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Norton Co., the world's largest producer of abrasives, is enlarging its proppant operation. Proppants are strong chemical particles used to wedge open rock formations in deep oil wells, thereby increasing the well flow rate, sometimes as much as tenfold. Norton" aluminum oxide-based proppant is rapidly displacing less durable materials. The company is building the world's largest proppant plant in Fort Smith, AR. ALUMINUM--See also REFRACTORIES The price of primary aluminum ingot was increased by several producers in July. Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp., and Revere Copper & Brass Inc. increased the price of primary aluminum to 63.0 cents per pound, effective July I. Reynolds Metal s Co., Anaconda Aluminum Co., Howmet Aluminum Corp., and Marti n Marietta Aluminum Inc. increased the price of 99.5% primary aluminum ingot to 63.0 cents per pound, effective July 5, The Aluminum Company of America increased the price of aluminum ingot to 62.5 cents per pound, effective July 9. The range of prices at the end of the month was 58.5 to 63.0 cents per pound.

Jan 1, 1979

Outotec?s direct leaching process is an atmospheric leaching process for sulphidic zinc concentrates. The direct leaching process, based on special leaching reactors developed by Outokumpu, is the most economical way to produce electrolytic zinc. The production scale applications of the process realized so far are in use at Boliden?s Kokkola and Odda zinc plants. A new full-scale application of Outotec?s direct leaching process will be started in 2008 in China. The process is integrated into the existing production plant, replacing part of the old production facilities by modern technology. Besides high zinc extraction the plant expansion and modernization offers also indium recovery, iron precipitation and solution purification processes. The process equipment includes tailor-made reactors designed on the basis of the work and experience of Outotec research centre. Keywords: zinc, concentrate, atmospheric leaching, technology, indium, iron precipitation, solution purification, Outotec.

Jan 1, 2008

By Richter, E. Charikinya

"Mineral processing unit models require information on particulate properties such as particle size, solids flowrate and mineralogical composition to model their operations. Process models that describe the separation process can be classified based on the level of information required from the ore, i.e. the feed stream to the separating unit. The most comprehensive level of mineral processing models is the particle-based modelling approach. Particle based modelling describes a modelling approach where mineral composition, mineral liberation and textural information of particles making up the process streams is used in modelling. The advantage of this approach is that all model streams carry particle level information (size, liberation, shape). This information is obtained by applying automated mineralogy techniques such as Quantitative Evaluation of Minerals by Scanning Electron Microscopy (QEMSCAN) analysis which provide accurate and detailed information on process stream particle properties. Currently the use of liberation information in modelling and simulation is rare, due to the limited number of separation models that liberation data as input. The objective of this study is to develop a particle based model for a dry magnetic separator, where mineralogical information is used directly to simulate a dry magnetic separator operation. Magnetic separation tests were carried out on high, medium and low grade magnetite ores using a laboratory magnetic separator. Streams from the separator were sampled and sized for chemical and liberation analyses. A sized mass and elemental balance around the magnetic separator was carried out. The elemental assays of each stream were converted to mineral quantities and a sized mineral balance was done. QEMSCAN measured liberation data was reconciled to the mineral balance based on mineral quantities obtained from chemical assays. This was followed by the development of a particle based model that calculates the trajectory of a single particle based on its mineral composition and textural properties. The model was tested on experimental data and was able to predict the effect of variation in process feed stream mineralogical attributes (liberation, grade, particle size) on magnetic separation performance. Results of this study highlight the benefits of the particle based modelling approach. INTRODUCTION The extraction of mineral values from ore requires liberation of the value minerals from the gangue followed by their separation. Liberation is achieved by size reduction operations (Desmond, 2008; Fuerstenau and Abouzeid, 2002). Separation of gangue material from value mineral takes place in various mineral upgrading stages such as classification, magnetic separation and flotation. In these concentration stages value minerals are separated from gangue minerals based on the physical properties of the ore particles making up the feed such as size, liberation, volume of magnetic material and density. The success of separation is related to the liberation of the feed particles, the performance of the separation technology applied, as well as the inherent characteristics of the feed material (Leißner et al., 2013)."

Jan 1, 2018

By A. G. Journel, CH. Huijbregts

"Centre de Morphologie MathématiqueSpecial problems arise in the evaluation of lateritic-type orebodies (Ni-Co, bauxite) or, more generally, orebodies affected by surface weathering. In this type of orebody, the vertical grade distribution shows, from the hangingwall downwards, a systematic increase followed sometimes by a certain decrease, or vice-versa. These trends appear together with irregular variations from one drill bole to the other.The problem is to characterize a vertical structure that is representative not only of the drill hole but of an entire panel or zone of influence, in order to define mineable thicknesses for given cut-off grades. The vertical grade distribution observed on the drillhole is replaced by a new curve, called 'derive' (drift), which is computed by 'universal kriging'.Once the vertical study is completed, new 'service-variables' are defined in the horizontal plane, such as mineable thickness and the corresponding average grade, economical functions (combination of the grades of several minerals). The local and global estimation of these variables can then be performed by a simple bi-dimensional kriging plan. The global estimation is summed up by several tonnage-cut-off grade curves.The practical valuation according to the above scheme of a New Caledonian lateritic nickel orebody is presented."

Jan 1, 2014

By G. Alfano

We have investigated the breakage actions of solid particles observed in a new generation fluid energy micronizer being set up at our laboratories. The attention has been focussed in particular on breakage caused by interparticle collision, particle impact against a fixed surface, interparticle attrition and particle against wall of jet mill attrition. We have also studied the influence of grain size distribution, maximum particle size, flow rate and characteristics of the solid to be processed, as well as of flow rate and pressure of injected air on the above mechanism. Lastly, the operating parameters of a dynamic air classifier in closed circuit with the micronizer for recovering the fine fraction and automatically recycling the oversize, have been optimized. The findings of this investigation have been used to design, build and fine tune a micronizer capable of controlling the top size of a product having average particle size that meets market requirements for fine powders, while keeping power consumption relatively low.

Jan 1, 2014

By Junji Shibata

Waste solution from the Ni non-electric plating process contains 4.0 kg/m3 Ni, 0.1 kglm3 Fe, 0.0 I kg/m3 Zn, 48 kg/m3 S042-, 98 kg/m3 HP032-and 31 kg/m3 laetic acid as a typical composition. Solvent extraction, cementation, ion exchange resin and precipitation methods are possible to use for the treatment of this kind of solution. In this study, solvent extraction of Ni was investigated using two kinds of extractants to clarify the relation between extraction percent and pH for various extractant mixtures. As Ni ion has an octahedral structure with ligands, the synergistic effect for Ni extraction is considered to take place in solvent extraction using two types of extractants. The investigation of the synergistic effect for Ni extraction was carried out in case of various extractant systems.

Jan 1, 2003

By John Ralston, Gayle E. Morris, Daniel Fornasiero

The interaction of talc with carboxymethyl cellulose, a polymeric depressant currently used in the mining industry, was investigated. adsorption isotherms, infrared spectoscopy and microflotation studies were performed to determine the surface properties of the depressant at the talc-water interface. Solution conditions were varied in ionic strength, pH and the presence of magnesium ions. The adsorption of the anionic polyelectrolyte, carboxymethyl cellulose onto the talc surface was greatly influenced by the solution ionic strength and pH. Limited adsorption, and therefore depression, occurred at high and low ionic strength. Adsorption, and thus talc depression, improved greatly with either increased ionic strength or reduced pH. With the addition of magnesium ions, talc depression was shown to improve considerably. The improved depression is likely to be the result of the formation of a magnesium ion-carboxyl complex.

Jan 1, 1995

Capable of processing 3500 tpd of uranium ore, the United Nuclear-Homestake Partners' mill in Grants, N. M., differs considerably from the nearby mills of Anaconda and Kerr-McGee in at least two major aspects: it leaches uranium ore with an alkaline solution of Na2C03 and NaHC03 instead of sulfuric acid; and it recovers yellowcake directly by precipitation from the pregnant alkaline leach solution, without any need of ion exchange or solvent extraction circuits. A first look at the flowsheet shows that this mill has two separate grinding and leaching circuits. Reason for the double circuitry: the mill treats, on a toll basis, uranium ores for Anaconda as well as for the partnership, and it must also treat ores coming from mines separately owned by Homestake Mining Corp. and from mines owned by United Nuclear Corp.

Jan 8, 1974

By Toshihide Takenaka

The management of radioactivated stainless steel from a terminated nuclear reactor will become an important subject in the near future. The separation of the elements in stainless steel should be effective to reduce the management labor. In this study, the separation of the elements in stainless steel by an electrorefining tcchnique was investigated in an aqueous solution. The electrochemical reactions of the elements in stainless steel werc studied by voltammetry and potentio-static electrolysis was carried out. A stainless steel anode was dissolved electro-chcmically with good anodic current etliciency in a chloride solution. The residue, where Ni was concentrated, was found on the anode after electrolysis. The electrodeposit in a stainless steel cathode consisted mainly of Fe and Cr and the Ni content in it was less than 0.5wt% under suitable condition. It is concluded that an electrorefining technique is effective for the separation of the elements in stainless steel.

Jan 1, 2003

By Barrie A. Wigmore

There are two aspects of financing western coal development -- whether there is going to be enough money to finance the prospective large development of the industry, and the specific techniques of raising money for that development. To take the first question of whether there is going to be enough money around to finance your industry, I think it is quite clear that the restrictions on the development of western coal are going to be non- financial. Environmental impact problems are creating the greatest delay in coal mine development, at the moment; but getting enough personnel, mining equipment, railroad equipment, and failure of the Department of Interior to act on leasing federal coal lands all appear likely to create significant bottle- necks in the development of western coal -- larger bottlenecks than financing. Financing appears straightforward for the industry. There are many projections of the financing required to meet Project Independence goals. The National Academy of Engineers estimated that development of 500 million tons per annum of western coal would be necessary by 1985 to meet the Project Independence goals which might require $20 billion of capital spending. It is generally agreed that 500 million tons a year is not a realistic possibility. Carl Bagge?s estimate of production of 250 million tons a year by 1983 appears a more reasonable projection. Development

Jan 1, 1976

By Leroy Dockter

The grinding characteristics of lignite in a ball mill were investigated. The variables studied were initial lignite moisture content, degree of in-the-mill drying, and lignite source. The mill tested was a pilot-p1ant-size conical ball mill which had a maximum output of from 80 to 180 lb/hr pulverized product depending on the lignite and test conditions. The capacity of the test mill ranged from 82 to 103 lb/hr depending upon mine source, in pulverization of as-mined lignite with minimum drying, The capabilities of the ball mill could not be correlated to Hardgrove index of the individual lignites or other observed physical properties. Predrying lignite from its 35 to 40 percent raw moisture content to about 10 percent moisture before grinding improved the mill capacity 87 percent, compared to an increase in capacity of 74 percent with in-the-mi11 drying to the same product moisture.

Jan 1, 1967

By A. K. Bakshi

An on-line rheometer, suitable for use with slurries, has been developed at Michigan Technological University. This rheometer can be used with both Newtonian and non-Newtonian slurries, and produces complete shear-rate/shear stress curves which characterize the time-independent rheology of the slurry. The sensor utilizes the Hagen-Poiseuille equation and Boyle's Law to calculate the shear rate, slurry flowrate, and shear stress from a series of pressure measurements. The design of the unit allows the measurement sample to be continuously collected from operating process streams in the often-hostile on-line environment. The shear rate/shear stress curves can be used to conveniently calculate the apparent viscosity at any given shear rate, and also to measure any yield stress or other deviations from Newtonian behavior.

Jan 1, 1999

By R D ROSENTHAL

BHP Iron Ore Ltd's Mt Whaleback is the largest single open-pit iron ore mine in the Pilbara region of Northwestern Western Australia. A division of BHP Minerals, one of three core businesses of Broken Hill Proprietary Company Ltd (BHP), BHP Iron Ore - Newman is a joint venture with minor participants C Itoh Minerals and Mitsui. Mine planning for Mt Whaleback generates detailed sequence plans for a long term forecast incorporating equipment requirements, marketing forecasts, and pit development strategy. Utilisation of several computer packages, both commercially available and site modified, are necessary to achieve such a demanding task.

Jan 1, 1992

By Naoki Hiroyoshi, Hajime Miki, Tsuyoshi Hirajima, Masami Tsunekawa

"Acidic solutions for chalcopyrite leaching contain cupric, ferrous and ferric ions, and the oxidizing power of the solutions is indicated by a redox potential, determined by the concentration ratio of ferric to ferrous ions. This paper reviews our previous studies on the redox potential dependence of chalcopyrite leaching in sulfuric acid solutions. Leaching experiments indicated that copper extraction rate was accelerated by cupric and ferrous ions , and was higher at potentials below a critical value (critical potential) in the presence of these ions. This was in good agreement with the results of electrochemical measurements, i.e. in the anodic polarization curves for a chalcopyrite electrode, active-passive behavior was observed when cupric and ferrous ions co-exist, but the activation at low potential did not occur without these ions (Figure 1). The analysis of the AC impedance spectra for chalcopyrite electrode indicated that a high-resistance passive layer grows on the chalcopyrite surface without cupric and/or ferrous ions, and that coexistence of these ions causes a formation of another product layer and inhibits the passive layer growth at low potentials.These results are explained by a reaction model assuming the formation of intermediate Cu2S due to chalcopyrite reduction and the subsequent oxidation of the Cu2S. The critical potential corresponds to the redox potential of the Cu2S formation and the predicted values matched with the experimental results. Catalytic effect of silver ions on chalcopyrite leaching was also discussed based on experimental results and the above model."

Jan 1, 2003

By V. Koump, R. H. Tien

An approximate mathematical solution is found for the problem of unidimensional solidification of a slab of a binary alloy with time-dependent surface temperature. For the model considered, the solid skin does not form until the liquidus front has moved a certain distance. This distance depends on the rate of cooling and can be as large as half the thickness of the slab when the cooling rate is small. Assuming that the THE process of unidirectional solidification of binary alloys with constant surface temperature was analyzed by the present authors in a recent paper.' In the previous analyses, the surface temperature was considered to be lowered instantaneously, at the beginning of solidification, from its initial value to some surface temperature decreases linearly with time and that the solidus and the liquidus lines are straight, calculations are made of the temperature and concentration distributions, movements of the liquidus and the solidus fronts, as well as changes of temperature, solid fraction, and solute concentration of the liquid at the center of the slab. arbitrary temperature, lower than the solidus temperature. Although the solution of the problem for the case of constant surface temperature has some practical applications, instantaneous changes of temperature are physically impossible. Present theoretical study of the unidirectional solidification of a binary alloy is based on a more realistic model, i.e., in this case, the surface temperature of the slab decreases from its initial value continuously with solidification time. The model of solidification within the solid-liquid region is the same as the one described in the

Jan 1, 1969

By J. Rowe

The attrition of activated carbon, and the loss of gold associated with it, is of significant economic importance to the operation of a CIP/CIL circuit The focus of this study was on activated carbon recovered from an elution circuit which was deemed too fine for reuse. Results of cyclosizer and laser particle size analysis identified that most of the carbon was contained in the larger size fraction suggesting formation by abrasion. Digestion and AAS analysis of the individual size fractions identified a disproportionate concentration of gold in the finer size fractions which was identified by scanning electron microscopy to be due to the presence of fine metallic gold formed as a result of the acid washing process. Attempts to strip the remaining gold using sodium hydroxide or sodium sulphide based solutions proved unsuccessful due to poor elution efficiencies and re adsorption of gold. Upgrading of the material by froth flotation was also investigated using various conventional flotation reagents which had some success in concentrating the free metallic gold, however, grade and/or recoveries were considered less than desirable. Greater success was ultimately found in the transfer of gold from the fine carbon material onto coarser virgin activated carbon using a caustic cyanide solution. Sodium sulphide, sodium chloride and ammonium chloride based solutions were also trialled but proved less successful owing to their inability to mobilise metallic gold or gold cyanide species. Repetition of the transfer process proved capable of stripping 97% of the gold contained on the carbon fines for abed volume ratio of 6:1.

Jan 1, 2009

By D. J. Jr. McAdam

RESULTS of a general survey of corrosion-fatigue phenomena at the Naval Engineering Experiment Station were presented in five previous papers.1-5 In these papers references were given to the work of Haigh in 1917.6 The five papers mentioned gave a general survey of the behavior of metals when tested to failure under simultaneous corrosion and cyclic stress. As a result of this survey the fourth paper gave a tentative analysis of the corrosion-fatigue process. According to this analysis, if the initial stress is below the endurance limit but above the corrosion-fatigue limit, the corrosion-fatigue process is divided into two periods. The first period is the formation of pits. As the initial stress is below the endurance limit, the pitting is assumed to be due to corrosion, not to fatigue. The corrosion pitting, however, is not the ordinary pitting of stressless corrosion, but is an accelerated pitting due to the effect of the cyclic stress on the corrosion. As the pit progresses, both the actual stress and the effective solution pressure increase. The increase of actual stress is due to increasing stress concentration at the bottoms of the pits. The increase of effective solution pressure is due to the increase of actual stress. The mutual intensification of stress and solution pressure continues until the actual stress at the bottoms of the pits surpasses the endurance limit. The second period of corrosion-fatigue then begins. In this period the process is merely fatigue accelerated by the corrosion. The cracks advance at a continually accelerated rate until the specimen breaks.

Jan 1, 1930

By Frank E. Woolley, John F. Elliott

Mathematical models of the transient thermal behavior of a high-temperature solution calorimeter1-3 have been developed. The thermal behavior of the calorimeter is appoxirrzated by linear lumped-parameter models, and hence is described by sets of linear ordinary differential equations with constant coefficients The response of the models to various inputs is shown to agree with the response of the real system. Application of the modeling to experimental design and analysis of data illustrates the usefulness of simple models of complex systems. The early eperiments1,2 with the high-temperature solution calorimeter indicated that the change in the temperature of the bath resulting from the addition of a solute sample to the bath involved not only the direct effect due to the solution process but also possibly a secondary effect arising from the change in coupling between the bath and the induction heating coil. Consequently, an extensive analysis of the calorimeter was carried out, and models of the transient thermal processes of the instrument were developed to aid in improving the design and interpreting the behavior of the system. This paper describes the dynamic modeling; the use of it in treating experimental results has been reported earlier.3 The high-temperature solution calorimeter was constructed to measure directly the partial molar heats of solution of solute elements in a variety of liquid metal solvents.1-3 The calorimeter consists of an induction-heated liquid metal bath into which small samples of a solute element can be dropped. The bath temperature is recorded continuously, and the change in the measured bath temperature with time, dTm = f(t), resulting from the solute addition are the raw data from which the enthalpy change caused by the addition is determined. To extract the rmodynamic results from the data, the temperature change must be compared with that resulting from calibration additions of known enthalpy change. Accordingly, it is necessary to understand the transient thermal processes arising as a result of the addition to the bath. Neither modeling nor experimentation alone could provide the required insight into the working of the calorimeter. The alternate use of both methods in conjunction greatly assisted the design of the equipment and experiments, and the interpretation of the data. THE PHYSICAL CHARACTER OF THE SYSTEM The essential parts of the calorimeter, Fig. 1, for model studies are the thermocouple, the liquid metal bath and the surrounding refractories. The system is the solvent metal bath and those refractories around it which undergo a temperature change as a result of an addition to the bath, and which determine the way the temperature of the bath responds to an input. The inputs are the combined transient thermal effects arising when an addition is made to the bath. They include the thermal effects of the addition itself and the results of changed coupling between the bath and the induction coil. The response is the variation in the measured bath temperature, dTm(t) = Tm(t) - Tm(O), from an initial steady state resulting from the inputs. It was assumed in this study that the physical properties of the various elements of the system are independent of the inputs and time, although these properties may vary as the result of changes in the composition and size of the bath during a series of additions. This separation of inputs and the system is equivalent to assuming that the system is linear, i.e., that its behavior can be described by linear differential equations with constant coefficients. Linear behavior can be expected whenever the departure of each portion of the system from its steady-state condition is small enough to cause negligible changes in the thermal properties of the materials and in the various heat-transfer coefficients. Radiative heat transfer is important in this system, so the assumption of linearity should be valid only for small temperature deviations. Several conclusions were drawn from operation of the calorimeter in earlier experimental studies: 1) Radiative heat transport from the top of the bath is a significant portion of the total heat lost from the bath. However, for small changes in the bath temperature the change in transport by this path could be assumed to be proportional to the change in the bath temperature. 2) A very small portion of the heat input is lost through the thermocouple to its water-cooled holder. The thermal resistance and thermal capacity of the thermocouple protection tube are small, so the temperature of the thermocouple should follow closely that of the bath. 3) The remainder of the total heat lost from the bath will pass by conduction through the crucible to, and through, the other refractories, eventually being absorbed by the water-cooled induction coil or by the water-cooled sides and bottom of the enclosure. 4) The thermal resistance between the bath and crucible is very small. Thus the thermal capacity of the crucible will affect the temperature of the bath very soon after an addition of heat to the bath. 5) The thermal resistance between the crucible and the silica sleeve is large, especially if a radiation shield is placed in the gap. The effect of the thermal capacity of the sleeve thus will be significant only at longer times. The thermal resistance through the packing below the crucible also is large, so the packing and the silica sleeve will have similar effects on the behavior of the system. 6) A large temperature drop exists across the gap containing the water-cooled induction coil. Thus for relatively small changes in the thermal input to the bath, the refractories beyond the sleeve

Jan 1, 1970

By E. B. Spice

"IntroductionExperience at Eldorado has been gained with a variety of mill feeds. That is, the actual mode of occurrence of the pitchblende varies to such an extent that gravity concentration has at times been decidedly unattractive and at others highly successful. Because of this, the type of ore necessary for economic recovery of pitchblende have become well known. Also, those types which do not lend themselves to gravity concentration have become familiar. In general, it may be said that when the pitchblende occurs free, to a large extent, from sulphides or arsenides of high specific gravity, and when the bulk of the pitchblende is localized rather than disseminated, excellent recoveries, high ratios of concentration, and good grades of concentrates , will result from proper gravity concentration. On the other hand, if the ore contains pitchblende intimately or otherwise mixed with large quantities of arsenides or sulphides, or if the pitchblende is finely disseminated, gravity concentration alone will yield high recoveries only at the expense of very low-grade concentrates and low ratios of concentration.According to Taggart, the ease with which gravity separation may be effected is determined by the value of the following ratio: []It is stated that when the ratio is above 1.75, gravity separation can be expected to be easy. Thus with pure U308 (S.G. over 9) and gangue consisting chiefly of siliceous material, the process can he expected to be entirely successful even when carried on at very fine sizes. Unfortunately, the term pitchblende covers a great diversity of material. Although some of the mineral occurs pure enough to have a specific gravity of about 7, the average is much lower than this and is probably well under 5. Some of the pitchblende particles have a specific gravity so low that gravity concentration fails completely. It may also be said that no degree of grinding will produce free pitchblende of sufficient density from such particles. This, then, represents the most important limitation to the application of gravity separation to pitchblende ores."

Jan 1, 1950

By C. Roos

Traditionally within the mining industry, the main functional process flow for resource and reserve evaluation proceeds from geologists who build the geological model, to resource estimation geologists (modelers) who estimate the grades, to mining engineers who develop the mine design and schedule. The interface between these three disciplines is not always seamless. Assumptions made during one stage of the process are not always communicated down the line, even though most mining companies have procedures in place to encourage communication across the various disciplines. These procedures do not always achieve their aim due to a variety of reasons including time constraints, appropriate people not being available, or a lack of understanding of what other disciplines require, and the handover process can degenerate into one of sending computer files on to the next discipline in the process flow. This paper focuses on the interface between the resource estimation and mine engineering disciplines, and outlines some of the common assumptions made when generating a resource model and the risks that engineers may be taking when elevating cutoff grades, optimizing schedules or generating forecasts. The case studies presented focus on openpit gold deposits, but the concepts should be applicable throughout the industry. A summary of key questions and recommendations is provided.

Jan 1, 2014