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By Desiree Willis

At 6 percent downgrade to a low point beneath California?s Sacramento River, the Lower Northwest Interceptor Sewer was a difficult project from the outset. Project owner Sacramento County Regional Sanitation District (SRC-SD) planned to excavate the V-shaped tunnel in two sections using an earth pressure balance (EPB) machine in soft ground. Muck removal, due to the steep downgrade, was a tricky proposition. ?We did look at muck cars, but determined they were not the best option due to the relatively steep slope of the tunnel alignment. The safety benefits of conveyors on this job were obvious, as there were not the potential hazards associated with muck cars traveling on an incline or derailing,? said Steve Norris, senior civil engineer for SRCSD The successful project represented one of the first instances of a conveyor system being used for a soft ground tunnel boring machine (TBM) application. Several projects in California, including a recent tunnel completed in 2009, have highlighted a growing acceptance of conveyor muck removal in a variety of ground conditions. Conveyors offer higher system availability than more common methods, such as muck cars, as they allow for continual operation of the TBM. The design of conveyor systems must, however, take into account the differences in material between soft ground and hard rock, including belt cleaning features, sealed transfer points and other elements.

Jun 1, 2010

By S. R. Crane

One Bureau of Mines goal is to minimize the undesirable environmental impacts associated with industrial plants emitting waste gases containing S02. To help meet this goal, a regenerable flue gas desulfurization process was developed. This process, known as the citrate process, uses a buffered weak acid solution to absorb S02 from the waste gas. The absorbed S02 is reacted with H2S to precipitate elemental sulfur and regenerate the solution for recycle. The H2S feedstock for the process, if not otherwise available, may be produced by reacting two-thirds of the recovered elemental sulfur with natural gas and steam. Laboratory investigations and pilot plant operations were conducted by the Bureau to determine if H2S from the natural gas, sulfur, and steam reaction was suitable for the citrate process. The laboratory investigations, in which an H2S generator was integrated with other citrate process operations, provided a basis for design and operation of the pilot plant. The objective of the pilot plant was primarily to provide H2S for the citrate pro-cess pilot plant at the Bunker Hill Co. lead smelter in Kellogg, Idaho. The design capacity of the pilot plant was 0.4 to 1.25 tons of H2S per day. The operation demonstrated that (1) a 77-to 79-dry-volume-percent H2S product could be produced from pilot-plant product sulfur, natural gas, and steam; (2) the product R2S regenerated the SO2-loaded citrate solution; and (3) under certain conditions over 95 percent of the natural gas could be converted to H2S.

Jan 1, 1981

By W. A. Backofen, D. L. Holt

Push-pull fatigue tests have been carried out at 4.2°K, 77oK, and room temperature on two poly crystalline materials of widely different stacking-fault energy (?): pure copper (? - 70 ergs per sq cm) and the Cu-8 wt pct A1 alloy (? - 2.8 ergs per sq cm). Constant stress-amplilude was imposed and measurement was made of the plastic-strain amplitude (ep) at saturation. Lives extended from 104 to 106 cycles. Designating lives at the various temperatures by NRT, N77, and N4.2. the ratios N77/NNT and N4.2/N77 ranged from 3.5 to 18 under the condition of common Ep . Metallo-graphic examination revealed different crack morphology in Cu-8 Al fatigued at room temperature, and at 77" and 4.2oK. At room temperature, cracks lay in or near grain and lain boundavies; at 77o and 4.2oK. cvacks were transcrystalline. Tests on single crystals of Cu-8 A1 showed that such a change in the cracking mode in polycrystallitle material accounted for a factor of- about 3.25 in N77/NRT . The longer life at lower tewperatztre (conslant cp) has heels attributed to two deuelopinents: a reduced production of the dislocation tangles and subgrain boundaries which serve as paths of rapid cracking, and suppression of oxygen chetni-sorption at the crack tip It was concluded that in both materials the luller accounted for an extension of the life at 4.2oK beyond that at room temperature by a factor of 15. XV ECENT experiments on the fatigue of Cu-A1 alloys in the so-called high-cycle range (greater than lo4 cycles) have emphasized the importance of stacking-fault energy (y) as a quantity affecting crack propagation rate and fatigue life.1,2 It was found in comparisons at essentially fixed plastic-strain amplitude that crack growth rate decreased by a factor of about 5 over the composition range from copper (? - 70 ergs per sq cm) to Cu-8 wt pct Al (? - 2.8 ergs per sq cm). The argument was made that, when stacking-fault energy is high, cross slip and climb are favored, so that dislocation tangles and/or subgrain boundaries form more readily under cyclic loading. Since the boundaries and tangles act as paths of rapid crack propagation ,3, 4 life is shortened as a result. However, when stacking-fault energy is reduced (as by alloying), cross slip and climb become more difficult, with the result that substructure formation is retarded and growth rate is also reduced. A purpose of the present work was to investigate the substructure effect in relation to temperature. As temperature is lowered, ? is varied only slightly (if at all), but decreased thermal activation can interfere with cross slip and climb. Thus substructure formation could be curtailed and life increased. Fatigue life in the high-cycle range is also known to be strongly influenced by environment. Working with copper, Wadsworth and Hutchings observed that life in a vacuum of 10-8 mm Hg exceeded life in air by a factor of 20.5 They isolated oxygen as the agent that furthered cracking. While the details are still unclear, a requirement in any mechanism of oxygen-accelerated cracking is that there be chemisorption at the crack tip. That could prevent welding on the compression half cycle,= interfere with reversal of slip,1, 6 or aid in breaking metal-metal bonds at the crack tip.5'7 In the work being reported here, temperature was lowered by immersion in liquid nitrogen and helium, which also served to reduce both the oxygen concentration and chemisorption rate. A possible effect upon life, i.e., a lengthening, had to be recognized. Several researchers have determined fatigue lives at low temperatures presenting their results in the form of stress amplitude (S) vs cycles in life (N) curves.8-11 Such curves reflect, primarily, the fact that metal is strengthened by lowering temperature; effects of substructure and changing environment tend to be masked. The difficulty can be overcome by comparisons based on identical plastic-strain amplitudes, and in the present work the dependence of life on both plastic strain and stress amplitude was established. EXPERIMENTAL Materials. The principal materials were polycrystal-line copper (? - 70 ergs per sq cm)" and the Cu-8 wt pct Al alloy (? - 2.8 ergs per sq cm),I3 the latter being near the limit of solubility of aluminum in copper and having, therefore, the lowest stacking-fault energy in the CU-Al system. Specimens were machined from 0.118-in.-diam cold-swaged rods of high-purity (99.999 pct) copper and the Cu-8 Al alloy, the latter produced initially in a graphite boat by induction vacuum melting a mixture of 99.999 pct Cu and 99.99 pct Al. The machined specimens were annealed to produce mean grain diameters of about 0.070 mm in copper and 0.190 mm in the alloy. Specimen dimensions are given in Fig. 1. Values of the tensile yield stress, ultimate strength, uniform strain (determined by the Considgre construction), and reduction of area, for both materials at 4.2oK, 77oK, and room temperature, are listed in Table I. The tensile apparatus in which these results were obtained has already been described.14 Apparatus. Specimens were fatigued in push-pull with a machine that is illustrated schematically in Fig. 2. The specimen is first soldered into the top grip (1) with Woods metal, and the grip is then screwed into the inner tube (2) which is connected to the drive rod of the Goodmans vibration genera-

Jan 1, 1968

By M. D. Hassialis

[Surface Areas of Concentrates and Collector Coatings (T.P. 2002, by A. M. GAUDIN and G. S. PRELLER, Min. Tech., May. Discussion by M. D. HASSIALIS and the authors) . I Activation of Minerals and Adsorption of Collectors (T.P. 2082 by J. ROGERS and K. 1'. SUTHERLAND, Min. Tech., Nov. Discussion by A. F. TAGGART and the authors). . . . 3 Correlation between Mineral Behavior in Cataphoresis and in Flotation (T.P. 2005 by A. If. GAUDIN and S. C. SUN, Min. Tech., May. Discussion by M. D. HASSIALIS). . . . . . 8] Surface Areas of Concentrates and Collector Coatings M. D. HASSIALIS.*-In the current flotation theories there exists a common gap spanned by a common assumption pertaining to the arrangement and orientation of the collector ions at the solid surface. Also common is the belief that contact angle and flotation performance are dependent upon the arrangement and orientation of collector ions. This stimulating and informative paper sheds some light upon this general problem. One of the indices of arrangement is the area available per collector ion; in this connection, Gaudin and Preller have applied the B.E.T. method for surface determinations. In a surprising number of cases, their results show a greater specific surface for tailing than for concentrate. This cannot be accounted for by the differences in specific gravity and is attributed to the presence of clay minerals of "primary" sluices in the tailing. This is not a satisfactory explanation, for experience shows that when free slimed clay minerals are present in a flotation cell they will be carried mechanically into the concentrate. A part of the answer to the decreased specific surface of the concentrate would appear to be its usual flocculated condition, yet this should not entirely account for the large spreads reported. The possibility occurs that the nitrogen adsorption isotherms for clean mineral and collector-coated mineral are different. If that were true, and if the coated mineral surface exhibited decreased adsorptive powers, the discrepancy might vanish. In discussing the disposition of collector ions at mineral surfaces, the authors adopt the more consistent viewpoint that there exists some agreement between the ions of the substrate and those of the superstrate. In the case of xanthate ions on galena, a possible arrangement is shown in Fig. 2. This arrangement shows every xanthate ion being shared by two lead ions, whereas the chemical composition calls for two xanthate ions for each lead ion (p. g). This whole discussion is misleading. In the first place, it is known that xanthate ions are not abstracted by unoxidized galena, hence Fig. 2 should show as the substrate not Pbs but PbS„ Om. It would be equally erroneous to use the lattice arrangement of PGSO4, since the surface properties of xanthate-conditioned anglesite differ from those of xanthated galena. It is highly probable that the state of the galena surface exploited in its flotation is ephemeral, since weathered galena is only poorly, if at all, collected by xanthate. Just how a substrate of oxidized galena is to be pictured depends upon one's conception of the transformation from galena to anglesite. This writer is inclined to the following sequence of events. Surface sulphide ions undergo progressive oxidation. As more oxygen is taken up by the sulphide ions they become displaced from their equilibrium positions in the galena lattice, thus accommodating for the larger volume of the S„ Om ions. Concomittant with this change the forces acting on the lead ions

Jan 1, 1946

By M. Lastra, A. Cruz, J. Menacho

The use of phosphates was studied as a way of purifying acidic copper leach solutions for direct electrowinning. The addition of 2.5 gpl phosphorus to plant solutions originally containing 6.25 gpl Fe (III) at pH 2 0 reduced the iron concentration by one half. Under identical conditions, but without phosphorous additions, the iron concentration was reduced by less than 1 gpl. Any residual phosphorous had no undesirable impact on electrowinning. The concentration ratio of Fe (III) to phosphorous which provides maximum iron elimination was determined. Higher ratios bring about a redissolution of the iron precipitate. Several ways of controlling iron with phosphates are discussed. These take advantages of more rapid and complete iron precipitation at lower pH levels.

Jan 1, 1980

By James F. Howe

Modern civilization is centered around a small group of essential occupations, the three principal ones which are agriculture, mining and manufacturing. Agriculture might be called the most important of the three, as it has to do directly with the supply of food for the human race. Mining, however, is certainly next in importance, as it furnishes the supply of fuel and many of the raw materials used in manufacturing. Without mining, modern machinery and many industrial operations would be impossible. Mining takes advantage of the, natural resources in fuel and minerals that lie underneath the surface of mother earth, and while at times some of these metals are hard to find and mines come and go, mining must continue to increase. Mining is no longer a haphazard proposition but one calling for careful study and complete plans of operation for years to come. The shafts, power houses, rock dump crusher, concentrator, and other machinery must be located advantageously in order to enable owners to make a profit. Many tons of rock or mineral must be mined frequently to get one ton of concentrated metallic ore or metal itself. Economy in mining is just as essential as it is in manufacturing. The mining engineer of today is called upon to utilize every branch of engineering, and not only, is a wide: range of knowledge required, but ingenuity to meet the unusual conditions which are constantly arising from week to week. On account of the wide variety of information required by the mining engineer, some things with which he is in almost daily contact may be passed over with only a small amount of attention, provided everything is going well, in order that time and attention may be focused on what might be termed the more important features of mining operations. Because competition has become keener than ever, owing to overproduction at times of certain minerals, it becomes a matter of first, importance to understand as far as possible the factors which enter into the cost of production of any mineral which may be mined. In such times of overproduction, the high cost mine is forced to close down while the low cost mine may, if desired, be kept running constantly. In keeping a cost record, wire rope on account of its high first cost 19 coming into the lime light, and a comparison of records of one mine with another is now frequently made in order to see whether the rope service is satisfactory or not. Every rope maker, on the other hand, is interested in seeing that the rope which he produces gives the maximum possible return for the money invested. Modern mining owes much of its success to the use of wire rope for hoisting materials from beneath the surface of the ground. Deep mining would be impossible without the use of wire rope as a means of hoisting. A study, therefore, of rope problems in mining work and a discussion of the points which are beneficial to maximum life will enable the mining engineer, manager, or superintendent to keep his costs down to the minimum while at the same time he provides a suitable and sufficient safety factor for operations at all times. Mining might be defined as the extraction of coal, metallic ores, or minerals from below the surface of the ground. This definition does not cover what is known as, open pit operations or quarrying but covers the

Jan 1, 1922

By W. L. Phillips

Nickel alloys containing approximately 0.5, 2.0, and 6.0 at. pct of Os, Pd, Ru, and Rh were Prepared by vacuum melting. Tension tests were carried out at 25°, 500°, 800°, and 1000°C; stress-rupture tests were carried out at 650° and 800°C. The room- and elevated-temperature tensile strength, as well as the stress-rupture life, increased for the same atomic percent in the order palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, osmium. The ductility decreased with increasing concentration or temperature for a given concentration. The results are discussed in terms of solid-solution theory. BOTH solid-solution strengthening and weakening have been observed in alloys. The simple rules which have been suggested to explain alloy strengthening are subject to several exceptions and deviations based on atom size and valency effects. The purpose of the present investigation was to extend the knowledge of the effect of solid-solution alloying on the mechanical properties of several Ni-Pt group metal alloys at room and elevated temperatures. The platinum group metals, osmium, ruthenium, rhodium, and palladium were chosen as the solute elements because of their different valencies and atom sizes. Nickel was chosen as the base material because of the large amount of previous literature available on nickel alloys. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE Grade A Carbonyl nickel powder having the following composition: C, 0.07 pct; Fe, 0.013 pct; Mn, 0.0005 pct; Si, 0.016 pct; Mg, 0.0003 pct; S, 0.003 pct, was purchased from the International Nickel Co. The platinum-group metal powders were purchased from A. D. Mackay Co. The powders were weighed, cone-blended for 4 hr, and vacuum-melted into 1-in.-diam billets, approximately 2 in. long. The ingots were homogenized for 5 hr at 1800°F before being extruded into 1/4-in. rods at 2100°F. The alloy compositions are shown in Table I. Typical impurity values were not significantly different than that of the as-received nickel. All alloys were single phase. The lattice parameter of each alloy after the heat treatment described below is also included in Table I. Each alloy was annealed at 2200°F for 1 hr and air-quenched to comparable grain sizes (ASTM G.S. No. 4-5). The rods were then machined into test samples 0.160-in. diam and 0.750-in. gage length. Tension testing was carried out in an In-stron tension-testing machine at a strain rate of 0.02 in. per in. per min. An extensometer was used to determine the room-temperature yield stress. Stress-rupture testing was carried out in an Arc Weld stress-rupture unit. All testing was performed in air. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS A) Room-Temperature Mechanical Properties. The 0.2 pct yield stress, ultimate tensile strength, and elongation for all alloys tested at room temperature are plotted as a function of atomic percent solute element in Fig. 1. The ultimate tensile strength for the same atomic percent increases in the order palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, osmium. The yield strength at low concentrations, -0.5 at. pct, increases in the order osmium, palladium, ruthenium, rhodium. At higher concentrations, 3.0 and 10.0 pct, the yield strength increases in the same order as the tensile strength. Both yield strength and tensile strength increase rapidly ini-

Jan 1, 1964

By B. A. Peppley

The current most common method of hydrogen production for fuel cell systems, including SOFC systems, is autothermal reforming. Autothermal reformers have a number of advantages including fast start up and load following and ease of control. However, there are a number of problems inherent with the addition of air into a system connected to the anode feed such as dilution of the fuel with nitrogen and the potential for oxygen to reach the anode chamber directly. Pure steam reforming, which does not involve air addition, provides a richer fuel mixture to the SOFC anode and is inherently safer than autothermal reforming. Although in theory pure steam reforming can be shown to provide these advantages, a number of technical problems need to be overcome before such a system can be practical. In particular, issues such as catalyst degradation due to poisoning and thermal sintering, coking, as well as fuel-steam mixing need to be addressed. Experimental results from a prototype reformer will be presented to illustrate a number of these points. This paper will compare differences in system efficiency, safety and complexity between autothermal/SOFC systems versus a steam reformer/SOFC system. A system simulation will be utilized that is able to account for material and energy balances for a SOFC power generator operating on diesel fuel. The requirements for improved catalysts will be discussed and an analysis of the potential benefits of sulfur tolerance and lower temperature activity will be considered.

Jan 1, 2005

By James F. Lemons

The potential production of cobalt from nickel sulfide deposits in Canada, from nickel laterite deposits in the Pacific Islands, and from the copper deposits of Zaire and Zambia will be a function of the cost of recovery of the primary nickel and copper products. This cost of production varies significantly for these deposits and is related to the differences in the cost of labor, energy, and supplies, to production technology, and to the grade and recovery of nickel, copper, and cobalt. This Bureau of Mines paper investigates these cost and technology differences as they relate to the cost competitiveness of the deposits in Canada, Zambia, Zaire, and the Pacific Islands.

Jan 1, 1984

By D. A. Elgillani, M. C. Fuerstenau

In this paper, oxidation potentials measured in the presence of various concentrations of cyanide, ferro-cyanide, and ferricyanide and ethyl xanthate at various values of pH are related to flotation response. Eh-pH diagrams are presented to show that the formation of surface ferric ferrocyanide is probably responsible for depression when cyanide is added. The influence of cyanide on the depression of pyrite with xanthates as collector has been the subject of a number of investigations,'-6 and several theories on the mechanism of depression have evolved from these studies. Wark and Cox7 and Gaudin8 have suggested that the depressing effect is due to a competition of cyanide ion with xanthate ion for the surface. Cook and his colleagues9-11 have explained this phenomenon in terms of competition between hydrocyanic acid and xanthic acid. Sutherland 12 has shown that although both of these theories accurately describe the relation between pH value and cyanide addition at constant collector addition, they fail to describe the relation between pH value and the amount of collector required to cause flotation. Taggart 13 suggested that depression in these systems is due to the formation of a reaction product between ferric ion at the pyrite surface and ferrocyanide ion derived from solution. Majumdar4,6 has attempted to prove this hypothesis by measuring the contact angles of pyrite in the presence of 25 mg per liter ethyl xanthate and different concentrations of potassium ferrocyanide and ferricyanide. In all cases the contact angles were quite high up to pH 10. These results indicate that pyrite should not be depressed by either potassium ferrocyanide or ferricyanide. In view of these facts, Majumdar has assumed that the compound Fe(CN)2 forms at the surface. Gründer and Bornl4 have stated that depression may be due to the formation of the compound K2Fe(II)Fe(CN)6 at the pyrite-solution interface. This compound is thought to be an interaction product between the K2Fe(CN)6-2 ion from solution and the Fe++ ion at the pyrite surface and, accordingly, K4Fe(CN)6 should depress pyrite at least as effectively as KCN. This was proven experimentally, but there was no simple relation between the depression of pyrite and the concentration of either KCN or K4Fe(CN)6 in solution. In view of the many mechanisms that have been proposed for pyrite depression by cyanide, it is apparent that a clear understanding of the phenomena occurring in these systems is lacking. One reason for this may be the fact that the species responsible for pyrite flotation in the presence of xanthate is not the xan-thate ion but rather dixanthogen.15 Since the oxidation of xanthate to dixanthogen is dependent on the oxidation potential of the solution, it would seem that knowledge of these potentials would be a requisite to understanding the pyrite-xanthate-cyanide system. It is the object of this paper to measure both the oxidation potential and pH of the pyrite systems in the presence of various concentrations of cyanide, ferrocyanide, and ferricyanide and xanthate and to relate these values to flotation response. EXPERIMENTAL MATERIALS AND 'TECHNIQUES In the experiments discussed here, pure potassium ethyl xanthate was used as collector, and reagent grade potassium cyanide, potassium ferrocyanide, and potassium ferricyanide were used as depressants. Reagent grade HC1 and KOH were added for pH adjustment. Conductivity water, made by passing distilled water through an ion exchange column, was used in all experimental work. Two natural samples of pyrite were used in the investigation. Sample preparation for flotation included dry grinding with a mortar and pestle and sizing the product to 100 x 200 mesh. Prior to flotation, a 0.75-gm sample of pyrite was added to a solution containing a known amount of depressant at the desired pH value, and the system was conditioned for 4 min. Following this, a known amount of collector was added and the system was conditioned for another 4 min. The pH — termed flotation pH - was measured; the pulp was transferred to a Hallimond cell, and flo-

Jan 1, 1969

By E. L. Dougherty, J. W. Sheldon

Using the numerical techniques shown in this paper it is possible to compute the simultaneous dynamical behavior of multiple fluid-fluid interfaces in two dimensions. Hence, fluid-fluid inter face models of several oil recovery processes can be constructed which allow prediction of the effect of fluid flow in two dimensions on the behavior of these processes while taking into account various physical effects, such as saturation gradients, phase changes and thermal stimulation. Techniques for constructing fluid-fluid interface approximations for several oil recovery processes are reuiewed. The validity of these techniques is established by comparison to experimental results. The availability of a computer program for computing the behavior of multiple fluid-fluid interface problems makes the use of potentiometric models uneconomic. The results indicate the areal sweep efficiencies obtained from potentiometric model studies at high mobility ratios may be somewhat optimistic. The results also indicate that the areal sweep efficiency curves obtained at high viscosity ratios 2—4 using miscible fluids in porous media are misleading and that considerable care must be taken in defining the mobility ratio for a displacement process, especially for miscible fluids. INTRODUCTION Many of the methods used to estimate areal sweep efficiency assume that the oil recovery process can be represented by one or more fluid-fluid interfaces. When the mobilities of the displaced and displacing phases are assumed equal, this quantity can be computed using analytical mathematical methods.l.2 For non-unit mobility ratio, experimental methods based upon the fluid-fluid interface concept include potentiometric and electrolytic blotter models. Scaled models of porous media have also been used to study this problem. Fay and Prats3 and Aronofsky4 used numerical techniques to compute breakthrough sweep efficiency, but neither of these studies were extended beyond breakthrough. Numerical techniques which have been developed for solving a general fluid-fluid interface problem are presented in a companion paper.5 These techniques have been incorporated into a program for a large-scale digital computer which can treat simultaneously the dynamical behavior of as many as six fluid-fluid interfaces. Thus it is possible to simulate the behavior of several oil recovery processes taking into account such effects as saturation gradients. Techniques for representing several oil recovery processes by fluid-fluid interfaces are presented. Processes considered are conventional water flooding with and without a mobile gas phase, hot water flooding, miscible flooding and enriched gas drive. Other processes, whose effects could be studied by this technique, but are not considered in detail here, are underground combustion and steam injection processes and various slug processes such as gas-water injection and alcohol-solvent processes. Theoretical results obtained with single interfaces for mobility ratios of 0.25, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 and 64 in a repeated five-spot are compared to experimental results for this geometrical configuration obtained using miscible fluids and conductive analogs. Predicted recovery curves for water flooding in a repeated five-spot are compared to experimental results reported in the literature. Example calculations are shown for a conventional water flood in the presence of a free gas phase and for a hot-water flood. MATHEMATICAL PRELIMINARIES We assume that the rock matrix is homogeneous with constant thickness, absolute permeability and porosity. The fluids are incompressible. We also neglect the effects of gravity.

Jan 1, 1965

By S Dunbar, S Harrison, J Cilliers

‘Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.’George Santayana (16 December 1863 in Madrid, Spain to 26 September 1952 in Rome, Italy). Philosopher, essayist, poet and novelist.The minerals industry requires specific technical expertise in mining and mineral process engineering, geoscience, environmental science and social sciences to maintain and operate its current business and to develop future projects. A steady supply of new graduates is essential to replace not only retirees, but also those who left the industry during the recent downturn. The supply of trained graduates is however not instantaneous, and there is a four-year lag from entry into university to graduation. It is essential that this lag in human resource supply and a likely shortage of knowledgeable, qualified talent is taken into account when considering risks to the business of mining. The shortage of skilled professionals has in the past resulted in unsustainable salary expectations and is likely to pose financial and execution risk to new projects. This paper will review some recent statistics of students in training from around the world and explore what action is required to not only sustain the training courses that provide future ready talent to the mining industry, but also ensure that graduates from these courses are equipped to create change and be leaders in the industry. The future prosperity of the industry is dependent on delivering sustainable stakeholder returns through the cycle. This will be achieved by developing capable individuals that can respond to the complex, adaptive challenges facing the industry.*This is an abstract only. No full paper was prepared for this abstract.*CITATION:Plint, N, Cilliers, J, Dunbar, S and Harrison, S, 2018. Back to basics: resourcing the mining industry, in Proceedings 14th AusIMM Mill Operators' Conference 2018, pp 33–34 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Aug 29, 2018

By J. B. Gwiazda

In regard to the paper by J.B. Gwiazda, it makes a highly technical approach to show that the .u factor used by designers of lemniscate-guided roof supports has never really been confirmed as a maximum and assumes that convergence is vertical. Also, the paper does not appear to take into account deflection of structures, which occurs when the lemniscate and base members are fully loaded to their maximum stress level, nor the front to back line of the support in relation to differential roof to floor movements caused by strata movements under pressure. It is not unusual for differential movements to be slightly diagonal to the line of the support, particularly in faulted areas and on gradient faces. The paper also does not take into account consolidation of fines immediately above and below the support. Generally speaking, any differential movement is from face to waste and under these conditions the .u of 0.3, which appears to be an international standard, has worked in practice. However, if the face end of the support is lower than the waste end, then the µ of 0.3 can be considerably increased, giving rise to the damage mentioned in the paper. The ideal design should aim for a slightly forward bias in the lemniscate guide so that the last increment of setting is toward the face, tending to close any fissures that may have developed during the support advance cycle. The support should also be fitted with positive set valves to ensure that a high setting load density is attained to minimize bed separation. As far as powered supports are concerned, convergence is irresistible and all powered supports converge at their rated yield load. A similar principle can be applied to the differential roof to floor movements to drastically reduce the very high forces that would otherwise be applied to the lemniscate structures and pins and that, in turn, are transferred to the base arrangement and floor loading. Any differential movements are usually catered for by the 0.3 µ factor or deflection of structures in the lemniscate guide arrangement and consolidation of the floor. The floor loading, due to differential movement, is in addition to the support convergence load and requires additional bearing area to avoid possible floor penetration. Some seven years ago, Fletcher Sutcliffe Wild Ltd. (FSW) introduced a lemniscate-guided shield support where the lemniscate linkage is connected to the roof bar through two horizontally converging rams to allow differential movement to take place above a given rated figure. This is a known force and can be guarded against, whereas with rigid connections the forces, as yet, are unconfirmed. By careful design, a horizontal force in excess of 6 MN (60 tons) opposes differential movements for a total ram loading of only 2.5 MN (25 tons), or 1.25 MN (12% tons) each. This principle can considerably reduce the length and weight of the support in comparison with a rigid pin-type structure; also, the yield load rating can be increased without affecting the lemniscate forces. The graph shows the tensile and compressive forces in a lemniscate linkage of a support with and without hydrostore. These forces react into both the roof beam and base members and, as can be seen from the support height to linkage load graph, a considerable reduction in these reactions is gained by the use of the FSW patented hydrostore system. Floor loading is considerably reduced under maximum µ conditions, and by allowing the roof bar to move with the strata, some degree of improvement to strata control is achieved in line with the assumptions in the paper. In practice, these movements have only been in the region of a few millimeters, which, in turn, reflects on the improvements to strata control by the addition of positive set valves.

Jan 1, 1987

By Donald E. Garrett

The processing of brines from Searles Lake, California, yields one of the world's largest supplies of borax and boron chemicals, second probably only to the massive deposit at Boron, California. Two companies produce from this deposit, the American Potash & Chemical Corp. and the West End Chemical Co., a division of the Stauffer Chemical Co. Two processes are employed in recovering borax from the brines; one is used by both companies and consists of carbonating the brine to form sodium bicarbonate, removing this, and then cooling the liquor to crystallize a crop of borax. Only American Potash uses the second process, evaporating the brine to concentrate it and remove (crystallize) much of its NaCl, Na2CO3, Na2SO4, and NaLi2PO4 content, quick cooling the remaining liquor to remove KCI, and then seeding the filtrate to remove borax. Both methods will be briefly described. Searles Lake is a large evaporite body formed during the most recent two Sierra Nevada ice stages, the Tahoe and the Tioga. Runoff waters from the Sierra Nevada Mountains collected in the large Owens Valley drainage basin and from there overflowed into the Indian Wells basin and then into Searles Lake. In each Lake, evaporation took place. To a large extent the Owens and Indian Wells lakes acted as settling basins, for much of the mud, and insoluble calcium and magnesium precipitates were deposited there. Recent volcanic activity in the mountains to the north and east of Owens Lake had scattered considerable mineral-rich volcanic ash and debris throughout the drainage area, and several hot springs were formed that contained boron and other salts. The present flow rate and concentration of several springs, and the known age of at least the Tioga zone, can fairly well account for all of the boron present in Owens and Searles Lakes.1 The tungsten content can be accounted for in a similar manner.2 Most of the salts thus originally present in the fresh water runoff-from ice, snow, and rain-accompanying these two ice stages were ultimately deposited in Searles Lake. During the Tahoe period, from 25 to 40 ft of massive, mixed salts were deposited, along with six interspersed layers of mud (four inches to two feet thick) representing comparatively brief interglacial periods. Before the final desiccation of the lake, from 10 to 14 ft of new mud was deposited, representing the Tioga stage. The crystals subsequently deposited were from 70 to 90 ft thick, and form the present lake surface. The extent of the salt body is about 34 square miles, of which 12 square miles are exposed salt; the remaining area is covered by recent alluvial deposits (chiefly mud). The present lake is generally dry on the surface but floods to a shallow depth following heavy rains. The crystal body of both zones consists of continuous clusters of salts, and the voids between crystals (about 45 pct of the total volume) are occupied by brine. The level of this brine never recedes more than several inches below the salt surface. The brine pumped to the plants for processing is generally saturated with all of the solid phases present in that area, and thus is a complex mixture containing about 35 pct solids (see Table 3). The brine composition varies somewhat at different areas of the lake and from upper to lower structures, so wells are drilled in the areas and to the depths desired. A casing is cemented in the hole to within a short distance from the bottom, and pumps with about 14-ft suctions are mounted on the casing to pump the brine into the plants. The evaporation process of the American Potash & Chemical Corp. treats upper structure brine, evaporating all of the water from

Jan 1, 1960

By Gustavo A. Munoz

Activated carbons owe their adsorption capacities to their extensively developed pore network structure. As a result, these adsorbents generally exhibit high specific surface areas. Currently, granular activated carbons produced from coconut shells are traditionally used for gold recovery by adsorption from cyanide leaching solutions. Magnetic activated carbons (MACs) for gold recovery from cyanide solutions produced from sources other than coconut shells have been developed at the University of Utah by mixing a magnetic precursor with a carbon source, and treating the mixture under controlled conditions of temperature and gas phase composition. The pore size distribution of the activated carbons is dependent on the degree of activation, among other factors. The significance of the MAC pore size distribution on gold adsorption kinetics and gold adsorption capacity is presented.

Jan 1, 2003

By Keivan PakIman, Maziar Pasdarpour

Transportation tunnels are highly sensitive to ground movements and are required to be stable and secure for safe operation. In urban areas, the interaction between tunnels and adjacent piles, which are widely used to support buildings and other structures, requires careful consideration. The seismic response of tunnels may vary depending on the lateral stiffness and strength of the tunnel walls, while the axial loading and seismic impact of adjacent piles may cause soil displacement and stress changes that can damage the tunnel lining. As a result, tunnel owners often impose strict limits on the design of new piles lying close to existing tunnels including maximum allowable tunnel deformation, stress change limits, and minimum tunnel to pile separation distances. This paper describes a numerical analysis of the inuence of the axial loading and seismic impact of bored pile foundations on subway tunnels, undertaen using the nite element software laxis D. ased on the results of the numerical analysis, the paper suggests a more realistic and less conservative approach for designing piles in close proximity to transportation tunnels. INTRODUCTION The interaction between tunnels and adjacent piles can cause stress changes and displacements in the soil and structures which may adversely impact structural performance and tunnel safety. It is therefore important to take account of relative load transfer and piling conguration when designing new piles in

Jun 23, 2024

By Edgar F. Cruft

INTRODUCTION It is sometimes said that "mines are made, and not found." I rather doubt that the exploration geologist would be overly sympathetic to that statement, and, of course, like most one-liners it is only partly true. Access to different financial markets are important at the mineral prospect stage. The modern mine financier has a much more complex, and interesting, job than the financiers of an earlier era, for example, the Canadian financiers of the 40's and 50's who had one simple set of options; i.e. float a company, promote it, and sell an equity stock issue, and then promote it some more. QUALITIES OF A FINANCIER Because technical people are seldom taught financing in their basic training, and because they are usually not involved in it until at quite a senior level in their careers, the whole field often acquires a certain mystique. The engineering professions have too often believed financing is the province of the accountant or financial executive and just as we in the technical world are often too quick to bristle if the latter try to tread on our domain, the opposite can just as easily be true. Unfortunately, this is another example of a compartmentalized individual, and that is one thing the successful financier cannot be. However, to be a successful financier one does not need extensive training or experience in accounting or finance. In fact it can sometimes be a disadvantage to get too buried in working only from the standpoint of discounted cash-flow analyses, ROI's, etc. It must be stressed, however, that one had better know how these analyses are made, and be knowledgeable in understanding a balance sheet, and have a good understanding of financial terminology. The difference between a simple project-type debt financing with a commercial bank and a more inventive and creative financial package comes from an intuition and an experience relating to risk-reward factors. The most important element is "common-sense", based on knowledge and experience. The goal is structure a financial package that fits the project, and in so doing it is important to recognize that it must fit within the limitations of the group supplying the money. I find insensitivity to recognize these constraints the most common mistake made in the field. Put yourself in the other person's place and understand his sources of funds and financing limitations. The engineer has an advantage in financing, as he or she has (or should have) a better idea than anyone of the value of the product, be it the mine, prospect, or company i.e. the intangible or potential worth which cannot be put on a pro-forma. He also knows, or should know, the risks involved. Two projects might look the same on paper, but a good financier must have a sense of when to take whatever deal he can get, and when to hold out based on his evaluation of future developments. It is essential to have a good sense of commodity values and trends, trends affecting the general economy (money supply, interest rates, effects of energy costs, etc.), and political considerations. He must also have a good understanding of the science and art of taxation as deals can often be financed using the government as a silent and unwitting partner by proper use of the tax laws. WHEN TO SEEK FINANCE The first critical decision to make in financing a mineral prospect is "when". At the exploration level, when it is only a dream in the geologist's eye, the alternatives are more limited than when it is a fully-engineered project. The "when" decision depends on how much in internal funds the company has to play with, and how desirable it is to invite financial participation to spread the risk. Assuming that decision is not taken out of lack of money, no one can categorically say when to do it. There is

Jan 1, 1985

By P. T. Gallagher, W. A. Oates, J. A. Lambert

FAIRLY extensive equilibrium data exists for carbon dissolved in r iron.1-8 However the temperature coefficients of the carbon activity, ac , are insufficierltly preciseto reveal whether the heat of solution of carbon, ?HC , varies with composition. It is doubtful

Jan 1, 1970

By R. E. Hook, H. J. Garrett, A. M. Adair

X-ray diffraction and metallographic techniques were employed to examine the impurity phases occurring in as-swaged and recrystallized chromium produced fvom high-purity iodide chromium crystals. Chromium oxides are found to form in a consistent manner associated with the temperature of recrystallization. Microscopically observable second phase particles of Cr203 are observed to form intergranulurly beginning at 1300T. Beginning at 1500°C. Cr30, is formed intergvanulurly, atzd at 1600°C and above Cr30, is also formed in association with migrating grain boundaries. Geometrical traces formed by particles of this high temperature oxide uithin the grains rez)eal the histmy of grain boundary motion. X-ray evidence is presented which suggests the existence of a high temperature form of Cr203. Other impurity phases in addition to the oxides of chromium are also present. THE partitioning Of impurity elements between grain boundary aid lattice sires, either as solutes in solution or as second phases, may exercise an important influence on the mechanical behavior of metals and alloy systems. This partitioning of impurities could have a direct bearing on the iecrys-

Jan 1, 1963

"The Garfield plant of the American Smelting & Refining Company is situated about seventeen miles west of Salt Lake City, on the Los Angeles & Salt Lake Railroad, and has freight service by the Denver & Rio Grande Western, Western Pacific and Bingham & Garfield Railways.The site lies between the picturesque Great Salt Lake, with its mountain islands, and the northern point of the Oquirrh Range, which forms the western boundary of the Salt Lake Valley.The location includes several hundred acres of land rising from the southern shore of the lake, selected on account of its adaptability to the economical handling of materials by gravity methods.The smelter is a custom smelter, treating copper ores and concentrates produced in Utah and adjoining states.The ores treated consist mainly of oxides from the Tintic and Park City Districts, sulphides from Bingham District, and concentrates from the mills of the Utah Copper Company, from mills in California, and copper precipitates from the Ohio Copper Company. The last product comes from low grade ores of Bingham Canyon.The following figures represent approximately the daily consumption of materials:Ores and Concentrates…2,700 tonsLime sand…100 ""Coal…350 ""Oil for Roasters…240 Bbls."

Jan 1, 1925