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Who's Who in Mineral Engineering - The 1979 Directory of the Society of Mining Engineers of AIME

Jan 7, 1979

By Alice V. Peter

The rare-earth group are among the least familiar of the 92 known elements. Moreover, the relatively few people who have even heard of the rare earths ordinarily regard them merely as very rare elements having unusual names but doubtful commercial application. This typical attitude can be attributed partly to the fact that no commercial uses have been developed for most of the members of the group and partly to the fact that those which do enter into useful articles do so anonymously. Most people speak with a degree of familiarity of the "chromium" plating on their automobiles or household appliances; "antimony" ash trays and cigarette boxes are on sale in many department stores; and "tungsten" lamps and even "molybdenum" steels are advertised in popular magazines. However, the average user of a pocket cigarette lighter is not conscious that the important sparking element is a "flint" made from ferrocerium, and if he does chap on to inquire about the composition he is likely to be told that it is "sparking alloy", "misch metal", or 'pyrophoric alloy." Similarly, the wearer of spectacles made of "Crookes" or other tinted glass probably is not aware that the light softening effects are due to the presence of rare-earth oxides, or that the arc light on his street may owe its brilliance to cerium fluoride in the carbon electrode. Despite a variety of practical applications, however, most of the rare-earth metals still must be listed as scientific curiosities. In fact, little is known as to the properties which may make them useful products at some future date. Meanwhile it is important to note that Nature has been relatively generous in her distribution of the rare earths and that adequate supplies of most of them will be forthcoming when these elements have proved their worth as commercial products.

Jan 1, 1935

Antitrust Investigation Dropped. - The Department of Justice announced that it was dropping its 5-year investigation of the aluminum industry. The investigation was over whether the aluminum companies were acting as if they were a shared monopoly. Deep Seabed Mining. - The Department of Commerce's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has established an Office of Ocean Minerals and Energy which will be responsible for implementing the Deep Seabed Nard Minerals and Energy Act and the Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Act. It will establish licensing and regulatory programs.

Jan 1, 1980

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Jan 1, 1985

By Lloyd Williams

1. The investigation shows that the Sewanee bed is the only bed of major importance in Marion County, 97 percent of the coal mined in the county having come from this bed. There are coal reserves in minor quantity in the Battle Creek bed, and production from this bed depends on a few small truck mines. The Richland bed, or Lower Sewanee, has been mined in the past, but no coal has been produced from it in late years. There are no production records of any other beds in the county, although same coal has been produced from them. 2. Known measured and indicated reserves in all beds, based on a minimum thickness of 14 inches and on 1,800 tons per acre-foot of coal in place, are estimated to be 61 million short tons as of January 1, 1953. Of this total, 55 million short tons is in beds 28 inches and more thick. Areas in each bed were omitted from the estimate where available data relative to the bed characteristics are too meager to permit making an estimate that conforms with the definitions of measured and indicated coal adopted for this study. Should future drilling or development prove reserves in these areas, such reserves should be added to the total estimated reserves.

Jan 1, 1955

By Xianyang Qiu, Xiuzhi Shi, Chen Xie, Xiaofeng Huo, Yanhai Wang

In upwards medium-deep hole cut blasting, many confinement effects exist due to the small number of free surfaces, which is mainly provided by an empty hole. If the cut blasting effect cannot meet expectations, then subsequent blasting construction will be seriously affected, and large security risks to operators in the stope can be induced. The number of free surfaces is directly related to the layout of the cutting borehole. Therefore, it is necessary to optimize the layout of the first round of cutting boreholes. Theoretical analysis, numerical simulations, and field tests were used to study the formation process of cut blasting and optimize the layout of the first round of cutting boreholes. Based on the blasting parameters in the field, LSDYNA software was used to establish cut blasting models with four kinds of borehole layouts in the first round. The RHT constitutive model was used to simulate the rock-breaking effect. The numerical results show that the cut blasting effect is optimal when Nos. 3, 5, 7, and 9 are charge holes and Nos. 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 are empty holes. In addition, the greater the number of empty holes, the larger the release space and the better the cut blasting effect. The uniformity of the empty hole distribution, namely, the uniformity of the release space, also affects the cut blasting effect. The field results indicate that a good cut blasting effect can be achieved by optimizing the borehole layout.

Sep 7, 2023

By R. Barbaroux, J. -M. Lalancette, D. Lemieux, K. Nasrallah, G. Garcia Curiel

"Arsenic released from the lithosphere by mining and metallurgical activities is a growing global environmental concern. Dundee sustainable technologies (“DST”) has developed a processing technology to sequester arsenic by means of vitrification. This method can effectively sequester arsenic trioxide without the need to oxidize from As (III) to As (V). Arsenic oxide is incorporated within a silica glass matrix that is stable as per the Toxicity Leaching Characteristic Procedure (“TCLP”) or EPA Method 1311. In this paper, the conventional treatment of arsenopyrite, commonly referred to as “two-stage roasting”, is discussed along with the options traditionally available for the remediation of the arsenic trioxide by-product. The drawbacks limiting the adoption of this processing flowsheet are discussed and a new processing route is presented for the treatment of arsenopyrite. This new flowsheet outputs an auriferous aluminosilicate highly amenable to gold extraction (> 96%) while eliminating the sulfur dioxide production associated with the second-stage roasting of pyrrhotite and ultimately uses vitrification as a definitive sequestration solution to arsenic trioxide.INTRODUCTION Faced with the depletion of conventional gold ores, the gold industry has witnessed a trend towards the exploitation of arsenical deposits. Arsenic is a naturally occurring metalloid often found in mineralogical association with gold. Many northern Canadian regions, from the Northwest Territories to Northern Manitoba, Northern Ontario and the Abitibi region are facing significant arsenic challenges. Projects are deemed uneconomic or prevented from going into operations due to the costs associated with handling arsenic material and there are penalties imposed to complex concentrates by smelters. In addition, Canadian mining operations have left an environmental legacy of gold tailings with grades typically of up to 9 grams per tonne with no processing solution as they also contain significant arsenic contamination at grades of up to 20%. Table 1 presents a list of Canadian deposits known to contain arsenic."

Jan 1, 2017

By Richard L. Stowe, Donnie L. Ainsworth

The static, rapid, and shock-loading response of rock is of interest to many in the field of rock mechanics. For example, the effects of loading rates on strength and stress-strain characteristics of rock are quite important in defining input loading for use in the design of underground protective installations. Response data on rock subjected to shock loading over a wide range of pressures are also vital in the field of underground nuclear testing. In addition, material response is needed in design of shock-absorbing liners. A number of investigators have reported that ultimate compressive strength of rock increases with increased rates of loading.1-6 Wuerker3 stated that modulus of elasticity, obtained from sonic determinations, increased in some rocks by a factor as high as 4.5. It appears that only a limited amount of work has been done on comparing static modulus and modulus obtained from impact testing.6 Phillips4 showed that with increased rates of loading the deformation decreased. More recent work by Atchley and Furr5 showed that when moderate-strength concrete is stressed with increased loading rates, the axial strain at failure increased. One would expect this to occur if we think in terms of purely elastic materials. For example, if E is constant and maximum strength [amax], increases, the axial strain would also increase. However, in rock testing thus far we have worked almost exclusively with nonhomogeneous and inelastic rocks. From this fact alone the increase in axial strain with increased load application is noteworthy.

Jan 1, 1972

By D. Hu, L. Matzar, J. Hampton, M. Gutierrez

Nanodarcy permeability is common in many oil- and gas-bearing formations requiring unconventional stimulation technologies, such as hydraulic fracturing (HF), which can connect the isolated hydrocarbon-rich pores with a wellbore through induced fracture networks. Even though a dense induced fracture network is capable of accessing economic amounts of hydrocarbons, much of the rock between and very close to the fracture network is still un-accessed and contains extremely low permeability. Inducing fracture networks into brittle rock can create large amounts of micro failures in surrounding regions that are not connected to the wellbore, as can be seen in Fig. 1(a) from the very wide acoustic emissions (AEs) cloud associated with a narrow fracture generation. It is possible in certain types of rock to increase the effective matrix permeability in localized regions based on the damage associated with the surrounding hydraulic fractures and subsequent high stress concentrations along localized pre-existing potential failure zones. To study this problem, laboratory HF tests were performed at true-triaxial stress state in brittle crystalline rock while monitoring AEs. The AE associated with HF was analyzed for source parameters using the moment tensor inversion method called Simplified Green’s Functions for Moment Tensor Analysis (SiGMA). Using the moment tensor for each individual AE event, the mode of failure was determined. Crack slip directions and crack face normal directions were also found, along with the relative volume of individual micro failures as well as a damage parameter. The associated source parameters were used to classify differing regions of damage in the sample induced from HF and correlate these regions of differing damage to the effective drainage region. Shown in Fig. 1(b) is a near-wellbore (NWB) region that contained three times larger average relative volumetric deformation of individual tensile AE events than the average tensile AE event volume from the entire sample. Because of the large difference in micro fracture volumetric deformation for the NWB region compared to the entire sample, predictions of HF induced damage must be included in reservoir drainage predictions.

Jan 1, 2015

By M. Javier

"The impact of mine closure is perceived through a veil of compliance to human laws and regulations rather than the laws and equilibrium of nature. This perception motivates present research. Understanding the causes and effects of mine closure defines levels of responsibility. This understanding evolves from mine closure&apos;s legacy. Mine closure is characterized in perpetuity by three aspects: Future liabilities; level of technologies for extraction and, usage of mineral resources. These aspects must be updated to a rationally appropriate level. This paper will address the following questions: Will the minerals remaining in the process of mine closure ever be recovered? Will the mine closure inhibit the availability of minerals for the next generation? How many mines are designed to perform a successful mine closure? Do we close the mines or do we close nature? Is it responsible to continue mine closures as we do them today? Is mine closure a complement of mine operations or a contradiction of mining? Do we need to perform mine closures, yet? This paper reviews mine closure practices and principles with the level of responsibility to nature and for the next generation.PREFACE The planet has irreversible issues to deal with regarding the depletion of mineral resources and contamination occurring from human activities. The population increased exponentially to more than seven billion, this high population with its lifestyles, demands a higher supply of minerals. In spite of these conditions, mining is a vital industry to keep ""civilization"" in society. This is evidenced by what we see around us, in that everything ""made"" in society is directly or indirectly due to mining. Hence, mining cannot be avoided or ignored. Society misunderstands the importance of mining in relation to other activities. At this time, mining is fragmented and economically oriented to supply cheap minerals to a market with peculiar characteristics regarding products that could be designed for recycling and stimulate nature’s equilibrium. These issues add important “variable factors” to the equation, when they are considered as parameters for the next generation. It also raises many questions regarding principles and attitudes about morals and ethics exercised in all anthropogenic activities. The industry&apos;s practices have many flourishing paradigms which are subject to a variety of criticisms and observations. Some of these observations will be described in this paper. It is important to clarify in advance a ""normal disclaimer"" about the ""apparent contradiction"" that could take place in the writer&apos;s comprehension when we abruptly ""jump to conclusions"". We must remember that we are profiling the future in an arena that demands a better understanding of solutions to problems created by actual mining."

Jan 1, 2015

By Ian E. Efford

The paper gives an assessment of Canada&apos;s energy supply-and-demand position, the current situation and projections into the future, as well as a review of some alternative energy futures for Canada. The main elements of Canada&apos;s energy strategy for the period 1977-1990, with particular reference to the role of energy conservation, are discussed, leading in to the development of the national energy conservation program.

Jan 1, 1977

By Husamuddin Ahmadzai

A survey of regulations and state of the art control technologies is presented relating to the smelting of primary aluminium, copper and recycling of residues. Some costs associated with the alternatives and trends for the coming decade in this. sector are identified.

Jan 1, 1992

By W. G. Freeman

It is unlikely, as In the past, improvement in truck efficiency and capacity can fully offset the effects of inflation, fuel costs/shortages and ever increasing haul distances. There-fore, investigations of haulage systems less sensitive to these problems are warranted. Thus, this U.S.B.M. contract research study on alternative continuous haulage systems was prepared. This study identifies the physical, economic and technological parameters in the application of continuous haulage systems with special attention to under pit slope conveyors and skip hoisting systems. The evaluation data was gathered from extensive literature searches. European/North American mine visits, and industry comments. The study concludes that continuous underground haulage is a viable method within the proper geometric configuration.

Jan 1, 1978

By Michael E. Henderson

The U.S. Bureau of Mines (BOM) constructed the Hydraulic Transport Research Facility (HTRF) to investigate the hydraulic parameters relating to the transport of coarse coal. To achieve these goals in a timely and efficient manner, the Bureau contracted to Boeing Services International (BSI) the responsibility of operating the HTRF and providing technical support. This data report is a summary of the testing and data results for the period 22 November to 10 December 1982. The testing covered herein is for coarse 2-in by 0 (minus 50 mm) Pittsburgh Seam coal in a 6-in (150 mm) pipeline, at velocities ranging from 5 to 20 ft/s (1.5 to 6.1 m/s) and at concentrations ranging from 15 to 45 pct by weight.

Jan 1, 1986

By M. King Hubbert

"The present large-scale use of energy and power by the human species represents a unique event in the billions of years of geologic history. Furthermore, in magnitude, most of the development has occurred during the present century. In the United States, the peak in the rate of petroleum production occurred in 1970 and that for natural gas is imminent. The peak in the world production of crude oil is expected to occur at about the year 2000 and that for coal production at about 2150 or 2200. For other sources of energy and power, water power, geothermal power and tidal power are inadequate to replace power from fossil fuels. Nuclear power, based on the breeder reactor and utilizing lowgrade deposits of uranium and thorium, has a larger potential than the fossil fuels, but it also constitutes a large perpetual hazard. The largest source of energy available to the earth is solar radiation. This source has a life-expectancy of a geologic time scale, is nonpolluting and is larger in magnitude than any likely requirements by the human s pecies. In consequence of the large supplies of available energy, the period since 1800 has been one of an unprecedented exponential industrial growth. This also has been accompanied by a world-wide ecological disturbance, including that of the human population. It can easily be seen that such a period of growth must be ephemeral in character and, in fact, is now almost over. One aspect of this transition from a state of exponential growth to a state of nongrowth is the present alarm over an ""energy crisis."" Actually, the world's present problems are by no means unmanageable in terms of present biological and technological knowledge. The real crisis confronting us is, therefore, not an energy crisis but a cultural crisis. During the last two centuries, we have evalved what amounts to an exponential- growth culture, with institutions based on the premise of an indefinite continuation of exponential growth. One of the principal consequences of the cessation of exponential growth will be an inevitable revision of some of the tenets of that culture."

Jan 1, 1973

By Carl Lausen

Within recent years several mining companies have sent expeditions co the east end of Great Slave lake co determine the mineral possibilities of that area. Little was known of the geography of the region, and even less of the geology; and, not until Blancher&apos;s survey was made and the results published, was an accurate map of the lake available. Early explorers followed the Inconnu channel and the north shore of McLeod bay to Port Reliance, and, just prior to Blancher&apos;s survey, Hornby showed that the southern passage was feasible. Apparently, but few geologists have ? travelled through the country, for geological information is meager. In 1900, Robert Bell, of the Geological Survey, made a trip to Fort Reliance by way of the north shore of McLeod bay, and he gives a brief description of the geology. The present paper is the result of an expedition into this little-known region by Mr. Geo. M. Douglas and the writer in the summer of 1928. The south shore of Great Slave lake was followed to the east end of Tochatwi bay, and an extensive exploration was made of Kahochella and Pethei peninsulas. The prime object of the expedition was co determine the presence or absence of the copper-bearing Keweenawan basalts.

Jan 1, 1929

By John C. Holtz

"The Federal Bureau of Mines serves the mining industry by approving equipment that is designed to prevent explosion, fire, shock, or toxic hazards in mines when such equipment is used and maintained in a proper manner, through research, consultation, testing, and inspection, the Bureau studies machinery and component parts submitted by manufacturers and others. Before receiving the Bureau's approval as permissible for safe use in mines, equipment must pass exacting tests and must meet strict requirements established through research and experience and listed in the Bureau's various permissibility schedules. An important phase of the Bureau's research is the testing of diesel engines.Mobile diesel-powered equipment can be used safely in underground noncoal mines and tunnels when mechanical ventilation is provided to dilute and remove the exhaust gas and to replenish oxygen in the underground atmosphere. Safe ventilation is determined by suitable tests of each engine used in a diesel machine. This ventilation cannot be predicted safely, accurately, and economically from any general empirical relationship.In determining safe ventilation, the quantities of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and oxides of nitrogen generated by a diesel engine must be ascertained. These quantities are related to the displacement of the engine, its speed of operation, the design of the combustion chamber, and the fuel:air ratio needed to produce useful power. At overrich fuel:air ratios, all diesel engines generate excessive quantities of toxic carbon monoxide and smoke. The results of engine tests are used to determine a maximum fuel-injection rate at or below which carbon monoxide can be controlled by a reasonable ventilation and smoke is essentially eliminated. Toxic oxides of nitrogen are related to fuel:air ratio and the design of the combustion chamber. Their concentration in the exhaust cannot be controlled by engine adjustments, and each engine appears to have individual characteristics concerning formation of these oxides. Production of oxides of nitrogen frequently is the most important factor in determining safe ventilation."

Oct 1, 1959

By T Soares, P Esteves, C Senna, V Souto, E Dias

Steinert provides a wide portfolio of Sensor Based Sorting (SBS) technologies, including the possibility to combine different sensor data in the development of the separation applications. This multi sensor approach provides a larger applicability and extensive flexibility for the technology. This effect is emphasized for mining applications, once every ore body presents its own features that can also comprise a large material variability. In this sense, every sorting application is customized and comprises a personalized solution. This means each project development includes a test work stage that approaches from the project discussion, test definition, up to test outcomes and processing development. In relation to very complex and large projects, a sorting pilot scale plant has become a crescent tendency. By having a pilot plant stage can represent a chance to test larger amounts of material from different mining areas, different mining projects, such as to consider different processing targets and application approaches. Based on that, a better understanding about the technology application can guide a more assertive development of large and complex ore sorting projects. The aim of this paper is to provide information about the applicability of the Steinert multi sensor technology at different pilot plants in South America. It consists in a compilation of laboratory test results, plant design and operational results. For that, a chromite, an IOCG deposit and a sulphide gold ore projects are presented. Additionally, the paper discusses the application of different sensor technologies combinations such as various processing targets, thus providing a wider understanding about sorting applications and flexibility.

Nov 10, 2020

By Rebecca Hope, Derick Moolman, Frikkie Malan

"Despite the lip service that has been paid to pro-active plant maintenance processes over recent years, a significant portion of maintenance in industry is still reactive. The business driving force to prevent expensive production opportunity costs arising from “break-down maintenance” is obvious. Various benefits can be derived from successfully deploying remote equipment diagnosis technology and associated business processes.From an end-client’s viewpoint these include the ability to predict and take actions to prevent equipment breakdowns, increasing the lifetime of equipment by responding to appropriate operating instructions and therefore improving the return on capital expenditure. Better planning and scheduling of maintenance priorities and resources with performance measures like an Equipment Health Index are also possible. The knowledge that a qualified supplier engineer is constantly in touch with the operating conditions of their equipment, albeit remotely, is more than a comfort, and can be translated into quantifiable cost savings and improved supplier service levels.This paper analyses the reasons for the inadequate level of pro-active plant maintenance practice in industry today, and presents a number of important criteria in selecting appropriate solutions to this problem. A case study of a specific real-time, remote equipment management application is presented."

Jan 1, 2003

By Lloyd Williams, H. K. Gibbs, William L. Crentz, J. W. Miller

"Reserves This investigation shows that the Poplar Creek is the most important bed in Scott County from a production standpoint. Although the Poplar Creek bed contains the largest reserve, the Big Mary has a larger recoverable reserve. Estimates of reserves also have been made for the Pewee, Red Ash, Windrock, Upper Pioneer, Jellico, and White Oak beds.Known measured and indicated reserves of coal, based on a minimum bed thickness of 14 inches and on 1,800 short tons per acre-foot of coal in place, are estimated to be 143 million tons as of January 1, 1954. Of this total, 74 million tons is in beds 28 inches and more thick. Areas in each bed were omitted from the estimate because available data relative to the bed characteristics are too meager for making an estimate that conforms with the definitions of measured and indicated coal adopted for this study. Should future drilling or development prove reserves in these areas, such reserves should be added to the total estimated reserves.Recoverable reserves of coal are estimated in beds 28 inches and more thick. This thickness is about the minimum now being mined by hand loading onto conveyors in the Appalachian region. The weighted average recovery for all beds in Scott County, as determined by this investigation, is 52.4 percent. This percentage is based on the total thickness of coal in the bed (less partings three-eighths inch or more thick) rather than on the thickness of the coal mined. Based on the weighted average percentage of recovery for all beds in Scott County, the recoverable reserves of coal are estimated to be 39 million tons as of January 1, 1954.Coal Analyses Chemical analyses of coal samples taken for this study show that the coal in Scott County is of high-volatile a bituminous rank except the Upper Pioneer bed, which is shown to be high-volatile B bituminous. The Pewee bed shows typical low-sulfur characteristics. The high ash and sulfur in the Big Mary are characteristic of that bed. The Poplar Creek is moderately low in ash and sulfur in areas where there is no parting in the bed."

Jun 1, 1956