remains an open problem for many fundamental and applied fields such as materials sciences and processing. And as well known, there is no other defined phase line above liquidus (TL ) in phase diagrams of ordinary binary systems. However, via different experimental resorts, our research results on over 30 metallic melts including alloys and elements show a novel physical image: temperature induced liquid-liquid structure transition (TI-LLST) can occur hundreds of degrees over TL. On the other hand, the solidification behaviors and structures out of the melts experienced TI-LLST are distinct from those out of the melts before TI-LLST. In this presentation, some characteristic aspects of the TI-LLST and the effects on solidification behaviors and structures are briefly summarized, and the pertinent rules and mechanism are also analyzed.

Jan 1, 2009

By Frank Firmstone

When in charge of the Glen don Iron Works, the importance of good methods of filling was forcibly brought to my attention, and it occurred to me that the first step toward the discovery of the best plans was the accumulation of exact information as to the distribution actually effected by various chargers; also, that something could be done in this direction by careful measurements in the furnace, to be afterwards recorded for comparison on drawings. The figures shown herewith have been prepared from such measurements, and nearly all of them refer to Glendon, where the fuel used was anthracite and the ore-mixture about threequarters of New Jersey magnetic ores and one-quarter of brown-ores from the vicinity of the works. Every occasion furnished by the blowing-in of furnaces was utilized, but the data accumulated rather slowly in this way; and, opportunity oEering to make special trials at no great expense, the figures from 2 to 7 were thus obtained. The trials were made by dumping a hopperful (6 barrows) of material at once into the furnace, and, when all the fuel of a round (12 barrows) had been put in, the profile of the upper surface was obtained by stretching a steel tape across the top on a diameter and at a known height. By measuring down from this with a graduated rod, the profile was easily obtained with sufficient accuracy, especial pains being taken to get correctly the crests of the ridges and the bottoms of the hollows, as many intermediate points being included as seemed necessary. This was repeated on another diameter when there was occasion. The same course was followed for the limestone and ore.

Jan 1, 1899

By M. C. Ruiz

This work outlines the results of leaching studies on a copper concentrate containing chalcocite (Cu2S) and digenite (Cu9S5) with an acid saline solution of cupric chloride oxygenated at ambient pressure. The variables studied included the stirring speed, concentration of cupric ions, concentration of HCI, concentration of chloride ions, oxygen flow rate, temperature and time. The leaching system was found to be very effective for the dissolution of the concentrate. Over 95% of the copper was dissolved in 30 minutes with negligible dissolution of iron. The dissolution of copper increased with the stirring speed up to about 400 rpm and depended little on the total chloride concentration. The oxygen flow rate affected the dissolution of copper only below 0.1 1/min. The concentration of HC1 did not influence the dissolution providing its was sufficient to avoid the precipitation of copper oxychloride. The study of the effect of the temperature showed a maximum in copper dissolution around 90 "C

Jan 1, 1997

By A. G. Jackson, Rand R. Biggers, John D. Busbee, Iman Maartense, David P. Lubbers, David C. Liptak

"This paper describes the application of Raman Spectroscopy for characterizing superconducting YBCO thin film parameters. Attenuation of the substrate Raman spectrum as a function of material deposited is established. Also a correlation between film quality and Raman spectrum is explored. The identification and discrimination of superconducting and non-superconducting phases of YBCO is presented. The critical temperature (Tc) of a film as a function of its oxygen content is also established using Raman peak ratios. These results provide significant implications toward the use of Raman Spectroscopy for in situ monitoring and control of the PLD process. Film quality can be controlled via optimization of film oxygen content and reduction of improper YBCO phases. Film thickness can be controlled by monitoring the response of the substrate material. Also the PLD process can be studied and modeled using this powerful observation tool.IntroductionSuperconductors are materials that possess unique characteristics when cooled to sufficiently low temperatures. Below a material's critical temperature (Tc) it exhibits zero resistance to current flow. One such material, yttrium barium copper oxide (YBCO) has a critical temperature of approximately 92° K. Due to its high critical temperature YBCO is being aggressively researched for many possible applications, because of high current carrying capability and strong pinning of flux lines.YBCO in the 123 form is a ceramic material that was discovered in February, 1987. Its unit cell structure is shown in Figure 1 [ 1,2]."

Jan 1, 1997

By S. T. Wlodek

The surface and subscale oxidation reactions were followed by means of continuous weight-gain and metallographic techniques over the range 1600" to 2200°F (871° to 1204 °C) for up to 400 hr. Full identification of all scale and subscale reaction products was obtained by electron and X-ray diffraction. At or below 1800°F (982°C) a linear rate of reaction (QL = 46.0 kcal per mole) governed the oxidation process, extending for up to 100 hr at 1600°F (871 "C). During linear oxidation the surface scale consisted of an amorphous SiO2 film overgrown with Cr 2O 3 and NiCr204. This initial linear process was followed, and above 1800°F completely replaced, by two successive parabolic rate laws (Qp = 60 and 57 kcal per mole). This parabolic reaction involved the formation of a complex scale consisting of Cr2 O3 and smaller amounts of NiCr2O4. Parabolic oxidation appeared to coincide with the disruplion of the silica film present during linear oxidation and was followed by subscale (internal) oxidation of crystobalite and NiCr2O4. The balance between the subscale and surface oxidation reactions controls the oxidation of this commercial alloy. The amorphous silica film appears to result in the linear rate and diffusion through Cr2O3 is the more likely rate-limiting step during parabolic oxidation. THE oxidation of a multicomponent composition is a complex phenomenon not presently amenable to a rigorous classical interpretation. Nevertheless, even a qualitative understanding of the scaling and subscale reactions that occur in a commercial composition can illuminate the reactions that limit its high-temperature stability in an oxidizing environment. This study of the oxidation of Hastelloy Alloy X presents the first of a series of studies with the above approach in mind. Hastelloy X exhibits one of the best combinations of strength and oxidation resistance available in a wrought, solution-strengthened, nickel-base alloy. Although during long time exposure some precipitation of M6C and M23C8 carbides as well as a complex Laves phase occurs, the amounts are probably small enough to have no appreciable effect on the chemistry of the matrix. Radavich has identified the oxidation products on Hastelloy X oxidized for 5 min to 10 hr at 1115°F as NiO and the NiCr2O4 spinel. Oxidation for 5 to 15 min at 1500°F produced a scale of spinel, NiO, and a rhombohedra1 phase, probably Cr2Os. Sannier et 2. have reported continuous weight-gain data for Hastelloy X at 1650" and 2010°F and internal-oxidation measurements after 150 hr at 2010°F. In addition, much of the data on binary Ni-Cr alloys recently reviewed by Kubaschewski and okins' and Ignatov and Shamgunova4 as well as studies of binary Ni-Mo alloys5 are also pertinent to the oxidation of this composition. EXPERIMENTAL Continuous weight-gain measurements and metallographic measurements of subscale reactions were the main experimental techniques used in this study. X-ray and electron diffraction backed up by a limited amount of electron-microprobe analysis served to characterize the nature of the scale- and subscale-reaction products. Two heats of commercial sheet of the composition given in Table I and identified as A and B were used in the bulk of this study. Internal-oxidation measurements were made on a third heat of material in the form of a 0.5-in.-diam bar. In order to assure homogeneity, all heats were reannealed 4 hr at 2175°F prior to sample preparation. weight-Gain Measurement. All specimens (1.5 by 0.4 by 0.03 in.) were abraded through 600 paper, electropolished, and lightly etched in an alcohol-10 pct HCl solution. An electrolyte of 150 cu cm H,O, 500 cu cm HsPO4 (85 pct conc), and 3 g CrO3 at a current density of 0.9 amp per sq cm or a solution of 10 pct HaW4 in alcohol used at 4 v and 0.3 amp per sq cm was used for electropolishing. The resultant surface exhibited a finish of 3 ± 1 p rms. Continuous weight-gain tests were made at 1600°, 1700°, 1800°, 1900°, 2000", and 2200°F on auer' type balances capable of recording a total weight change of 110 mg with an accuracy of k0.1 mg. All tests were made in air dried to a dew point of -70°F and metered into the 2-in.-diam reaction

Jan 1, 1964