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By G. L. Oldwright, F. K. Shelton, W. E. Keck

"INTRODUCTION Zinc must be of high grade to satisfy the present demand. Even when the amount of premium paid is small, the purer metal as the buyers' preference. The following specifications for spelter were taken from the American Society for Testing Materials for 1927, Part I, pane 524. (The specifications for 1930, p. 582, are tile same.)Another specification for zinc of a much higher grade than any of the above has been established lately by the same society. The committee on zinc die-casting (Proc. Am. Soc. Test. Mat., vol. 31, 1931, p. 263) reached the following, conclusions: I. ""That the purest of zinc is necessary to produce stable zinc-base die castings, and as a result requested specifications for zinc spelter .with total impurities not over 0.02 percent."" Their tests showed that the die castings made of the purest zinc had the least elongation and the greatest tensile strength, and exhibited the least changes with temperature.Still more far-reaching claims are made for the properties of zinc containing over 99.99 percent metal. Zinc foil, for instance, may someday be made as a common commercial product. It would seem likely that the demand for zinc of high grades rill continue and that even purer varieties may be desired. This demand fits in with the modern trend in manufacturing plants of reducing the number of variables to a minimum by using pure materials, and of controlling the processing of metals during their various stages of fabrication by mechanical means instead of by expert laborers."

Jun 1, 1933

By Leonard Harris

Good morning ladies and gentlemen. I would like to thank Hans von Michaelis for inviting me here today to talk to you on the subject of "How to Reduce Capital and Operating Costs at Heap Leaching Projects". The comments I have to offer are based on my experiences in gold heap leaching by Newmont Gold Company in Nevada, by Newcrest in Western Australia (formerly Newmont Australia), by Minera Yanacocha in Peru, by Penmont in Mexico, by Z­Mont in Uzbekistan, by the Hochschild Group in Peru and expe­riences in copper heap leaching by Magma Copper Company in Arizona and as a consultant on several other smaller projects worldwide. These comments are a mixture of technology, ideology, philos­ophy, strategy, logic and opinions and might be looked at by many of you as "one man's view". I like to look at them as "a view from the bridge". Let me add that it doesn't bother me that you may not agree with my comments and that I would be interested in your comments or criticisms at the end of this presentation. I don't intend to discuss the details of the mineralogical and metallurgical test work. I will assume, for this talk, that the test work has been conducted very carefully and that the ore in ques­tion has been determined to be heap or dump leachable. Let's begin with a couple of don'ts! ! First, "don't build the mill until you have a mine". This might sound to many of you as fundamental but believe me it continues to happen. The minable reserves should be well known and established as being economical to mine and leach. NPVs, ROis and IRRs are fine if you can be sure of the gold price you use in your calculations. The best method is to carefully estimate the capital cost and, most importantly, the operating cost per ounce of gold recovered which should include the repayment of the borrowed capital and the interest thereon. For example, if the operating cost under these conditions is $200 per ounce, you have a project. If it is $400 per ounce, walk away f om it. Incidentally, the same prin­ciple can be applied to projects involving other metals such as silver, copper, lead, zinc, etc. The second don't is - "don't be sheep". Don't climb on the bandwagon with respect to design and operation because every­one else does it a certain way. Keep an open mind, be versatile, look for change, look for every possible innovation for reducing capital and operating costs. Beware of those who will tell you "we tried that it won't work" or "it's too expensive" or "that's a crazy idea" , <' ''what do you know about mining - you are a metallurgist aren't you" or "what do you know about metallurgy - you are a miner aren't you" or "only geologists can handle this issue". Be careful about pigeon-holing people according to their basic degree and experience. In these days of low metal prices, we need to consider everybody's ideas, as crazy as some of them might seem.

Jan 1, 1998

THE CHAIRMAN.- This meeting is under the auspices of the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers, and I think the germ of the idea originated in the steel business. Last year there was a meeting of prominent people in the steel industry with the idea of getting together and discussing practical phases of their business, so that everybody could contribute and from that there might be benefit derived for the industry. Several months ago when Mr. Bain was in Salt Lake City, he and Mr. Oldright asked me what I, as an individual, thought of it. From that originated this idea of having the copper people come together to discuss reverberatory smelting and all its phases. In starting out, it seemed the best plan to ask members what particular subjects they wished to discuss first; that is, the ones that would be considered more important. We asked Mr. Oldright, or suggested sometime ago that the meeting be postponed until May because May is a lovely month in Salt Lake. There are a number of attractive features around the city. We have a number of smelters here and I think that probably the most of the benefit will be derived from talking in an informal way and visiting the various plants around. the valley. At any rate, speaking as a resident of Salt Lake, I am glad to see all of you gentlemen here, and hope you have an interesting and instructive time. The tentative list of subjects for discussion at this conference is as follows: Construction Walls, etc. Walls, proper design and thickness of brick for various types of charging. Bottoms, construction of. Binding steel, correct weight and arrangement, where thrust of arch should be taken. Refractory materials, feasibility of using different material in various parts of the furnace. Water jackets, where applicable. Should bricks be used inside of same. Gas space, proper design for, height of roof above bath, etc. Roof Shape of Roof, in hot zone and elsewhere, longitudinally. Construction of roof, in various zones, around openings.

Jan 1, 1930

By T. Shibasaki

There is a strong demand in the photo industry to the higher quality of refined silver. Osaka Refinery produces about 27 mtpm of refined silver mainly from copper refinery slimes. Product quality is attained by controlling the impurity level in electrolyte. Copper is cemented with silver oxide and palladium is precipitated by a chelating agent. Both processes were operated previously in batchwise for treatment of bled out electrolyte, Recently these processes have been improved and made continuous to cope with the increased impurity.load. As a result the grade of fine silver has been maintained steadily at Pd < 3 ppm and Cu < 5 ppm.

Jan 1, 1989

By Aïda Espinola

Decontamination of synthetic solutions containing cadmium ions using coconut fibers in natura was investigated in laboratory scale. Cadmium ions, a serious pollutant of water ways, where it is detrimental to the environment, may be absorbed by fish and mollusk used as food, which will, eventually, poison humans; these ions are usually present in minero-metallurgical and electroplating industrial effluents. Usually employed for the aqueous effluents treatment are chemical precipitation, adsorption and electrolytic processes. Precipitation is not effective for cadmium removal, because of the high KpS of the cadmium hydroxide, which requires high pH; only sulfide would be efficient in cases of very small amounts. Some vegetal refuses have shown to be practical for absorption processes of several metallic ions. We have applied coconut (Cocos nucifera) shells, which are extremely abundant over most of the extensive Brazilian coast, in the removal of cadmium: it has been verified, in our laboratory, that the surface of the fiber of this coconut is rich in chemical compounds which are active scavengers for Cd2+. For the optimization of the process, hydrosoluble components existing on the surface of the fiber, which may be deleterious, were previously washed out by water, and variables, such as the pH and the proportion of mass of fiber to volume of solution, were adjusted. As much as 99% of the initial contaminant metallic ion has been eliminated, resulting a solution to be discarded which contains ca. 0.1 ppm; this attends to the maximum impurity legally admitted by the environmental control agency of Rio de Janeiro, FEEMA, for cadmium ions in aqueous effluents to be disposed in rivers and in the Guanabara Bay area.

Jan 1, 1998

By B. A. Cheadle, K. P. Steward

Axial tensile, ring tensile, closed end burst, and free end burst tests were done at room tempe.vature and 300°C on three batches of Zircaloy-2 sheathing zuith different textures. Knoop hardness tests were also done on all batches. The mechanical properties of the tubes were largely dependent on the percentages of cold work, but were also markedly affected by the textures, particularly with respect to deformation behavio&apos;r. The deformation behavior observed confirmed Picklesimer&apos;s predictions, zuhereas Knoop hardness results could be correlated with texture and yield strength anisotropy after the ,method of Wheeler and Ireland. From the mechanical properties, and from efjectiue strain values deterrlzined at the fractures using a photoqid technique, it zuas concluded that tubing witlz a single preferred orientation of radial basal poles best combines strength and ductility for any given deqee of cold work. THE mechanical properties required in collapsible Zircaloy-2 fuel sheathing for water-cooled power reactors are strength to resist wrinkling deformation by coolant pressure and ductility to accommodate a small amount of deformation in service without rupturing. Zircaloy-2 tubing during fabrication develops pre- ferred orientations of the a Zr grains due to aniso-tropic deformation behavior, and these textures markedly affect mechanical properties. Picklesimer&apos; had predicted the deformation behavior of tubes with various textures, but the texture required to provide the optimum strength and ductility for a given degree of cold work has not been reported. To investigate this problem, tests at three transverse to axial stress ratios were done at room temperature and 300°C on three batches of Zircaloy-2 tubing covering a wide range of textures and percentages of residual cold work. Knoop hardness values were also measured to correlate with preferred orientation and yield strength anisotropy after the method of Wheeler and relland.&apos; 1) MATERIAL For this investigation, three batches of tube-reduced tubing were chosen from the Zircaloy-2 sheathing produced for the Douglas Point Reactor. Individual tubes were 191/2 in. long, 0.600 in. OD, and 0.0165 in. nominal wall thickness. The identities of the batches, together with their textures, are shown in Table I. The tubes had the normal Zircaloy-2 composition3 of 1.5 wt pct Sn, 0.3 wt pct Fe, Ni, Cr combined with the following oxygen concentrations: Batch VII 1140 to 1390 ppm 0 Batch VIII 1400 to 1750 ppm 0 Batch IX 880 to 1320 ppm 0

Jan 1, 1968

By J. W. Spretnak, D. A. Chatfield, G. W. Powell, J. R. Eifert

In nzost cases, the driving force for a lattice transformation is produced by supercooling below the equilibriunz transformation temperature. The interfnce reaction in isothermally annealed, multiphase diffusion couples may involve a luttice transformation which also requires a driving force. Direct experinzental evidence has been obtained for the existence of the driring force in the form of a supersaturated phase at the aocc)-0@cc) interface in Cu:Cu-12.5 ult pct A1 couples; the super saturation is equivalent to an excess free energy of approximately 3 cal per mol at 905. A tentatiue interpretation of the dynanzic situation a1 the interface based on the free energy-composition diagram is proposed. THE presently accepted theory of diffusion in multiphase couples1 states that there will be a phase layer in the diffusion zone for every region which has three degrees of freedom and which is crossed by the diffusion path in the equilibrium phase diagram. For binary systems, this restriction excludes all but single-phase fields and, for ternary systems, only one- and two-phase fields are included. In addition, Rhines"~ as well as other investigators3 6 have reported that the compositions of the various phases adjacent to the interfaces are, for all practical purposes, the compositions given by the intersections of the diffusion path with the solubility limits of the single-phase fields of the equilibrium phase diagram. Some studies of the rate of thickening of these intermediate diffusion layers indicate that the thickness of the layer changes para-bolically with time, or: where x is the position of the interface relative to an origin xo, t is the diffusion time, and k is a temperature-dependent factor. crank7 shows mathematically that, if the compositions at an interface are independent of time and the motion of the interface is controlled by the diffusion of the elements to and from the interface, then the segments of the concentration penetration curve for a semi-infinite step-function couple will be described by an equation of the form: hence, Eq. [l] follows from Eq. (21 if the interface compositions are fixed and if the motion of the interface is diffusion-controlled. Although the concept of local equilibrium being attained at interfaces has assumed a prominent role in the theory of diffusion in multiphase couples, experimental evidence and theoretical discussions which challenge the general validity of this concept have been reported in the literature. arkeen&apos; has stated that strict obedience to the conditions set by the equilibrium phase diagram cannot be expected in any system in which diffusion is occurring because diffusion takes place only in the presence of an activity gradient. Darken also noted that it is usually assumed that equilibrium is attained locally at the interface although the system as a whole is not at equilibrium, the implication being that the transformation at the interface is rapid in comparison with the rate of supply of the elements by diffusion. ISirkaldy3 indicates agreement with Darken in that he believes the concept of local equilibrium is at best an approximation because the motion of the phase boundary requires that there be a free-energy difference and, hence, a departure from the equilibrium composition at the interface. Seebold and Birks9 have stated that diffusion couples cannot be in true equilibrium, but the results obtained are often in good agreement with the phase diagram. The initial deviation from equilibrium in a diffusion couple will be quite large because alloys of significantly different compositions are usually joined together. Kirkaldy feels that the transition time for the attainment of constant interface compositions (essentially the equilibrium values) will be small, although in some cases finite. Castleman and sieglelo observed such transition times in multiphase A1-Ni couples, but at low annealing temperatures these times were quite long. Similarly, ~asing" found departures, which persisted for more than 20 hr, at phase interfaces in Au-Ni and Fe-Mo diffusion couples. Braun and Powell&apos;s12 measurements of the solubility limits of the intermediate phases in the Au-In system as determined by microprobe analysis of diffusion couples do not agree with the limits reported by Hiscocks and Hume-Rothery13 who used equilibrated samples. Finally, Borovskii and ~archukova&apos;~ have stated that the determination of the solubility limits of phase diagrams using high-resolution micro-analyzer measurements at the interfaces of multiphase couples is not an accurate technique because of deviations from the equilibrium compositions at a moving interface; diffusion couples may be used to map out the phase boundaries in the equilibrium diagram, but the final determination of the solubility iimits should be made with equilibrated samples. The purpose of this work was to investigate the conditions prevailing at an interface in a multiphase diffusion couple and to compare the interface compositions with those associated with true thermodynamic equilibrium between the two phases. Microanalyzer techniques were used to measure interface compositions in two-phase Cu-A1 diffusion couples annealed at 80@, 905", and 1000°C for various times.

Jan 1, 1969

By K. Lillkung, J. Kourunen, M. Latva-Kokko

"Carbon-in-leach (CIL) and carbon-in-pulp (CIP) processes utilize activated carbon to adsorb solubilized gold for recovery. Due to carbon attrition and non-ideal carbon management, however, some of the gold is lost in carbon fines and to the solution. The carbon attrition mechanism inside CIL/CIP reactors is mainly abrasion-related. This is critical to gold loss since gold loading takes place predominantly in the outer shell of the carbon particles. Thus fine carbon dust has a relatively high gold content and such a small particle size that it cannot be captured with safety screens. The attrition rate depends on ore and carbon characteristics, but it is always proportional to the mixing power intensity. This rate can be minimized by continuous suspension level measurement and control of agitation speed. In addition, a novel tank bottom structure can significantly reduce the required mixing power input compared to a flat bottom tank. A major challenge in carbon management is infrequent and inaccurate measurement of carbon concentration in the reactors. In order to reduce soluble gold losses by means of improved carbon management, Outotec has been developing a continuous in-situ measurement for carbon concentration that is tolerant to changes in slurry density.INTRODUCTION Cyanide leaching has been utilized since the late 19th century as a standard technology for hydrometallurgical gold production. Since then, gold and silver recovery rates have increased due to technological development, but very similar recovery methods are still being used. The original recovery method was to use zinc precipitation – similar to the Merrill-Crowe process, which is still common for feed materials with low throughput and high silver content. However, in most cases, activated carbon recovery is preferred due to its improved efficiency. The carbon-in-pulp process (CIP) and its modification, carbon-in-leach (CIL), have a lower residual soluble gold level and are not similarly affected by soluble base metals. The main alternative for the use of carbon is ion exchange resins. The principle of resin processes is similar to the CIL/CIP processes, with a different type of adsorbent material. Carbon processes are usually preferred over resin processes due to the significantly higher cost of resin material and the possibility to use simpler, well-established technology with carbon processes."

Jan 1, 2017

By Henry Howe

THE data which are collected in Table 1 show that the ferrite of low-carbon steel and of electrolytic iron, like the network of hypo- and hyper-eutectoid carbon steel, inherits, either absolutely or relatively, the, grain size of the mother austenite from which it is born in cooling through the transformation range. This evidence is so abundant and concordant as to cast doubt on Prof. Jeffries&apos; 1 hypothesis of what might be called reversed inheritance, by which he explains Mr. Ruder&apos;s observation2 that the grains of a "slug of pressed pure electrolytic iron powder"were coarser, perhaps 12,000,000µ2, after a 3-hr. exposure to 1000° C. than after a 3-hr. exposure to 1250-1300°, when they were about 35,000µs. His explanation implies a natural tendency of coarser austenite grains to yield finer ferrite ones than spring from finer austenite grains, so that the inheritance is reversed. What seems to me a simpler explanation is that the enormous grains which followed the 1000° heating were not inherited from the mother austenite, but were formed by the process of natal coarsening, by means of which Stead and Carpenter developed grains of this same order of magnitude in this same kind of material, on heating to 950° or to 1000°, the temperature used by Mr. Ruder, provided the exposure was not unduly prolonged, and it does not seem to have been in Mr. Ruder&apos;s case. That their coarsening was natal and not through inheritance is shown first by the fact that their grain coarseness was out of all proportion to their relatively low temperatures and short periods, and hence was very far in excess of the grain size which the mother austenite must have had, and second and more cogently by the fact that the shape of these coarsened grains was evidently determined by the temperature distribution which existed during and immediately after the Ar3 transformation, that during the passage from the gamma to the non-gamma state.

Jan 9, 1917

R. MOLDENKE, Watchung, N. J. (written discussion*).-It is some-what difficult to discuss the paper of Mr. Stork, when the description of the cupola melting occurrences indicates that his practice is open to question. The evident burning of much of the steel charged,. coupled with the remarkably low silicon content of the mixture as shown by the resulting product, throws the entire melting practice into that of making cupola malleable. If anything is wanted here, it is a. high bed to melt upon, and yet Mr. Stork in the very beginning of his paper speaks of the evils of oxidation due to a "high" bed, etc. The experienced foundry-mall would judge at the outset that Mr. Stork has kept his bed in the cupola too low, and naturally got a lot of oxidation from the blast. The oxidation of steel when used in large quantities in cupola mixtures is a well-known phenomenon, and is readily understood. One has but to. put a file into the forge fire and watch it burn when heated high enough. The melting point of steel being higher than cast iron, heavy pieces may dig way into the bed before being completely melted away, the last por-tions being directly exposed to free oxygen from the blast. Another situation not to be forgotten is the oxidizing effect of carbon dioxide at high temperatures. A serious oxidation of the steel is quite conceivable if in the zone of maximum carbon dioxide and minimum carbon monoxide-free oxygen being entirely absent. Hence the well understood practice of never melting a mixture with much steel unless the bed is kept exceed-ingly high; or again the above-mentioned malleable practice. Mr. Stork mentions the impossibility of deoxidizing a heat. after the steel contained has been oxidized. This is true to a great extent with the ordinary deoxidizers, such as silicon and manganese, but can be brought about by vanadium, titanium, magnesium, etc. Proper melting, however, makes this unnecessary.

Jan 10, 1919

By Reuben B. Ellestad, Fremont F. Clarke

In the early days of the lithium industry most of the production was from lepidolite, zinnwaldite, and amblygonite. Nearly all the early extraction processes described in the literature involve heating the finely ground mineral with sulphuric or hydrochloric acid. On subsequent water leaching most of the bases present in the mineral (especially aluminum) are dissolved as sulphates. As a result, the leach solution required extensive chemical purification before the lithium could be precipitated as carbonate. Following the remarkable growth of the lithium industry to its present size, zinnwaldite and amblygonite ores must be considered of minor importance only. Attention is now focused on spodumene, abundant enough in North America to be a major source of supply, and there are important supplies of lepidolite and petalite in Africa. The extraction processes described below all apply to spodumene, although several will also operate on other lithium minerals, such as petalite. Base Exchange with Alkali Sulphates: A distinct advance was made with the disclosures of Wadman and von Girsewalt. In these methods the finely ground silicate ore (spodumene or lepidolite) is intimately mixed with an excess of alkali sulphate (usually K2S04) in at least a 1 to 1 proportion, and the mixture was heated to a relatively high temperature. Base exchange results, with the formation of lithium sulphate. A water leach dissolves the lithium sulphate, together with the excess potassium sulphate. Successful operation of this type of process requires very thorough grinding and mixing, as well as careful temperature control. The use of K,SO, is objectionable from cost considerations since purification of lithium carbonate re- quires the use of potassium carbonate, if the K2S04 is to be recovered and recycled. The lower solubility of K,SO, as compared with Na,SO, is also objectionable, since it limits the concentration of the Li,SO, solution to be precipitated by K,CO,. Early laboratory-scale investigation of this process by Lithium Corp. was not encouraging

Nov 1, 1955

By W. J. McConnell

OBSERVATIONS on man exposed to unusual temperatures and humidities, and studies conducted under accurately controlled environmental conditions, have supplied information regarding the physiological responses of the human body which may occur incident to such exposure. These investigations also indicate the relative importance of temperature, humidity and air motion-the three physical air factors that affect human comfort. Many and diverse were the conclusions of early investigators who associated the discomfort observed in crowded and ill-ventilated spaces with changes in the chemical constituents of the air resulting from presumably poisonous exhalations from the body. These are of interest today only because, as a recent editorial in the British Medical Journal1 states, there is still an inclination to believe in the old view that there is some injurious quality of the air in ill-ventilated and crowded rooms, quite apart from dust, microbic infection and heat stagnation. There is a tendency to fly to some mysterious unknown agent such as "deionization," which even certain American engineers are now discussing. This editorial denies the existence of the least proof of any subtle poison being exhaled by human beings or of the ionization of the air having any influence in making open-window ventilation better and more stimulating than mechanical methods which propel heated and conditioned air through ducts. Until proof is forthcoming that certain changes, with which we are not now familiar, occur in the transmission of air from the exterior to the interior of enclosures, the responsible known factors which initiate the physiological responses in human beings are limited to the combined conditions of temperature, humidity and velocity of the air. While some mention was made as far back as 1880 that high temperatures and humidities were undesirable, Hermans,2 of Amsterdam, is credited with suggesting in 1883 that the harmful effects noted in ill-ventilated rooms were due to the fact that the increased temperature and moisture of the air prevented the body from maintaining a proper thermal balance.

Jan 1, 1930

By J. G. Kirby

The total number of petroleum refineries in the United States continued to decline during 1950, and according to the Bureau of Mines annual refinery capacity survey there were 357 refineries January 1, 1951, compared with 367 a year ago. The total throughput capacity increased 267,344 barrels daily during the year to 6,963,644 barrels daily as of January 1, 1951, continuing the trend of the past several years to increase the throughput capacity of the refineries and decrease the number of plants. The capacity of the average refinery to process crude oil increased during 1950 from 18,246 barrels daily to 19,506. The Indiana-Illinois refinery district accounted for 110,175 barrels, or 41 percent of the total crude-oil capacity increase, the Oklahoma-Kansas district, 17 percent, the California district, 14 percent, the East Coast district, 13 percent, and the Louisiana Gulf Coast district, 12 percent. Slight declines ill crude-oil capacity were reported in the Texas Inland, Texas Gulf Coast, New Mexico, And Appalachian refinery districts. The 160,100 barrels of additional crude-oil capacity that was building January 1, 1951, represents an increase of 10 percent over the year earlier figure. The only completely new refinery listed as under construct ion at the beginning of 1951 is located at Superior, Wisconsin. Other new construction involves enlargement of existing refineries. Plans for at least five additional new refineries are under consideration, and construction is expected to begin during the current year.

Jan 1, 1951

By Norman P. Goss

It is generally agreed that cold-working mechanically refines the grains into smaller fragments and with continued working these are oriented with certain crystallographic directions bearing a relation to the direction in which the metal is worked. Some of the energy expended on the metal during plastic deformation appears in the form of heat, but a very small portion remains in the metal as stored energy. The entropy, specific heat capacity, temperature at which recrystallization will just begin, density, ductility, elasticity, tensile strength, and resistance to corrosion are affected. These properties have been studied extensively and some of the changes in the physical properties due to cold-working were attributed to lattice distortion.l-8 The broadening of the Ka lines on the X-ray diffraction diagrams of plastically deformed metals is believed to indicate lattice distortion, and consequently the existence of internal stresses. The evidence supporting this theory rests solely upon the observed experimental fact that the diffraction lines are broadened and the Ka doublets are completely diffused. Elam9 has reviewed the matter of lattice distortion in relationship to the hardening of metals by plastic deformation. The X-ray diagrams of plastically deformed metals differ in general from annealed metals. The hardening of a metal was believed due to lattice distortion.9 The resolution of the doublet is lost when a metal is cold-worked and the Laue spots are elongated. At one time this elongation was thought to indicate the elastic bending of the crystal planes. However, more careful work showed that the asterism was due to new orientations developed within the fragmented grains during plastic deformation. Some theories attributed the hardening to fragmentation of the grains into smaller units. Jeffries and Archer,ll after carefully considering the problem of work-hardening from many angles, came to the conclusion that cold-working mechanically refines the grains into smaller crystal fragments, some of which at least differ in orientation from the parent grain. The increase in

Jan 1, 1940

By McDougall I, Claoue-Long J

A combination of high precision 40Ar/39Ar and U-Pb dating has been used to determine the age of hydrothermal minerals and host rocks in a number of Lachlan Fold Belt (LFB) gold deposits in New South Wales, Au4 ralii In particular, this investigation demonstrates that the UAr/ Ar technique of K-Ar dating can be used to determine the timing of mineralization in Palaeozoic systems.A close temporal link between mineralization and Late Ordovician to Early Silurian magmatism is indicated by the dating work. Hydrothermal sericite from the Goonumbla p8rph gy Cu deposit and Glendale Au prospect yieldsAt/ Ar step heating ages between 437.9 ¦ 1.1 and 441.2 ¦ 1.1 Ma (16), and4 minjrnum age of about 425 Ma has been obtained by Ar/ Ar dating of hydrothermal amphibole from the Browns Creek Au-Cu skarn deposit. Hydrothermal aluniI8 frog the Gidginbung epithermal Au deposit yields reset 44 Ar/ Ar ages of 401.0 ¦ 1.3 to 417.3 ¦ 1.3 Ma (16). U-Pb dating by ion microprobe on magmatic zircons from the vicinity of the Goonumbla and Gidginbung deposits gives ages of 438 ¦ 3.5 Ma (2 6), and 435 ¦ 2.5 Ma (2 (7) respectimly, W a minimum age of 435 Ma has been obtained by Ar/ Ar dating of magmatic phases from volcanic rocks adjacent to the Browns Creek skarn deposit. Magmatic episodes near the Sheahan-Grants gold skarnpost give ages of 479.2 ¦ 1.1 and 467.9 ¦ 4o1 by &apos;Ar/ 9Ar dating of magmatic amphibole. Most Ar/3yAr age spectra show the effects of partial Ar loss at between 360-420 Ma, probably due to heating caused by granitoid emplacement.The radiometric dating work in this paper suggests a restricted metallogenic epoch in the Late Ordovician-Early Silurian LFB, NSW, of similar duration to that found in the Andean margin and the western Pacific island arcs around the Pacific Rini.

Jan 1, 1990

By Norman P. Goss

It is generally agreed that cold-working mechanically refines the grains into smaller fragments and with continued working these are oriented with certain crystallographic directions bearing a relation to the direction in which the metal is worked. Some of the energy expended on the metal during plastic deformation appears in the form of heat, but a very small portion remains in the metal as stored energy. The entropy, specific heat capacity, temperature at which recrystallization will just begin, density, ductility, elasticity, tensile strength, and resistance to corrosion are affected. These properties have been studied extensively and some of the changes in the physical properties due to cold-working were attributed to lattice distortion.l-8 The broadening of the Ka lines on the X-ray diffraction diagrams of plastically deformed metals is believed to indicate lattice distortion, and consequently the existence of internal stresses. The evidence supporting this theory rests solely upon the observed experimental fact that the diffraction lines are broadened and the Ka doublets are completely diffused. Elam9 has reviewed the matter of lattice distortion in relationship to the hardening of metals by plastic deformation. The X-ray diagrams of plastically deformed metals differ in general from annealed metals. The hardening of a metal was believed due to lattice distortion.9 The resolution of the doublet is lost when a metal is cold-worked and the Laue spots are elongated. At one time this elongation was thought to indicate the elastic bending of the crystal planes. However, more careful work showed that the asterism was due to new orientations developed within the fragmented grains during plastic deformation. Some theories attributed the hardening to fragmentation of the grains into smaller units. Jeffries and Archer,ll after carefully considering the problem of work-hardening from many angles, came to the conclusion that cold-working mechanically refines the grains into smaller crystal fragments, some of which at least differ in orientation from the parent grain. The increase in

Jan 1, 1940

By E Holloway

The optimisation of an open pit mine can be broadly split into two stages, the first being the ultimate pit optimisation (and subsequent stage designs), and the second being schedule optimisation. Macroeconomic uncertainty clearly impacts on both however interrelationships do also exist. Generally, the opportunity exists for the ultimate pit to be revised during each planning cycle, however when this reprieve is removed the uncertainty for the underlying business increases. As one example, the introduction of an in-pit waste dump can be seen to significantly limit the option to revise the ultimate pit. When in this situation there are two potential risks that present: (i) the long-term price used for the ultimate pit selection is optimistic, and too large of a pit is selected resulting in waste being mined which uncovers material not of a significant value to deliver a profit; (ii) the long-term price used for the ultimate pit selection is pessimistic, too small of an ultimate pit is selected, and ore of realisable economic value left behind. Both of these outcomes are risks and as such can be assessed and quantified. CITATION: Holloway, E, 2018. Incorporating economic variability into a strategic planning framework, in Proceedings Complex Orebodies Conference 2018, pp 88–90 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Nov 21, 2018

During the 1998/99 Asian crisis Solid Energy&apos;s export revenues collapsed from over US$70M to under US$40M. Simultaneously, domestic market uncertainty led to decreases in volumes and prices. A major new underground mine was not technically viable, and was closed, and several other mines were marginal. Less than two years later, Solid Energy and its JV partner closed a second new underground mine. The company was in financial crisis, and reported an $86M loss for 1998/99. After refinancing with stringent workout conditions it still had minimal returns due to low prices, unaffordable transportation costs and huge unrealised FX losses as the NZ dollar fell 40 per cent in value. The obvious scenario was to æcash upÆ û complete extraction at remaining mines, sell off any viable parts of the business, pay off debt and wind the company down.In 2002 Solid Energy has completed its recovery. Although margins remain slim and volatile in both export and domestic markets, it is achieving record volumes and revenues. It has paid off its shareholder loan, has minimal remaining FX losses, and cashflow is allowing further mine and infrastructure development. The key to the turnaround has been implementation of rigorous planning, analysis and decision-making in all aspects of the business. The company has a comprehensive, rolling 20-year plan used annually to update rolling five year and annual business plans. Solid Energy augments strong line management operations with rigorous standards and processes for mine planning and development, operational decision-making, and functional support. Detailed, quantitative risk analysis is used in all aspects of the business and allows comprehensive integration of opportunity and risk management across all activities in the company.Coal mining is widely perceived as an æold-economyÆ industry. But, like other successful æold economyÆ companies, the information systems and management processes used by Solid Energy are as leading edge as any in the high-tech sector. They are the key to managing to add and sustain maximum value for a company that has access to coal resources sufficient for hundreds of years.

Jan 1, 2002

By Lloyd A. Clark

"The kuroko deposits, which are extremely variable in size, comprise both stratiform layers of clastic sulphide particles and cross-cutting vein and disseminated components. The ores lie on the flanks of rhyolitic lava domes which have risen from a postulated subvolcanic magma chamber that provided cupriferous hydrothermal solutions and also acted as a heat source driving ground-water convecting cells. The polymetallic sulphides precipitated initially in explosion craters, pipe fillings and feeder veins as rising hydrothermal solutions mixed with sea water. As sulphides clogged the plumbing system, minor phreatomagmatic explosions produced layers of sulphide fragments on the adjacent sea floor. One to ten repetitions of this process produced multiple fragmental sulphide beds. Each deposit formed in a relatively short space of time, because only minor tuff beds are intercalated in spite of active volcanicity in the region. In this model, the heated ground waters convecting through thick piles of acidic pyroclastic rocks leach the zinc, lead and barium later deposited as kuroko ores. As the subvolcanic pluton cools, the supply of silica and copper wanes and the minor counter-circulation cells above the pluton are replaced by main cell fluids bearing zinc, etc. This change in solution flow is abrupt rather than gradual, as the plumbing system is somewhat disrupted by the magmatophreatic explosions that create each ore layer.IntroductionKnowledge of the kuroko deposits ha s greatly expanded during the 25 years since modern recognition of their volcanogenic origin. However, one aspect of the ore s, which may be of unique importance in their genesis, has received little attention. That is the fragmental character of much o f the sulphide ore, which was briefly referred to in a previous publication (Clark, 1971) and is examined in more detail by Barton (1978). Most researcher s have concentrated their attention on or e deposition above and beyond the vent, which is inconsistent with the geology."

Jan 1, 1983

By H .. B. HUMPHREY, F. E. Cash

Sixty-one fatal accidents were reported in the mines of Alabama during 1930. This number is a decrease of 15 per cent as compared with 1929; however, production was 13 per cent and the man-hours worked were 16 per cent less than in the previous year. There were 21,731 men employed inside and 3,386 outside. Table 1 gives the comparative rates per million tons and per million man-hours for the United States and for Alabama for 1929 and 1930. These rates are based on figures published by the State and by the United States Bureau of Mines, with preliminary figures for 1930. (These sources of data are used throughout this paper.)

Oct 1, 1931