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By Allan B. Bowman

Several years ago a wealthy Chinese business friend of mine purchased an interest in a pro- posed oil well to be drilled a great distance from his home. A few months later it came in as a producer and proved to be a huge success and materially added to his resources. I asked him why a man of his wealth should be so lucky in a venture outside his sphere of knowledge when most people of modest means never seemed to get ahead. His answer was, "Fat Hoy takes a chance." Even though this was his answer, I knew from my association with him that there were other tempering considerations which Mr. Hoy applied before making up his mind to enter any transaction. First, he was a cautious individual. He was also a great believer in details and insisted on knowing everything possible about a situation, and finally, he was what we call a very solid individual with good basic instincts and judgment. This philosophy of Mr. Hoy may be applied to most any business but especially to those engaged in a search for natural resources such as mining where great risks are involved. This article concerns events in the history and growth of Banner Mining Co., with which I have been associated for 27 years in capacities from mine surveyor to vice president. Mr. Hoy's philosophy has played a significant role in the exploration projects of this company over the years, but what is more important, the officers, directors, and controlling interests in Banner have been aggressive in their search for ore reserves.

Jan 6, 1963

By E. P. Pfleider, Rolland L. Blake

IT is generally believed that the amount of diamond drilling will increase appreciably in the next decade, as the seaarch for minerals throughout the world becomes more difficult and intense. An attendant problem may be one of short diamond supply, resulting in higher bit and drilling cost. With this background, the U. S. Bureau of Mines' and the School of Mines at the University of Minnesota' have established comprehensive research programs in diamond drilling. One of the several aims is the design of a more efficient bit, which would lower diamond consumption and increase rate of advance, both essential in reducing drilling costs. The objective of the specific research problem" discussed in this paper was an investigation of the cutting action of the cliamonds set in a diamond drill bit, cutting action meaning the manner in which the diamonds cut or. loosen the minerals in the rocks being drilled. In the literature on cutting action such descriptive terms are used .as: grinding, wearing, cutting, breaking, shearing, scraping, melting, and chipping. These actions were seldom described or defined. Grodzinski describes the cutting action of a single diamond in the shaping of certain types of material as "breaking out chips of the material." Brittle mate-. rials break as small separate chips, and tough materials, because of heat generated, give a continuous chip. Deeby said about diamond drills: "When diamonds are forced into the formation and rotated, they either break the bond holding the rock particles together, or they cause conchoidal fracture of the rock itself. The former action occurs when drilling in sandstones, siltstones, shales, etc. and the latter action when drilling in chert, flint, or quartz." He said that diamonds cut on the "grinding principle" but he does not define or elaborate on this action. The cutting action of diamonds on glass was first investigated about 1816 by Dr. W. H. Wol-laston, an English physicist. The best glass-cutting diamonds have a natural or artificially rounded cutting edge. This edge first indents the glass and then slightly separates the particles, forming a shallow and nearly invisible fissure. Since none of the material is removed, this action is one of splitting rather than cutting. No other reports of research work on the cutting action of the diamond were found, and further work was considered justified and advisable. It is impractical, even if possible, to observe directly the cutting action of a diamond drill bit in rock; therefore it was necessary to devise an indirect method. It was believed that a study of the following three observations would lead to a better understanding of the cutting action: 1—the appearance of the minerals or rock surface in the bottom of the hole, 2—the size, shape, and other characteristics of the drill cuttings, and 3—the condition of the diamonds in the bit. The cutting action in a particular rock probably varies with bit pressure and speed. If the bit were slowly lifted off the rock, the effect of decreasing pressure might obliterate those bottom hole characteristics that are specific at the test pressure. Likewise, if the drill were stopped with the bit still in contact with the bottom of the hole, then decreasing speed effects would tend to obliterate the characteristics at the set test conditions. Therefore, in order to preserve those cutting effects impressed on the rock at test conditions, it seemed necessary to lift the bit off the bottom of the hole almost instantaneously once drilling conditions, i.e., revolutions per minute, pressure, and water flow became constant. In addition to observing the cuttings, the bit, and the bottom of hole, it seemed desirable to collect some quantitative data for purposes of correlation with the observations and for a record of bit performance. Consequently such data as revolutions per minute, force applied, and rate of advance of the bit were recorded. Six rock types, listed in Table I, were chosen for the tests. It was felt that these rocks had most of the variable characteristics of texture, bonding, and mineral hardness met in the common rocks generally being drilled. The sandstone was so poorly cemented as to be friable, even though most of the cement was silica. The limestone, though well cemented, was quite porous. Originally it was planned to conduct the tesk work with a full-scale drill unit, using EX bits, 7/8-in. core, 11/4-in. OD. The drill worked well, but was too cumbersome for rapid, accurate drilling of many short holes (1 ½-in.) in varied rock types. A new

Jan 1, 1954

By Silvando Vieira dos Santos

O emprego de trabalho mecânico em ligas metálicas associado a aplicações de tratamentos térmicos estão entre os principais métodos para se conseguir alcançar aumento de resistência mecânica e manutenção de boa ductilidade. Este estudo busca avaliar a correlação entre deformação a frio, tratamento térmico, microestrutura e propriedades mecânicas da liga Ti35Nb2,5Sn. Para isso realizou-se laminação a frio empregando níveis de redução equivalentes a 70%, 80% e 90%. Em seguida, as amostras foram analisadas por meio das técnicas de microscopia ótica, difração de raios X e microdureza Vickers. Na sequência, tratamentos térmicos de envelhecimento foram aplicados em diferentes tempos para cada nível de deformação e os mesmos parâmetros foram avaliados. Observou-se significativo aumento de dureza após etapa de envelhecimento e as análises por metalografia e difração de raios X evidenciaram a presença de fases metaestáveis na matriz beta..

Oct 30, 2017

By G. H. Keith

Oxygen and nitrogen cause strain aging in electrorefined vanadium, as evidenced by maxima in yield and tensile strengths and by Snoek internal friction peaks. Alloys containing up to 0.22 percent oxygen and 0.11 percent nitrogen were investigated. Tensile strengths of oxygen-and nitrogen-containing alloys were 66,000 and 68,000 psi at 300° to 400° C, compared with 53,000 and 62,000 psi, respectively, at room temperature. Total elongation decreases to about 7 percent at the temperature of maximum strength. At 600° C, strain aging is not evident. Based on interstitial contents calculated from internal friction measurement, the increases in strength caused by nitrogen and oxygen were 440,000 psi per weight-percent nitrogen and 260,000 psi per weight-percent oxygen. Application of the Schoeck and Seeger treatment to the Snoek effect in these systems results in a calculated lattice distortion of 0.24 and 0.15 caused by the presence of an interstitial nitrogen or oxygen atom, respectively. Alloys containing boron or carbon were also investigated. Both elements refine the grain size but have no other effect because of their low solubility in vanadium.

Jan 1, 1969

By Hoon Lee

Laboratory tests were conducted to evaluate the breakage characteristics of pyrophyllite in a laboratory ball mill. In grinding tests, the breakage characteristics were analyzed using the mathematical kinetic models based on the two breakage functions; the specific rate of breakage and the primary breakage distribution. Two samples having similar chemical composition show identical values in specific rate of breakage. In comparison, there are different values of primary breakage distribution for each sample. The size distributions of the product with various grinding time are well described by the parameters from non-linear searching.

Sep 1, 2012

By Robert C. Hickman

In its search for strategic minerals, the Bureau of Mines investigated the Rutherford Mine property in Amelia County, Va. The property was visited by F. W. Horton, mining engineer, and Margaret Fuller Boos, mineral technologist, of the Bureau of Mines, in company with Eugene Dawson, of the War Production Board, on July 16-11, 1943. An exploration program by the Bureau was recommended, and work was started on July 28, 1943, and continued until September 16, 1943. A total of 1,250 feet was diamond drilled in 5 holes on the property.

Jan 1, 1950

By Laurance L. Oden

Titanium-enriched smelter slag produced commercially by Quebec Iron and Titanium Corp., Sorel, Quebec, was evaluated as feed material for a process developed by the Bureau of Mines to prepare rutile. Glass-forming agents including P205, B203, and two binary mixtures were added individually to the as-received and preoxidized smelter slag, and the nonferrous tramp oxides were effectively partitioned into the resulting noncrystalline phase. Iron in the ferrous oxidation state was moderately soluble in the glass of reduced specimens but less soluble under oxidizing conditions. The solubility of iron oxide in phosphate glass exceeded the solubility of iron oxide in borate glass. Effective conversion of titanium oxide to rutile was not achieved in the high-iron commercial smelter slag, and 20 to 30 pct of the titanium remained as pseudobrookite, a mixed iron-titanium oxide.

Jan 1, 1973

By Thomas T., Read

IT will be recalled that the first professor of metallurgy in the United States, appointed in 1855, never really gave any instruction in metallurgy and gradually turned into a professor of mineralogy. Metallurgy was included with. mining in the early curricula, two students who took the B.S. in mining engineering from the Polytechnic College of Pennsylvania in 1862 wrote their graduation theses on the metallurgy of copper and zinc, respectively. Even after Columbia School of Mines established, in 1868, a separate curriculum leading to the Ph.B. degree in metallurgy, very few students elected it,* preferring to take the mining degree, since they received in its curriculum nearly all the metallurgical instruction they would have in the metallurgical curriculum. For many years a large proportion of the men who attained prominence in metallurgical enterprises had taken mining rather than metallurgical degrees. METALLURGY Clifton Sorby's study of thin sections of rocks under the micro¬scope, beginning in 1850, and its subsequent development by Zirkel and others, had made microscopic petrography a recog¬nized department of geological research as early as 1873. . It was inevitable that the idea of studying polished metal surfaces-¬under the microscope by reflected instead of transmitted light would occur to investigators. Sorby himself did it in 1864, and Adolph Martens and Floris Osmond may -be especially named among the many European workers who, by the late eighties, had so developed the, necessary techniques that they were able to photograph polished metal surfaces at magnifications as high

Jan 1, 1941

Mother Nature controls, technical professionals model and miners decide. Decisions to explore, mine and mill. Mine decisions, mine design, planning and scheduling are subject to the quality of models û geological models, geotechnical models, resource models, density models. The closer these models are to reality, the more accurate the predicted outcome. So why is it we delegate the modelling tasks to the most junior and least experienced people? If we insist on this, we need to support them û to provide them with æexperience acceleratorsÆ. Technical mentoring is the most effective way to provide the right information at the right time. When this information (read skills) is supplied at the right time we can inject experience into the quality of our modelling and into our decision- making processes. The objective of this paper is to share those behaviours and manners that foster relationships and create frameworks for skills and experience transfer. Central to this is an understanding of how adults learn, an understanding of the basic rules of mentoring etiquette, and the three keys to building meaningful mentoring relationships. An understanding of adult learning processes and styles provides a structure within which a mentor can understand the learnerÆs perspective. Understanding the world from the learnerÆs point is critical to selecting the right language to engage, teach and transfer skills. Basic rules of mentoring etiquette like timeliness, respect and trust need to be brought into the consciousness so they can be agreed on and monitored to prevent conflicts in cultural and generational norms between the mentor and the learner.Meaningful relationships hinge on the three behaviours: truly listening, rather than just hearing; understanding the technical issues within the WIIFM (whatÆs in it for me?) question; and facilitative behaviour. Stronger and more meaningful technical mentoring relationships within our industry will bridge the generational gap and ensure we can capture and capitalise on the wealth of grey hair experience and develop an informed group of young decision-makers.

Jan 1, 2006

By D. A. MacLeod

DURING the past fourteen months, dust surveys have been made at thirty-six mines in the Province. These surveys are made to determine the concentration of dust in the mine atmosphere, the flow of air through the mine, the methods adopted to prevent the generation of dust, and the measures taken for its elimination. When high concentrations of dust are encountered, suggestions are given for its prevention ?and elimination wherever possible. Dust sampling is absolutely necessary to determine the effectiveness of any measure taken in the prevention and elimination of dust in the mine workings. Consequently, more time has been spent on this phase of the work than on any other. The apparatus used is the Devers circular konimeter and Zeiss microscope. At various mines, the Zeiss konimeter is used, and the dust counts taken by the two instruments have given results that are closely comparable; so much so that either instrument can be used with confidence and the results obtained will compare in accuracy with those obtained by the methods used in Ontario and South Africa. Before the Workmen's Compensation Act Amendment Act was passed in November, 1936, most of the mine operators were already keenly interested in the prevention of silicosis. This interest has been intensified at all the mines, and measures have been adopted to decrease the amount of dust in the mine atmosphere. Several operators have spent a large amount of time and money in bettering these conditions, and have met with decided success. Practically all others are adopting the known methods of prevention, suppression, and elimination of dust, that apply to their ?particular mines. To prevent the production of dust in underground workings should be the first, as it is the most important, aim, especially during the time the men are underground. An atmosphere free of dust cannot be obtained, but measures can be adopted to lower the concentration that is found? in the average mine.

Jan 1, 1939

By J. E. Tiffany

FOR blasting in coal mines the U. S. Bureau of Mines recommends that permissible explosives be used exclusively, that these shall be fired electrically, and that where feasible the working place shall be cut or sheared. These recommendations are made to promote safety and prevent mine explosions. Although permissible explosives are not flameless, their lower flame temperature and shorter duration of flame make their use safer than that of non-permissible explosives. Mixtures of air with both methane and bituminous coal dust, which are liable to occur in coal mines, may be ignited by coming in contact with any type of flame or spark of sufficient temperature and duration or by the firing of a blast. In a working place where a blast is to be fired, in addition to the use of permissible explosives, adequate ventilation for the dilution and removal of accumulations or outbursts of flammable gas should be provided. Bituminous coal mines should be rock-dusted as a means of rendering the coal dust harmless. The efficient use of permissible explosives depends upon the proper preparation of the working place, standardized drilling, the strength characteristics of the explosive, and the use of a proper weight of charge. Experienced shotfirers should load, tamp and fire all holes. The major part of the information and data here presented is based on the results of efficiency tests made in large producing mines of Pennsylvania and Illinois. Bureau of Mines Report of Investigations, Serial No. 2697, describes how a standard method of blasting was worked out and put into operation in a mine in southern Illinois.1 This paper contains a description of the methods worked out subsequently in another mine in that district.

Jan 1, 1928

By S. J. M. van Leeuwen, R. Feenstra

The effect of jets on bit penetration has been investigated by means of a 50-ton drilling machine and 8½-in. commercial jet bits, drilling under representative bottom-hole conditions. The conclusions apply to the drilling of impermeable rock only. Penetration rate is in all cases primarily hampered by a differential pressure effect, known as dynamic hold-down. Jet action can reduce this slightly. Major gain in penetration rate, up to 25 or 50 per cent, is already ohtained at medium-high jet power. At high bit load, penetration by soft to medium-hard-formation bits is further hampered by bit-balling. Its alleviation requires intensive tooth scavenging, which is best performed by slanted nozzles with trailing, high-velocity, high-volume jets, hitting bottom in front of the teeth. Penetration may then improve by a 100 per cent. At high bit load, bottom-balling limits the penetration of insert-type bits. In this case bottom scavenging is required, which is most effectively performed with high velocity jets from nozzles extended close to bottom. As a result of this measure, penetration may improve 70 per cent in non-friable rock, and less in friable rock. This will make the insert-type bit more versatile. Toothed hard-formation hits suffer at high bit load from both bit- and bottom-balling. Slanted nozzles, possibly much extended, with high-velocity, high-volume jets then have best prospects. INTRODUCTION For years the use of jet bits in oil well drilling has been increasing, in conjunction with ever greater hydraulic horsepower. To the same extent, the need for efficient use of the horsepower has grown.' This paper, it is hoped, will contribute to an understanding of how effective jet action may be obtained. It deals with the effect of jets on phenomena that are known' " to hamper bit penetration. To study this effect, laboratory drilling tests were performed with 8½-in. commercial bits under bottom-hole pressures representative of deep wells. The investigation has been restricted to the drilling of practically impermeable rock. In the following sections, the increase in bit penetration rates due to jetting is discussed for conditions which made the troublesome phenomena stand out one at a time. A brief definition and interpretation of these phenomena is given in Appendix A. Appendix B gives the results of measurements of fluid velocities along the hole bottom, performed in stationary flow tests. Descriptions of equipment, bits, rocks and mud are collected in Appendix C. Unless otherwise mentioned, drilling conditions were kept standard as given in Table 1. CUTTING TRANSPORT TO THE ANNULUS Jet action was for some time believed to merely improve the transport of cuttings from bottom to annulus, resulting in a clean hole bottom. Flow tests performed in 1954 at the Battelle Memorial Institute6 showed, however, that jet velocities of the order of 40 ft/sec sufficed to clear even large (0.4-in.) chips from bottom in the time between two successive tooth actions. In the field, optimum jet velocities are appreciably higher, indicating that other effects must be involved. This much is confirmed by the results of our drilling experiments in soft rocks performed under atmospheric pressure, i.e., in absence of pressure-differential effects. Fig. 1 shows that variation in the nozzle velocity from 40 to 330 ft/sec had no effect on penetration rate, unless the bit penetrated more than 7 mm per revolution, which is about half the tooth height. At such high rates—150 ft/hr at 100 rpm—cuttings would be caught in the tooth cavities, leading to bit-balling, which was noticed on inspection of the bit. The jets thus assisted in keeping the tooth cavities clean. This is just perceptibly reflected in the penetration-rate curves of Fig. 1: Much the same results were obtained in hard rocks with hard-formation three-cone bits. The conclusion is that transport of loose cuttings towards the annulus does not require a powerful jet action. In the following sections we shall see that in deep-well drilling other phenomena are of greater importance. DYNAMIC HOLD-DOWN It is generally accepted that, in deep-well drilling, bit penetration is hampered primarily by the existence of a difference in pressure between the fluid in the hole and that in the rock at the depth of cutting.2-5 In the drilling

Jan 1, 1965

By S. C. Termes, R. L. Wilfong

As part of an effort to provide basic data on the fundamental scientific and engineering principles of minerals beneficiation, the Bureau of Mines is conducting research on the flocculation of mineral fines. This paper presents results of studies using cross-linked starches containing carboxyl, diethanolamine, iminodiacetic acid, and xanthate groups to flocculate hematite, goethite, chromite, manganite, pyrolusite, cuprite, and cassiterite fines. The carboxyl and xanthate derivatives flocculated all minerals except cassiterite; the latter was flocculated by only the diethanolamine derivative. The imlnodiacetic acid derivative flocculated hematite, goethite, chromite, cuprite, and pyrolusite fines. Zeta potential measurements were made to help define the reaction mechanism responsible for flocculation. These measurements indicate that electrostatic attraction probably is not involved, except possibly in the case of the diethanolamine derivative. The separation of hematite from quartz by selective flocculation with chelating crosslinked starches under two pH conditions and with two dispersing agents is described. Best recoveries and grades were found when either the carboxyl or xanthate derivatives was added at the natural pH of the pulp in the absence of a dispersing agent.

Jan 1, 1984

By Saynbaatar, Gangping Ma, Jianhua Fu, Qiqige, Jinghua Wang

The influence on the performance of foam concrete made by replacing cement with some industrial waste residues was researched in this paper. The result shows that the 7d and 28d compressive strength of foam concrete increases firstly and then decreases with the increasing amount of industrial waste residue. The proper added range is 10%-20% for steel slag, blast furnace slag and coal ash, but, 8% for desulfurized fly ash. With the proper adding ratio, the compressive strength of foam concrete always increased comparing with the pure cement foam concrete. When adding 48% of the compound industrial waste residues, the 28d compressive strength of the foam concrete reached the 2.9MPa which could match the pure cement foam concrete. The results indicates that there is a synergistic effect among the compound industrial waste residue, and this effect is benefit to improving the compressive strength of foam concrete.

Jan 1, 2015

By Ken Santini, Ronald R. Bauer, Joseph R. Copeland

Wollastonite, named after W.H. Wollaston, an English chemist and mineralogist, is a calcium metasilicate having the chemical formula CaSiO2. Although it is a unique mineral, wollastonite has a short history of industrial use. Wollastonite is the only naturally occurring, nonmetallic, white acicular mineral. Its acicularity is the main reason for its ascendancy in the late 1970s and 1980s as a reinforcing filler and as a replacement for short-fiber asbestos and short-fiber milled fiberglass. Wollastonite is used in applications ranging from bowling balls to automobile fenders, from ceramic tile to automobile brakes, and from thermal insulation board to protective industrial coatings. The United States is the largest producer of wollastonite, with China, India, and Finland as the other three major sources. The United States, Europe, and the Far East are where most of the production is consumed. Geology Mineralogy and Physical and Chemical Properties Wollastonite, a member of the pyroxenoid mineral group, has the theoretical composition of 48.3% CaO and 51.7% SiO2. Iron, manganese, magnesium, or strontium may substitute for some of the calcium. Commonly associated minerals include garnet, diopside, calcite, quartz, epidote, apatite, and sphene. Some of the physical properties of wollastonite are listed in [Table 1]. Wollastonite is largely chemically inert; however, it can be decomposed in concentrated hydrochloric acid. Some wollastonite will fluoresce under shortwave or longwave ultraviolet light, or both, with colors ranging from pink-orange to yellow-orange and, more rarely, bluish green. In addition, wollastonite may show phos¬phorescence. Because of its unique cleavage properties wollastonite breaks down during crushing and grinding into lath-like or needle-shaped particles of varying acicularity. This particle morphology imparts high strength and is therefore of considerable importance in many of the markets for wollastonite. The acicularity of particles is defined by their length:width, or length:diameter, ratio (i.e., aspect ratio). Individual particles, even the smallest ones, commonly ex¬hibit an aspect ratio of 7:1 or 8:1 and have an average diameter of 3.5 gm. Low aspect ratio products (powder wollastonite, or milled grades) with 3:1 to 5:1 aspect ratios are used as general fillers, in ceramics, and in metallurgical fluxing. High aspect ratio products with ratios of 15:1 to 20:1 are used as functional fillers for rein¬forcing thermoplastic and thermoset polymer compounds and as a replacement for asbestos. The dry brightness and whiteness of wollastonite are also important in determining its suitability for certain filler and ceramic applications. When pure, the mineral is brilliantly white, but impurities may color it cream or gray. Brightness is determined by measuring the reflectance of finely ground powder against a stan¬dard that is assigned a brightness of 100. Magnesium oxide and barium sulfate are the two standards used. G.E. brightness, a term used in North America, refers to brightness measured with a Gen¬eral Electric reflectometer. Commercial wollastonite products usu¬ally have a G.E. brightness ranging from 85 to 95. The Hunter method is also used to measure the brightness of wollastonite. Loss on ignition (LOI), another important property in determining applications for wollastonite, is the amount of volatile matter driven off when the mineral is heated to 1 000°C. Com¬mercial wollastonite products have an ignition loss ranging from 0.5 to 2.0%. Wollastonite's naturally high pH of 9.9 (10% water slurry) is of major importance to its use in the coatings industry. Coatings formulators use milled grades as a pH stabilizer in interior and exterior PVA (polyvinyl acetate) and acrylic latex paints. There are two polymorphs of calcium silicate: wollastonite, a low-temperature form, and pseudowollastonite, a high-temperature form. Conversion of wollastonite to pseudowollastonite occurs at about 1 120°C and results in an increase in the coefficient of expansion and a color change. Pure white wollastonite may change to a cream tint or to various shades of red or brown. This color change is thought to be due to the presence of iron and/or strontium.

Jan 1, 1994

By Arshad Ali, Mudassar Khan, Waqas Ahmad, Nisar Muhammad, Muhammad Salman

Talc is an important industrial commodity due to its wide-ranging intrinsic properties; however, the presence of iron oxide hinders its industrial utilization. Herein, we report the purification of Pakistani talc through acid leaching assisted by chlorination techniques. Among various acids (i.e., HF, HCl, H2SO4, HNO3, H3PO4, Aqua Regia, H3BO3, and CH3COOH), HF was the most effectual, removing up to 67% of iron oxide at optimized conditions of temperature, 90–95 °C; time, 120 min; HF concentration of 5%; and at a pH of 1. In the second step, chlorination of the talc sample was performed separately by both wet chlorination and dry chlorination. Wet chlorination was carried out using KMnO4 and HCl in slurry phase which shown about 52% removal of iron oxide, whereas dry chlorination with CaCl2 at high temperature attained about 48% removal of iron oxide from talc sample. Further, the wet chlorination of HF leached samples was also performed under optimized conditions which showed up to 87% iron oxide removal. The original and treated talc samples were characterized by EDX and XRD analysis to monitor the changes in the elemental and mineralogical composition of the talc. It can be concluded that HF leaching followed by wet chlorination is an effective method for the upgradation of low-grade Pakistani talc ores.

Aug 9, 2021

By Jerry G. Craig

The Bureau of Mines has developed a computerized oil and gas well data retrieval system from studies of the waterflood potential of a producing reservoir. This system stores pertinent information about each well completed in a reservoir and facilitates selection and manipulation of large volumes of data. Use of the system enables reservoir information to be supplied rapidly, accurately, and at less expense.

Jan 1, 1971

Rio Tinto Iron Ore (RTIO) manages eleven mines in the Pilbara region, Western Australia. Three of these mines have previously or are currently mining black shale that contains varying amounts of pyrite. Several new deposits currently being evaluated and existing mines that may progress below water table in the future, will also encounter this waste material. The black shale presents not just an acid rock drainage risk but also a spontaneous combustion risk. This paper presents the black shale management strategy and provides an overview of the relevant activities undertaken by RTIO. The strategy can be divided into two components which firstly involve defining the risk and secondly involve managing the risk. The mineral waste management plan is used to identify specific mineral waste hazards by:geochemical characterisation of waste material,undertaking mine site specific risk assessments,characterising the receiving environment,identifying sulfidic boundaries in geological and mining models,quantifying the amount of sulfidic material in medium and long-term mine plans, anddesigning and sequencing black shale waste dumps. Once a mine exposes black shale the Spontaneous Combustion and Acid Rock Drainage management plan is used and the major activities are: regular site meetings with a representative from every group that works with black shale;compliance with safe working procedures for site specific and detailed activities;regular training;the use of specific explosives to prevent premature detonation;ongoing geochemical characterisation;acid water management, monitoring and analysis;regular internal and external auditing of procedures and practices; andclosure planning assessments and preparations (ie cover trials, geochemical void modelling, geochemical waste dump modelling). The success of this holistic strategy is evident by the awareness of personnel within the business, thorough understanding of the geochemistry and by undertaking proactive management of black shale during mining. The strategy and management plans adopted by Rio Tinto Iron Ore have activities that other mine sites with potentially acid forming material may like to consider implementing.

Jan 1, 2009

By R. B. Schluter

Drying and preheating (partial induration) the green, unfired iron ore pellets is a means of reducing the energy required to produce metallized pellets. The Bureau of Mines processed three magnetite and two hematite concentrates through the unit operations of pelletizing, preheating in air, and reduction to metal to determine the effects of preheating upon the properties of the metallized pellets. The pellets were prepared in a 16-inch-diameter laboratory balling drum. Preheating and metallization were carried out in an externally heated 4-inch-ID by 4-inch-long stainless steel drum using air for the preheating atmosphere and lignite char as a reductant. The results 'varied considerably: two of the magnetites spalled when preheated in air at temperatures of 900° C and above, and the third magnetite and the hematite flotation concentrate required complete induration at 1,300° C to produce satisfactory pellets. The earthy hematite ore yielded excellent pellets at all preheat temperatures.

Jan 1, 1972

During the period 1979 thru 1982, Multi Mineral Corporation conducted a mining research program at the United States Department of the Interior's Bureau of Mines Oil Shale Mining Environmental Research Facility in the Central Piceance Creek Basin, Rio Blanco County, Colorado. The program consisted of mining, environmental and geotechnical research data and. the results are described in this report.

Jan 1, 1983