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By Roscoe W. Stensrud

Marcona Mining Company operations are located 500 kilometers south of Lima, Peru, on the Pacific Coast, at approximately 15º-22' latitude south and 75º-11' longitude west. The terrain is sandy rolling hills ranging from sea level at the coast and rising sharply (escarpment) to an elevation of 800 meters at the mine area. The climate is arid and windy with a moderate year-round temperature, ideal for a year-round mining operation. San Juan, a new and modern community of 14,000 inhabitants and developed by Marcona, houses the working forces and their families.

Jan 11, 1968

The roasting of sulphide ores and concentrates is often the first step in the production of metals or chemicals. In many processes, the production of sulphuric acid is viewed as a by-product, while in some plants production is an important economic factor. Regardless of the purpose, a pyrite roasting plant consists of mainly three plant sections: roasting, gas cleaning and sulphuric acid. With the addition of air, the pyrite concentrates are transformed into solid oxides and gaseous sulphur dioxide at temperatures of 600 - 1000° C. After cleaning and cooling, the sulphur dioxide in the roasting gas is further processed to sulphuric acid. Two types of reactors are used depending on the application: stationary or circulating fluid bed . For over 60 years, Outotec has progressively been developing the principle of fluidised bed technology in several different reactor types for a multitude of process applications. The versatility of the fluidised bed reactor system has manifested itself in the treatment of minerals, including solid fuels, and for metallurgical processes both in the ferrous and non-ferrous fields. Process applications have included roasting, calcining, combustion and charring of coals, as well as off-gas treatment. This paper provides a summary of the pyrite roasting technology currently used along with a simple cost comparison of pyrite roasting and sulphur burning processes.

Jan 1, 2009

By R. A. Masumura, C. S. Pande, D. Agassi

"Grain size has a different effects on the critical current density (Jc) of high and low transition temperature (Tc) superconductors. In high Tc superconductors, the critical current density Jc across grain boundaries depends sensitively on the misorientation 8. It was pointed out by Pande that this dependence is directly related to dislocation structure of the grain boundaries i.e., it is due to dislocation cores and stresses. These ideas are developed further in this paper leading to a relation between Jc and 8. The analytical result is compared with the experimental results on bicrystals and used to explain the difference in behavior between high and low Tc superconductors.IntroductionThe grain size distribution and its evolution with time and temperature is important in determining the properties of high and low transition temperature (T c) superconductors. The distribution is a convenient function to characterize the processing of a high Tc material during sintering. For example, it is known that the maximum density of ceramic materials is obtained when the grain growth is reduced but grain boundaries are still mobile. For practical superconductors, the processing parameters are selected to achieve optimum properties: highest possible T c and maximum critical current (Jc). In terms of an average grain size, the requirements for optimum T c and Jc are sometime in conflict. In A15 type superconductors and even in NbTi, larger Jc have been measured in smaller rather than larger grain sized material. Conversely, in a high Tc materials like YBa2Cu307, higher Jc have been found in larger grain sized or single crystal specimens.Extended defects such as grain boundaries in low T c superconductors can be effective pinning agents for magnetic flux lines, thereby increasing the transport critical current density of these materials [1]. On the other hand, the transport critical currents in polycrystals of high Tc superconductors such as YBa2Cu307 is found to be relatively small (much smaller than those in single crystals of the same material) [2]. It is now known that grain boundaries in high Tc polycrystals can in many cases form ""weak links"" reducing the critical current density across them. This phenomenon can be studied more precisely by experiments on bicrystals, where there is only one grain boundary. It is found that the critical current density is quite sensitive to the misorientation angle of the bicrystal [3,4]. Although the original experiments were conducted on YBa2Cu307, other Tc superconductors have been shown to give the same result [5]."

Jan 1, 1994

By Rana P. Singh

Electrolytic metal reduction operatios in both aqueous and molten salt electrolytes are being studied by digital signal analysis. The purpose is to determine the relationship between the physical processes occurring in the cell and the frequency spectrum of the cell's fluctuating electrical parameters. The fast Fourier transform of cell voltage (in galvanostatic operations) or cell current (in potentiostatic operations) is computed on-line in real time for the electrorefining of zinc in aqueous acid chloride solutions.

Jan 1, 1984

By Hiago Antunes Amador de Oliveira, William Pratt Rogers, Aaron Young

Monitoring systems are highly critical components in the safety of tailings storage facilities (TSF). Internet of things (IoT) platforms present a unique way to improve TSF monitoring systems. Since there are so many available IoT technologies, this conference paper aims to create a focused list of IoT options for improving TSF safety. To achieve this aim, a brief qualitative review of available literature and state of the art technologies is presented in Section 2. The article further assists this aim by summarizing the benefits of IoT platforms which have been found in the literature. With respect to findings, literature suggests that while sensor technologies have existed as solutions for tailings dams for many years, IoT greatly reduces the cost of deploying, monitoring, maintaining, and gaining insight from these sensors. Additionally, IoT removes the need for manual data collection from sensors, enabling the monitoring of tailings dams from miles away and the use of new sensor technologies. Therefore, as a conclusion, this article recommends that IoT capable monitoring systems be considered for use in TSF monitoring.

Oct 3, 2019

By A Weber, L MacNamara, H Schreiber

Design and development of the world?s largest flotation cell was completed in 2002. This was the first 257 m3 flotation cell installed in the mineral industry and represents a major development in the design of larger flotation cells. This cell has a 50% increase in volume over the widely installed 160 m3 WEMCO® Smartcell? flotation machine. In the next few years it is anticipated that 257 m3 flotation cells will be incorporated into rougher-scavenger flotation circuits in many more world class copper sulphide concentrators. The prototype 257 m3 cell, No.250 Smartcell? flotation machine was installed at Minera Los Pelambres in the front of Row 1 in the existing rougher flotation circuit. This cell is followed by nine No. 130 Smartcell? flotation cells. After the successful development phase, this unit has been incorporated as part of a row of No. 250 Smartcell? flotation machines at Minera Los Pelambres. A key to the successful development of the equipment has been the emphasis placed on fundamental hydrodynamic scale-up criteria. Hydrodynamic factors include superficial gas velocity, water (pulp) circulation through the draft tube, and pulp mixing (distribution) characteristics. This paper will review the scale-up criteria of the No. 250 flotation cell, and present a case study of the in-plant equipment testing. The case study will document the metallurgical and hydrodynamic performance of the machine. It will also illustrate the economic benefits derived by incorporating larger flotation cells in a modern copper sulphide concentrator.

Jan 1, 2007

By F. D. Everett

The Federal Bureau of Mines reviewed the status of tungsten deposits of Utah in 1959. Industrial requirements of tungsten during emergencies have exceeded the domestic supply, and a knowledge of the sources of this strategic element may be helpful in the future. Tungsten occurs as the mineral scheelite in deposits that have been developed or explored on approximately 60 properties in 10 of the Great Basin ranges of Utah, none of which were being worked in 1957-59. Ores from most of the productive areas are similar in that they are contained in tactite deposits on or near the contact of calcareous and acidic intrusive rocks. The tactite ores consist predominantly of the silicate minerals garnet, epidote, and diopside and the carbonate rocks limestone or dolomite. Scheelite, where present, is disseminated irregularly in the tactite. Tungsten ores from Utah mainly have been produced from small deposits worked in World Wars I and II and the Korean campaign. The ores were either hand sorted to a grade ranging from 0.5 to 1.0 percent tungsten trioxide (W03) or were beneficiated in small mills to higher grade concentrates. The largest reserve appears to be in the area of the Notch Peak intrusive in the House Range, Millard County. A large part of the reserve in the House Range is mineralized tactite containing 0.2 to 0.3 percent W03. Research on flotation by the Bureau of Mines has indicated a method of concentrating scheelite in tactite ores that average 0.25 percent W03, with at least 85 percent recovery. The concentrate assays more than 5 percent W03 and can be processed into artificial scheelite ready for industrial use.

Jan 1, 1961

By Xiaoxu Sun, Jianchao Yao, Qiheng Zhu, Dubo Wang, Jiancheng He, Shijie Lu

Tower mill is considered to have a better regrinding and fine grinding effect compared with ball mill, and its application is much broader. The spiral agitator of the tower mill is driven by the motor. Media inside the mill is under the combined actions of the spiral mechanism, the cylinder, and media nearby, and these parameters are key factors affecting the grinding effect. However, it is not possible to obtain detailed information of kinematic law of media based only on traditional laboratory experiments, let alone the relationship between parameters of kinematic law of media and grinding effect. Experimentation is the only way to develop industrial equipment. However, this is time-consuming and costly, which hampers the further research of the tower mill’s grinding mechanism. The paper selects two structural parameters (gap between the edge of the spiral agitator and the cylinder wall, ratio between the diameter of cylinder and that of the spiral shaft.) and three operating parameters (diameter of media, filling ratio, the speed at the edge of the spiral agitator) as variables to do an orthogonal designed experiment of five factors, four levels, and thereby obtaining change law of grinding indicators of different parameters. Experimental equipment may be simplified to enable an applicable simulation strategy. Simulation based on a discrete element method is conducted to obtain the change law of the speed of media, collision frequency, normal force, and radial force. The relational curve between parameters of kinematic law of media and energy consumption of grinding is clarified, and key factors affecting grinding efficiency are determined. Those factors will be used for optimising the design and operating process. The research result of this paper obtained from laboratory experiments and computer simulation provides data support and theoretical bases, and has directive meaning and applicable value for tower mill’s optimisation and large-sized design. Keywords: Tower mill, discrete element method, kinematic law of media, energy consumption of grinding

Jan 1, 2020

The Golden Cross mine is situated in a sensitive environmental setting on the North Island of New Zealand, about 150 kilometres south-east of Auckland and about 8 kilometres NW of Waihi. The mine is situated in dipping topography, with volcanic ashes making up soils, fault zones running through the area, and rainfall of about 3 m per year on average. Water management is the most demanding environmental challenge on site, and a comprehensive programme has been put in place to address tailings deposition, long term tailings storage, and water treatment during and after operations.   The tailings impoundment is built with an underdrainage system that collects groundwaters and waters that seep through the impoundment. The embankment and impoundment are both built to withstand the Maximum Credible Earthquake and the Probable Maximum Flood. Tailings are treated to remove cyanide and to decrease metal solubility to reduce long term risk to water quality after mining. A state-of-the-art water treatment plant is utilised to treat water from the underdrainage system and water decanted from the top of the tailings pond and stormwaters to remove residual cyanide and metals to extremely high standards with a great deal of reliability and at reasonable cost. Closure of the facility addresses long term post mining water quality issues, and rehabilitation of the area with wildlife habitat as a priority.

Jan 1, 1995

By Willard C. Lacy

INTRODUCTION A program to insure adequate talent for development and management of our mineral resources entails two equally important and interrelated aspects: 1) attracting and retaining promising student talent, and 2) providing a first-rate education for those entering careers in mineral science and engineering. Manpower shortages have eased in many areas of engineering, particularly in those areas dependent directly or indirectly upon government contracts in space and war programs. However, in the minerals industry the needs still remain critical. As increasing concern over preservation of the environment has developed, the political and social reaction was to seek out major offenders, to look for "whipping boys" -- and the mineral industry was, and had been, an offender. It was there for everyone to take pictures, it couldn't be covered up, and the Department of the Interior lashed away in the beautiful and popular brochures: Quest for Quality, The Third Wave, The Population Challenge, and Surface Mining and Our Environment (Ravaged Land). The Sierra Club, the Field and Stream magazine, TV, and daily news media added their lashes. In the minds of our social-conscious youth the mineral industry took on the image of "exploiters" of natural resources; "polluters" of streams, lakes, and the atmosphere; "despoilers" of wilderness areas and scenic beauty -- a plague to combat, rather than an exciting challenge that entailed exploration of the remote, conquering of the primitive, and developing of the undeveloped. Enrollments declined and many traditional mineral engineering curricula were abolished or Integrated into other stronger engineering departments to meet student-faculty ratio requirements.

Jan 1, 1971

By Michael D. Justason

...a global perspective... In March of 2000, the Japanese Geotechnical Society added "Rapid Load Testing" to their national standard for pile testing. In the year 2000. it is estimated that there will be more than 500 "Rapid Load Tests" on foundations around the world. ...so what is a "Rapid Load Test", and why is it gaining acceptance and popularity?

Jan 1, 2001

By WILKES BARRE

AS PREVIOUSLY announced, the semi-centennial meeting of the Institute is to be held at Wilkes-Barre, Pa., on Sept. 12, 13, 14, and 15. An interesting program of technical sessions and excursions is now being prepared by the Local Committee. At the time of going to press the program had not been completed in sufficient detail to permit its being pub¬lished in this number. The detailed program will be published in the September MINING AND METALLURGY, which will be printed in time to be distributed before the Wilkes-Barre Meeting. It may be said in advance, however, that the Com¬mittee has progressed so far in its work that we are assured of one of the -most notable meetings the Insti¬tute has held and that members will miss a rare .treat if they do not attend. The many trips and excursions, as well as the banquet, will be -given to the members as a compliment from the members of the Local Com¬mittee. . . The paper by Howard Eavenson on the Lynch Plant of -the United States Coal and Coke Co. will be illustrated by lantern slides and moving pictures. One of the most appropriate discussions will be that opened by Prof. J. F. Kemp on the Stratigraphy of the Anthracite Region; this also will be amply illustrated.

Jan 1, 1921

By Lowell T. Harmison

I appreciate very much the invitation to speak with you and the opportunity of bringing you messages from both the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services and the Assistant Secretary for Health/Acting Surgeon General of the U.S. Public Health Service. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you (the organizers of this Conference) on identifying the critical issues in the field and assembling such a broad array of experts to address them. I would like to present a brief view of the emerging framework for health that puts into perspective some of the aspirations of the Administration and to highlight several points with regard to prevention and occupational health. The goals are: 1. To improve the overall health status of our people. (This has been and will remain the National policy regarding health.); 2. To engage the Nation in the important effort of enhancing public health. (This is not reserved exclusively for the activity of the Federal Government or for State Governments. Public health has to be a cooperative effort that brings together all of the people engaged in the process of serving the people.); and 3. To pledge that health care will not be priced out of anyone's reach because of inflation. (It is clear that there are major tasks of bringing about economic recovery in our country. One aspect of this effort is to guard against the cost of health care not being allowed to rise beyond the reach of persons who need that care.) "How will these goals be achieved and what must change in the delivery of health and medical care in our society?" There are a number of real issues as well as perceptions that adversely affect the attainment of these goals: First, The cost of medical care is soaring and the public, industry unions and other elements of our society are becoming concerned. (They recognize the problem and are demanding a solution.); Second, There is a growing concern about the priorities that have been set. (For example, the evidence that preventive interventions are the most effective approach is overwhelming, yet medicine has not yet given that a high priority.); and Third, There is the perception that physicians do too much to too many people at too great a cost and that too much and too costly technologies are used. In view of the perceptions, we all must accept some changes and the challenges that needed changes will bring. A month before the new budget went to Congress, President Reagan went on nationwide television and told the American people that, "It is time to recognize that we have come to a turning point and we are threatened with an economic calamity of tremendous proportion and the [old business as usual treatment can't save us. Together we must chart a new course]." Now eight months down the road from this and a long Spring and Summer of discussion both within the Executive Branch and in the Congress, many plans and programs and concepts have emerged. The new course has been charted and the turning point has been made. Business as usual has been put aside and the Administration's leadership has been stretched and tested in putting forth a better approach with the reality that money is tight and that old habits of delivering care are difficult to change. The Congress has now given us a look at a new health budget that takes into account some of the harsh economic realities and that does make allowances for the persistence of familiar behavior. Against this background, it is now possible to begin addressing ways to provide health services to people at a price the Nation can afford to pay. There are without question difficult decisions involved but the Administration is committed to supporting and improving health care in America. It has been the President's contention that one of the principal causes of the inflationary spiral in the country was the steady and indefensible growth of the Federal budget. The problem stems from the fact that we have been living well, but beyond our means for nearly 30 years. Now we are discovering that there is a bottom to the barrel after all. It is possible for our society to run out of things like energy (oil), water or money. The health bills must be paid -- by Government, by insurance, by parents or by someone. Each year with a bigger shopping list and more money to spend the Federal Government went into the marketplace to buy. This action altered the

Jan 1, 1981

By S. S. Peng

A well designed mining plan is one which minimizes the cost and the mining induced problems and maximizes the recovery of the coal reserve. In order to minimize the negative effects on surface structures caused by ground subsidence process due to underground mining activities, two kinds of practices are commonly employed by the mine operators. One is the support techniques which leaves an area of coal un-mined or partially mined beneath the structure to be supported. The other is the protection techniques which protect the structure when it is subsiding with ground taking advantage of the ground subsidence process (Luo et al., 1992). In designing the supporting techniques, the only currently available method in the U.S. is the one stated in the Pennsylvania Underground Coal Mining Rules (1985). However; The size of the support area designed by this method will be excessively large resulting in wasteful use of coal reserve when the overburden depth is more than 350 ft. A more scientific method is proposed in this paper for de-signing the support area. This method is based on a large amount of subsidence data collected throughout a number of major U.S. coal fields and the authors' experience with monitoring and protecting surface structures undermined by longwall panels. It considers the critical deformation in-dices that a structure can tolerate, and depth and height of underground extraction. The support area designed by this new method will not only assure the safety of the structure to be supported but also maximize the extraction of the coal reserve.

Jan 1, 1993

By C. Edwards

ABSTRACT The versatility and specificity of rare earth elements (REEs) have led to their use in an everincreasing variety of applications in new technologies; consequently, demand for REEs has increased significantly. However, separating REEs safely and effectively is a complex and expensive process. This paper presents a review of REE mineral processing technologies, providing an update on current capabilities in REE mineral processing and REE extraction from the major commercially valuable REEbearing minerals such as bastnaesite, monazite, and xenotime, as well as the ion-absorption type of REE deposits.

Jan 1, 2013

By R. B. Dunn

Whilst coalmining in the United Kingdom has been synonymous with longwall mining practice there have been changes in recent times which have enabled not only an extension in the length of the face to be worked but also in the ability to extract both thick and thinner seams. Additionally the industry has taken a positive view in the extension of retreat methods of extraction applied for different reasons both to particularly thick and specially thin seams. To permit development of a flexible programme to meet these diverse needs, it has been necessary to design machinery along with mining systems specially suited to these requirements. In reviewing current UK thinking special emphasis is made on the extraction of thinner seams generally of higher quality coal at moderate depths with a commentary on some recent results.

Jan 1, 1979

By Alan Stanley

The MacIntyre Development of the National Lead Co. is located at Tahawus, N. Y. The operations involve the mining and concentrating of a titaniferous iron ore to produce an ilmenite concentrate and a magnetite concentrate. Construction of the MacIntyre plant was commenced during the summer of 1941, when world conditions threatened to cut off the supply of Indian ilmenite. An open pit mining operation was developed and the crushing and milling equipment put in operation in July 1942. A general description of the operation was given in the Adirondack Issue of Mining and Metallurgy for November 1943. The metallurgy of the mill operation was described by Mr. Frank R. Milliken,* Plant Manager, National Lead Company, MacIntyre Development, and presented at the AIME New York Meeting, February 1948.

Jan 1, 1949

By Mustafa Akser

The Pipestone Lake anorthosite complex in Manitoba, Canada, was recently been re-identified as a potential source for titanium, iron, and vanadium. The present study utilized a 350 kg hard rock sample, which originated from the "Main Central" zone of the deposit. Commercial pilot-size equipment, such as dry low intensity roll magnets, wet high intensity magnets (WHIMS), and high tension electro-dynamic roll separators, was employed. As products, ilmenite up to 48.5% TiO2, and magnetite concentrates up to 87.9% Fe3O4 with 5.25% TiO2 were obtained. The majority of the vanadium reported to the magnetite concentrate. Subsequent characterization of various separation products shed light on the potential grade and recovery of the minerals from this deposit.

Jan 1, 1996

By F. T. Paleari, J. A. Finch

Radial gas holdup profiles were measured in a 50-cm-diam, 400-cm-high flotation column using a multi-cell-conductivity probe. Three bubble-generation systems, including a system with up to eight vertical filter-cloth spargers, a system with three horizontal filter-cloth spargers and a system with three (horizontal) Cominco-type spargers, were examined. The variables investigated were the number of spargers, the symmetry of their arrangement and the height above the spargers. Batch water containing up to 20 ppm frother was used. Generally, the profiles tended to be uniform (flat) with some profiles exhibiting a slight "wavy" pattern. The vertical sparger arrangement proved to be the most difficult in which to achieve a profile symmetry. The horizontal spargers gave uniform profiles at right angles to their length but gave decreasing gas holdup along their length. The Cominco-type spargers gave slightly less scatter in the data. Switching off selected spargers to simulate a malfunction did not produce strong asymmetry in the profiles.

Jan 1, 1995

By J. N. Van der Merwe

It is shown that the safety factor as calculated traditionally by use of the tributary-area theory is not valid for high-extraction methods of coal mining. An alternative approach is suggested in which the pillar loads are calculated more realistically for the period during which pillar extraction is in progress. This safety factor, which is known as the Extraction Safety Factor (ESF), can be used in determining the effects of strong layers in the overburden on pillar sizes.

Jan 1, 1990