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By Charles L. Kimbell

Although virtually every available indicator of world mineral industry activity demonstrated a gain in 1983 relative to the 2 very poor years of 1981 and 1982, the overall prospects for future years seemed far from bright. There were significant upturns in the quantity and value of mineral commodities produced, traded, and consumed in 1983, and many nonfuel mineral prices advanced, although the price advances in current dollars in most instances barely compensated for inflation. The pattern of investment in exploration and development of new mining ventures and new plant construction reflected virtual industry-wide concern that substantial upturns in demand for mineral commodities in the near future were unlikely, at least for most large volume products. The world oil glut continued despite cutbacks in production, and substantial stocks of many other mineral commodities mitigated against growth in total productive capacity, at least among market economy nations. In these countries, development activity at both mines and plants was confined largely to programs aimed at substituting new, more efficient installations for old, uneconomic or marginally economic plants. Among the centrally planned economy countries, the pattern was somewhat different on the whole, but even there, growth in total productive capacity was evidently somewhat restrained, although it seemed questionable whether the restraint was a function of intentional planning or simply an inability to accomplish planned programs on schedule. International political events, particularly the Iran-Iraq war and the unstable situation in the eastern Mediterranean countries (Lebanon, Israel, and Syria), continued to adversely affect mineral industry activities in those areas. Similarly, the internal and international conflicts in Central America negatively influenced mineral industry operations there. In Afghanistan, it appeared that there was some upturn in the very modest mineral industry operations, but industry activities there undoubtedly continued to be affected by confrontations between the Soviets and the local citizenry.

Jan 1, 1985

By K. N. Han

A kinetic model for the batch leaching of various metals using different lixiviants was developed. The overall material balances for the reactants and products at the solid/ liquid interface were formulated for various types of heterogeneous reactions at the interface. The solutions to these mass balances are identified analytically, as well as numerically. Applications of these numerical solutions to various leaching systems using rotating discs or powders are discussed. The metal-dissolution systems addressed include cobalt, nickel and copper in acid, cyanide and ammoniacal solutions.

Jan 1, 1996

By T. Seal

Hydro-Jex© releaching was undertaken during the summer of 2010 at the Valley Leach Facility (VLF) at AngloGold Ashanti?s Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Mine. Several advancements to the technique were made in response to the technical design and operational challenges posed by the unique site conditions. New geophysical resistivity monitoring techniques were developed to monitor solution migration during the injections. These developments are presented along with discussion of gold production resulting from the project.

Jan 1, 2011

By X. Meng

A kinetic model for batch leaching of various metals with different lixiviants has been developed. Overall material balances for reactants and products at the solid/liquid interface were formulated with various types of heterogeneous reactions in place at the interface. The solutions to these mass balances have been identified analytically as well as numerically using a Runge-Kutta method. Applications of these numerical solutions to various leaching systems using the rotating disc or powders have been discussed. Examples of the metal dissolution systems considered in this study include cobalt, nickel, copper and gold in acid, cyanide or ammoniacal solutions.

Jan 1, 1994

By R L. Brathwaite

In New Zealand, volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposits are found in three main geological environments associated with: 1.   ophiolitic basalts of Oligocene age in Northland and East Cape (eg Pupuke, Pakotai, Parakao and Lottin Point); 2.   with chert and pillow lava in greywacke sequences of Permian-Jurassic age (Torlesse and Waipapa terranes; eg Kawau Island, Te Kumi and Maharahara) and their metamorphic equivalents (Haast Schist; eg Moke Creek and Waitahuna); and 3.   with greenschists (metabasalts) and metaserpentinite of Permian-Triassic age (Ponamu Ultramafics) in Westland (eg Bowen and Wilberg ranges). The deposits consist of small lenses of disseminated to massive sulfide minerals, mainly pyrite and chalcopyrite. Small quantities of copper ore were mined from some deposits in the 1800s (eg Kawau Island from 1846), with the last mining at Parakao from 1961 to 1966. Several deposits have been recently examined for their gold potential with assays on sulfide rock samples as high as 75 g/t Au (Lottin Point).

Jan 1, 2005

By Jonathan S. Jackson, Bruce P. Ream

Leach water management is one of the few areas in dump leaching subject to operator control. As such, it is of considerable importance. Theoretical considerations indicate that high leach solution application rates are inefficient in washing solubilized copper from dumps. The high rates cause unnecessary dilution of copper values, raising unit recovery costs. Use of excessive amounts of leach solution also cools dumps, resulting in reduced leaching rates. This paper reviews leach solution application methods and details the results of field tests run to determine the benefits and feasibility of low versus high application rate techniques of applying water to dump surfaces.

Jan 1, 1980

By P. A. Riveros, R. Molnar, F. J. Baša

"An acidification circuit was installed and operated at the Agnico-Eagle Silver Division refinery in Cobalt, Ontario, for treating ~300 m3 of a concentrated cyanide waste solution with the purpose of recovering its cyanide and metal values. The acidification circuit was designed from parameters determined experimentally at CANMET. Available refinery equipment was assembled according to a flowsheet developed by Agnico-Eagle Mines. The process produced a regenerated cyanide solution containing >15 g/L of free cyanide, which was used for leaching gold ore at another Agnico- Eagle operation. It was estimated that the value of the recovered cyanide offset the treatment cost. BackgroundThe Silver Division of Agnico-Eagle Mines needed an economic and effective method for disposing of ~300 m3 of a concentrated cyanide waste solution that had remained in the plant after the operation was shut down in 1989. As a result of extensive recycling and evaporation, the solution had become practically saturated with metals, cyanide, thiocyanate, sulphate and other components, and was, therefore, an environmental liability for the company. A partial analysis of the solution is presented in Table 1. Initially, the use of cyanide destruction methods was considered by Agnico-Eagle, but the estimates indicated a considerable cost with no credits to be gained. A research project carried out by CANMET showed that a simple procedure consisting of acidification, filtration and reneutralization was the most attractive option, because it enabled the recovery of a substantial portion of the cyanide. Furthermore, the metals would be recovered in the form of a solid precipitate. The research showed that conventional AVR was not applicable because of excessive cyanide degradation and low HCN volatilization obtained with this particular solution (Riveros et al., 1996). This paper describes the procedure used to treat the concentrated cyanide waste solution and the operating practices of the large-scale acidification circuit run at the Agnico-Eagle refinery."

Jan 1, 1998

By Joseph C. Milbourne

Tetra Technologies CCIX? (continuous countercurrent ion exchange) system has been involved in a wide range of uranium concentration, separation and purification applications over the past 40 years. Uranium ion exchange applications have ranged from the treatment of copper heap leach solution containing 5 parts per million of uranium to the treatment of high strength sulfuric acid solutions containing several thousand parts per million of uranium. The flexibility and the countercurrent mode of operation and other unique features of the CCIX? have resulted in successful uranium recovery from these solutions and many others.

Jan 1, 1995

By F. J. Plecity, W. C. Leslie, F. W. Aul

During isothermal recrystallization, the rate of grain growth in dilute Fe-hlo alloys decreased rapidly with increasing Mo content, up to -0.04 at pct, and less rapidly therea-fter. Rate of growth also decreased sharply with time at constant temperature. The observed rates of boundary migration did not cor,espond to predictions of the Lucke-Detert theory. It is proposed that the growth of recrystallized grains is inhibited by clustering of solute atoms at inzperfections in the unrecrystallized matrix. It is now firmly etablished" that the rate of re-crystallization of cold-worked metals, i.e., the rate of growth of recrystallized grains into the deformed matrix, is greatly inhibited by the presence of alloying elements in solid solution. The effect is greatest with the first very small quantity of alloying elements, and additional increments cause much less pronounced retardation of growth. The early papers on this subject were reviewed in Ref. 6. The mechanism of retardation of growth is not clear; only one theory, due to Lucke and Detert? has been advanced. This assumes an elastic interaction between grain boundaries and solute atoms which tends to increase the concentration of the latter in the grain boundaries. Except at very low solute concentrations or at high temperatures, the mobility of the boundary is assumed to be controlled by the rate of diffusion of the accompanying solute atoms. Abrahamson and Blakeney2 have noted a correlation between "recrystallization temperature of binary alloys of iron and the number of d-shell electrons in the solute atoms. There is need for considerably more experimental data on the effect of solute elements on the rate of migration of grain boundaries into the deformed matrix, to provide the basis for an understanding of the annealing process in metallic solid solutions. Only a start has been made in this direction. To avoid unnecessary complications, alloys in which precipitation does not occur should be used, but to produce the maximum effects it is desirable to select alloys with a large difference between the sizes of the atoms of the solvent and solute. For these reasons, alloys of iron and molybdenum sen for this study. MATERIALS AND PROCEDURES A 30-lb. ingot of iron and four similar ingots of Fe-Mo alloys were vacuum melted in magnesia crucibles and poured into cast-iron molds. The molybdenum contents were planned according to the results of Abrahamson and Blakeney2 sothattwoalloyswould fall in the region of rapid change of recrystallization kinetics with change in composition (0.006 to 0.015 and 0.030 to 0.045 at. pct Mo) and two alloys would fall in the region of gradual change (0.18 to 0.24 and

Jan 1, 1962

By Yuanbo Zhang, Guanghui Li, Zhenyu Fan, Tao Jiang, Xiaohui Fan

"Iron ore sintering process is the main source of SO2 generated in the steel industry, of which the discharge amount of SO2 emission accounts for about 60% of the total. Aiming at the features of sintering flue gases and existing problems during the flue gas desulphurization, a technical route of flue gas circulation sintering (FGCS) for iron ores has been put forward. Under the simulated experimental conditions, effects of FGCS process on the main output and quality indexes and SO2 emission rule are researched using simulating flue gases. Compared the novel FGCS with conventional sintering process, SO2 in the final sintering flue gas is obviously enriched and the total exhaust gases can be reduced evidently. The decreasing of oxygen content in circulating gases has bad effect on the sintering indexes. Increasing the oxygen potential is beneficial to obtain high quality sinters. This investigation shows that the FGCS process is promising.IntroductionSteel is a kind of essential material for modern society, but steel-making process is characterized by high energy-consumption and emission as well as heavy environmental pollution. Chinese steel industry has developed rapidly in the last decade, and the environmental problem caused by ironmaking and steelmaking have also aroused the greatest concern, especially the atmospheric pollution caused by SO2, CO2, etc. Iron ore sintering process is the main source of SO2 generated in the steel industry, of which the discharge amount of SO2 emission accounts for about 60 % of the total. The development of the desulfurization process for sintering flue gases to reduce SO2 emission in sintering process is not only the requirements of sustainable development but also the most important environmental tasks for steel industry [1-5]."

Jan 1, 2011

By J. A. Flinn

Phelps Dodge’s Morenci copper mine has had six drills, six track-dozers, 16 shovels, two loaders, and 90 haul trucks equipped with either Caterpillar, Aquila, or Modular GPS systems for nearly three years. The Caterpillar Computer-Aided Earthmoving System is an open-architecture system, which allows for inputs to enhance orientation solutions and system functionality. This system has begun a new phase that leads to an intelligent mining system. Optimization techniques of the current system and inputs are reviewed. In addition, some practical issues of implementing new technology in a mining environment have been identified to aid in this new phase.

Jan 1, 2000

By George W. Lower, Robert B. Booth

The use of cyanides in the extraction of gold and silver is well known1 Such extractions employ concentrations of cyanide in the range of 0.02-0.25% sodium cyanide equivalent in leaching cycles of 24-48 hr and frequently longer. Copper minerals, even though minor components of precious metal ores, dissolve in these cyanide leaching solutions, consume cyanide, cause fouling of mill solutions, and thus interfere with the precipitation and recovery of gold.2,3,4 This paper presents a summary of laboratory investigations on the use of cyanide solutions as extractants for copper from various copper-bearing ore fractions. In view of the metal contents involved, it will be apparent that larger quantities of cyanide are required to extract copper than for the extraction of precious metals. In cyanide solutions of concentrations generally favorable to copper extraction, sulfide and oxide copper minerals were found to dissolve rapidly at room temperature and atmospheric pressure.

Jan 11, 1965

By L. W. Bahney

Many methods for the determination of gold or silver, or both, in cyanide solutions have been published, which with care in manipulation, and modification in some cases, will give results that are satisfactory. It is possible to classify or group these methods as follows: 1. Evaporating the solution in a porcelain or agate-ware dish containing litharge,l or in a "boat" made of lead foil. 2. Forming a lead sponge containing the precious metals by means of zinc shavings,2 zinc dust,3 or a piece of aluminum.4 3. Decomposing the cyanide solution with an acid and precipitating the precious metals by the use of one or a combination of some of the following: Copper sulphate,5 sodium sulphite,6 hydrogen sulphide,' cement copper.ll 4. Precipitating the silver by zinc dust held in a Gooch crucible and determination with a standard solution of sulphocyanate.9 5. Electrolysis.l0 . 6. Colorimetry.ll

Jan 1, 1915

US 4,141,854-Method of resolving water-in-oil emulsions from the organic solvent extraction of uranium from an aqueous ore leach solution The emulsion is treated at optimum temperature with a water-soluble acrylamide copolymer which contains 5-50% by weight of a lower alkyl substituted tertiary aminoethyl methacrylate or quaternary ammonium salts thereof The emulsion is broken, enabling recovery and reuse of the organic portion of the emulsion A M Pavilcius and M A Latko, assigned to Nalco Chemical Co Feb. 27, 1979 3 pp (252-301 1W) Filed: 12-14-77 (860,542). US 4,142,952-In the recovery of copper from an ore leach solution, the solution is contacted with a water-immiscible organic solvent containing 5 to 20 g/L of o-hydroxyaryloxime and 2 to 20 times the weight of the o-hydroxyaryloxime of nonylphenol The loaded solvent phase is separated from the aqueous phase and stripped with sulfuric acid Copper is recovered rapidly and in high yield from aqueous solutions containing high copper concentrations R F Dalton, as¬signed to Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd Mar 6, 1979 6 pp (204-106) Filed 1-3-77 (756,067). Priority: United King¬dom, 1-30-76 (3788/76), 6-15-76 (24722/76), and 10-21-76 (43711/76). Same- British 1,549,615, dated Aug. 1, 1979 US 4,148,631-In the recovery of nickel and cobalt from a mixed sulfate ore leach solution, both metals are extracted by means of a cationic extractant, the loaded extractant treated with an aqueous chloride or thiocyanate solution to back extract the cobalt, and the cobalt then recovered by solvent extraction or ion exchange with an anionic extractant Recovery is effected in a relatively few extraction steps. F Babjak, V A Ettel, and K. R Dymock, assigned to Interna¬tional Nickel Co , Inc, Apr. 10, 1979 6 pp (75-101 BE) Filed¬7-27-78 (928,401). Priority- Canada, 12-28-77 (293,967) US 4,148,813-An improved extractant for use in the recov¬ery of nickel and cobalt from an ore leach solution comprises a water immiscible organic solvent system containing solubilized mercaptide ions, e g , dodecanethiol. Cobalt and nickel mercaptides solvated in the organic phase are easily stripped in the presence of carbon monoxide and an aqueous alkaline solution A. S. Rappas and J. P. Pemsler, assigned to Ken¬necott Copp

Jan 1, 1980

The paper discusses the improvements achieved after an external sparger flotation column was installed as a final cleaner at the Northam Platinum Ltd. UG 2 concentrator in South Africa. It further discusses the improvements achieved after the conversion of a conventional flotation column, utilized as cleaner in the Merensky concentrator, to an external sparger flotation column. Finally, the application of the above knowledge in the design and commissioning of an external sparger flotation column as final cleaner in the furnace slag concentrator, is also discussed. 1. FINAL CLEANER AT THE UG 2 CONCENTRATOR The MF2 designed UG 2 concentrator is processing 75 000 tonnes run of mine ore at a head grade of 4.0 g/t 3PGM+Au and a feed Cr2O3 concentration of 28 %. Since commissioning of the plant in 2001, Cr2O3 in final concentrate amounted to approximately 5 % of the total mass. Although final concentrate produced from the UG 2 concentrator is blended with final concentrate obtained from the Merensky concentrator before smelting, blended Cr2O3 values in excess of 1.6% lead to difficulties in the subsequent smelting process. Several options for reducing the amount of Cr2O3 in final concentrate have been evaluated namely:- ? Differing types of depressants at various dosing rates. This test work did not reduce the amount of Cr2O3 reporting to final concentrate by any significant extent. ? Reduction in mass pull to minimize the entrainment of Cr2O3 in the concentrate stream.. This process change had a detrimental effect on PGM recovery. Conclusions were drawn that conventional mechanically agitated flotation cells could not achieve the required selectivity without sacrificing PGM recovery. As a consequence an alternative mechanism needed to be incorporated for the final cleaning of PGM concentrate.

Jan 1, 2007

By F. W. Jessen

The Mechanism of solution of salt and mixed halites of sodium and potassium is reviewed. The variation in the rate of salt removal under both laminar and turbulent flow conditions is discussed. Many changes are possible in the development of solution cavities whether used for production of salts or for storage of hydrocarbons. The parameters influencing the type and shape of cavity formed with single well or multiple well systems are examined and information presented regarding field application of techniques developed and the means of controlling overall configuration of solution cavities.

Jan 1, 1972

By A. Norholm

For grinding Portland Cement, the power consumption accounts for some 35 % of the total consumption of electrical energy for producing cement, counting right from the quarry to the packing plant. It is therefore for very good reason that great efforts during the past years have been put into making cement grinding more efficient, thereby saving power. In this paper three ways of reducing the consumption of electrical energy will be described, namely precrushing in the high pressure FLS-Köppern roller press, the introduction of a new design of COMBIDAN diaphragm in ball mills and the separation of mill discharge in the newly developed high efficient; separator SEPAX from F. L. Smidth.

Jan 1, 1987

By Drupad B. Desai, Bruce Chang, Jay L. Merritt

This paper reviews difficult ground conditions encountered along the alignment of large-diameter sewage tunnels for the City of Los Angeles. It offers a detailed one-of-a-kind solution to a unique problem for shallow urban underground tunnels in a seismic zone, using state-of-the-art materials, technology, and equipment. The following topics are discussed in detail: • Geotechnical Design consideration for tunnel traversing through an active fault zone. • Seismologist evaluation of possible fault-offset problems where a fault zone crosses the alignment, in the event of an earthquake of moment-magnitude 6.5. • Probability analysis regarding "recurrence interval." • Structural design of tunnel subjected to displacement, subjected to axial elongation or shortening, and capable of rotational freedom. • Special joint details.

Jan 1, 1989

By Samuel Dolbear

PUBLIC discussions of mine finance in the tech-nical press have been confined mainly to methods of providing funds for the development of pros-pects or other mining operations which have not reached the stage of productivity. The application of modern financing methods to mines which have behind them a successful record of net earnings has, for some reason, been given scant consideration by mine owners and managers. In a few conspicuous cases, such for example as the Anaconda Copper Mining Co., Chile Copper Co., and one or two others, industrial finance has been applied to mining operations on the scale and after the fashion of other operations. When extensions are needed re-course is usually had, however, to the sale of common stock, with the obvious disadvantage of diluting the holdings of every stockholder of record prior to such financing. In some cases, it has been sought to over-come this disadvantage by issuing stock purchase rights to shareholders of record. If the stockholder is in a position to acquire additional stock, he may then pre-serve his interest intact, otherwise he must suffer a dilution of his holding. If he purchases additional stock he is, from one point of view, paying more for his in-terest than he bargained for when he made his original purchase. In many cases development and equipment are paid for out of surplus or current earnings. It is sometimes most difficult to explain to a manager why he can afford to borrow money when funds are available from a sur-plus account. Nevertheless, industrial enterprises with adequate surplus accounts often finance new construc-tion by the issuance of bonds. Such a procedure enables the company to maintain its surplus intact, and to con-tinue the payment of dividends during a temporary period of unusual expenditures.

Jan 2, 1927

By R. C. Richardson

Barite Worldwide barite production for 1985 decreased 1.3%, while US barite production increased 1.4%, according to US Bureau of Mines statistics. The increase in US production is attributed to heavy demand for oil and gas drilling during the first quarter and an unrealized heavy expected demand in oil and gas markets for the last quarter. Nevada accounted for 82.1% of the 807 kt (890,000 st) of barite produced in the US last year, according to the Bureau. Other producing states were California, Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, Montana, Tennessee, and Washington. In 1985, the US imported 1.8 Mt (2 million st) of crude barite and 64 kt (71,000 st) of ground barite. China led the way with 43.3% of the total. Imports from India accounted for 21.6%; Morocco, 15.5%; and Thailand, 5.6%. The 1.8 Mt (2 million st) of crude barite imported is an 18.8% increase over 1984. Apparent consumption of barite for 1985 was about 2.6 Mt (2.9 million st), a 15.7% increase from 1984. Due to very low drilling rig activity during the last quarter of 1985, actual consumption is probably less as crude barite inventories at mines and plants increased. According to the Bureau, 90% of barite consumed in 1985 was for the oil and gas market. Paints, rubber, glass, and other chemical uses consumed the other 10%. With the price of oil falling dramatically early in 1986, the outlook for oil and gas drilling looks to be significantly lower than 1985. This lower demand for barite, coupled with the high year-end inventories, should lower both imports and domestic production. Significant lower prices on imported barite are expected, especially from China, Morocco, and India. This also could further lower US production of barite this year.

Jan 5, 1986