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By Oliver Bowles

The United States Bureau of Mines has within its ranks a group of engi- neers who are engaged in working out quarry problems, the solution of which will be of general benefit to the industries involved. The problems undertaken are approached in a systematic and thorough manner, all the evidence for and against any proposed change or new development being collected as carefully as an attor- ney would prepare his data on an important case. Unlike the attorney, however, the Bureau engineer does not take sides; his judgment is based entirely and in- partially on the array of facts presented. In order to gain the desired infor- mation he visits many plants, consults with the leaders in the industry, works out experiments in his laboratory, and supplements this information with a stu- dy of all available literature already published on the subject in any part of the world. As an engineer who has for eight years conducted such inquiries in the stone industry, I propose to discuss the Bureau of Mines viewpoint; and it may be of interest to consider with me in a brief and general way the engineer's method of looking at quarry problems, and some of the results attained through past and present labors. While the Bureau has conducted no investigation directly for the crushed- st one industries, two years of investigative work at cement-plant quarries, and work now being conducted at lire-plant quarries, has a very direct bearing on the problems of the crushed-stone industry, since stripping, drilling, blasting, loading, and transportation are similar in many respects in all stone quarries. The results of cement-plant quarry investigations are to be found in Bureau of Mines Bulletin #160. (b) Two short papers on lime-plant quarry problems have been issued in mimeographed form as Serial #01 (c) and Serial 3 (d).

Jan 1, 1923

Many young mining engineers do not consider consulting as a possible job, believing that many years of working on-site is required to achieve practical experience, develop expertise and acquire industry contacts. However, mining consultancies employ engineers with varying levels of experience, including part-time university students, graduates and engineers who are relatively new to the industry. This paper outlines the role of a young engineer in a large mining consultancy and the benefits to both the consultancy and the client of having a mix of consultants with a diverse range of experience. From the authorÆs perspective, the work experience, lifestyle and rewards of mine consulting are compared to site based work, including a discussion on whether consulting is able to offer the professional development that a young engineer needs.

Jan 1, 2009

By C. O. Esterhuysen, J. P. Deetlefs, C. A. Wessels

The productivity indices of the Republic of South Africa compare poorly with those of its competitors in the rest of the world. The theory of productivity is relatively simple, and various models are available to demonstrate this. The problem is how to apply the theory in practice and to convert it into a practical management system that will guarantee results. The secret lies in a management approach that aims at a continuous improvement in achievement and that involves the entire work force down to the lowest level in the process. Good management systems ensuring the necessary attention to, among others, management by objectives, finance, personnel, maintenance, planning, and control are a prerequisite for continued improvement and staff involvement. The net result of such an approach is described by the term performance management, which encompasses the total integration of al a company's management systems.

Jan 1, 1989

By K. Sharman

Quintette Coal Limited (managed and 50% owned by Denison Mines Limited) operates an open pit coal mine located in northeastern British Columbia, in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. (See Fig. l). Mining commenced in 1982. The mine currently produces 4.75 million tonnes of medium volatile bituminous coal per year from three pits (Mesa, Wolverine and Shikano), using a truck/ shovel operation. (See Fig. 2). Conveyors and trucks transport run-of-mine coal to the heavy media/froth flotation process plan t, where it is cleaned and loaded into rail cars for delivery to the Ridley Island port at Prince Rupert, British Columbia. All coal is sold to the Japanese steel industry under a long term contract. The coal seams mined at Quintette are contained in the Lower Cretaceous Gates Formation. Mineable seam thicknesses vary from 0.6 m to 10 m. The regional structure of the area is typical of foreland fold and thrust belts, with open to tight folds and imbricate thrust faulting. The range of structural features found in the three pits, and their effect on mining, forms the subject of this paper.

Jan 1, 1991

By Andhra Pradesh, Nagarajkumar B. V

As a part of Mumbai City Mega Drinking Water Project at Amar Mahal Tunnel-1 Ghatkopar East Mumbai, drinking water tunnels were proposed by MCGM from Amar Mahal to Trombay reservoirs, Amar Mahal to Wadala and further up to Parel. The pipeline has to be underground and laid at a depth of 5.5m. The initial proposal was to provide sheet piling to enable the safe excavation and installation of underground pipeline. However, installation of sheetpiles was practically not feasible due to the existing soil strata for driving the sheet piles. Hence, it was proposed to install micropiles instead of sheet piles. In this paper we discuss about the purpose, basic design, detailed design approaches and actual work implementation of micro pile with temporary struts for shoring protection works in this project.

Sep 1, 2022

By E. Michelotti, M. Cardu

This paper presents the results of a new method that has been tested to recover metallic cobalt lost by diamond beads from rock cuttings. When dimension stones are cut using diamond wire saws, the beads become worn and, before the end of their cycle life, lose a certain amount of material; this material is prevalently made up of sintered metal and diamonds. The material is then washed away, together with rock debris, in a dilute pulp. In effect, this process involves the dispersion of economically valuable, but potentially polluting, materials (such as cobalt) that are used to confer indispensable technological features to the beads. This current research aims to develop a waste-processing pilot plant (High-gradient Magnetic Separator or HGMS) to recover metallic components from the pulp by means of a suitable separation. The research\u2019s purposes are two-fold: a. to remove the polluting components from the rock debris before their disposal and b. to start a recycling process of the valuable metals.

Jan 1, 2010

By Guilherme Liziero Ruggio da Silva, Iara Patricia Vieira de Oliveira, João Ricardo Denicolo Braga, Paulo Santos Assis, Lorena Cristina Amorim Moura

Nos últimos anos diversos trabalhos evidenciam a possibilidade de utilização de small coque como constituinte da carga metálica dos altos-fornos, visando a redução na temperatura da zona de reserva térmica. Esse trabalho avalia a viabilidade técnica, em escala laboratorial, da produção de um determinado small coque altamente reativo, através da adição de 2 catalisadores: pellet feed e cal virgem totalizando 3% em massa, em sua superfície. Foram realizadas caracterizações químicas dos catalisadores por meio de Fluorescência de Raios-X (FRX) e avaliados os impactos destas adições sobre CRI (Coke Reactivity Index) e CSR (Coke Strength after Reaction) das amostras produzidas. Os resultados mostraram aumentos acima de 2% na reatividade do small coque, tanto para a adição de cal virgem quanto para pellet feed, porém mais significativo para a adição de cal virgem, comprovando que a técnica de Pós-adição de catalisadores da reação de Boudouard no small coque, pode ser uma alternativa para redução de custo e emissões de CO2 no Alto-Forno.

Oct 1, 2019

By P. Ramsaywok, S Ndanduleni, G. Legodi

The objective of this paper is to share the optimisation journey of a pilot Reflux classifier (RC) circuit in the Exxaro GG1 plant, at Grootegeluk beneficiation complex in Lephalale, South Africa. The RC circuit was commissioned in 2016 to produce semi-soft coking coal at its fines circuit; however the stability of operation as well as the quality control of the coal product was not fully achieved. Various test campaigns and optimisation studies were conducted to understand and optimise the RC circuit at GG1. The studies revealed circuit design inefficiencies; provided an improved technical understanding of the current pilot circuit and the parameters required for the circuit to reach a stable operation. The operation was stabilised with its current inefficiencies to produce an average 12.5% ash semi-soft coking coal product for sustained periods, above the initial target of 10.3% ash. Keywords: Reflux classifier, coal

Jan 1, 2020

By M Paine

Work to date has shown that the use of Al2O3:SiO2 ratios is suitable for identifying potential gibbsite bearing samples. Subsequent confirmatory XRD analysis helps to refi ne this initial identification. Based on these methods, gibbsite has been mapped in two common settings:1. along steeply dipping faults, or2. in association with stratigraphic contacts where one unit is aluminous (eg dolerite dyke).On a microscale, the samples studied illustrate an association between haematite, and to a lesser extent goethite, and gibbsite. In these samples the dominant forms of haematite are discrete crystalline phases of either microplaty haematite or euhedral martite. Two dominant forms of gibbsite were observed:1. vein style gibbsite that cross-cuts (or infill’s cracks) in goethite ± martite iron oxide associations, or2. gibbsite intimately intergrown with and forming a matrix to microplaty haematite.Some of the gibbsite microstructures observed suggest that it may have formed during a very hydrous, possibly hypogene, stage of the deposit genesis. The presence of this crystalline gibbsite, and in particular its occasionally euhedral form, suggests that aluminium was at some stage remobilised, at least locally, and then precipitated from solution as gibbsite. These observations suggest that these has been a phase of gibbsite precipitation that may have had a close but complex relationship with regards to the timing of the mineralisation processes, rather than formation as a result of late stage lateritic weathering.

Jul 11, 2011

By Hans Jürgen Maier, Hans-Bernward Besserer, Gregory Gerstein, Florian Nürnberger

The formation and development of voids in both the single-phase ferritic steel DC04 and the dual-phase ferritic-martensitic steel DP600 are discussed. Various mechanisms and kinetics of void formation are considered regarding the influence of dislocation glide, precipitates and other parameters. Different characteristic locations in the microstructure are investigated at which strain concentrations during plastic deformation can occur and cause the formation of voids and microcracks. For the specimen preparation ion slope cutting is applied. Voids and cracks revealing ductile damage are analyzed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Stress concentrations in consequence of plastic deformation could be shown by extinction contours on images recorded by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM).

Jan 1, 2015

By Alexandre José Ramos Valentim, Valéria da Silva Guandelini, Fausto Kunioshi

Em um mercado cada vez mais competitivo, garantir serviços com qualidade em ambientes mais produtivos e de custos reduzidos são valores fundamentais para aumentar a eficiência das organizações. Baseada no modelo de gestão de centro de serviços compartilhados, a Diretoria de Suprimentos da Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional criou o BackOffice como uma das formas de dar foco ao core business e tornar estes valores sustentáveis. Este artigo tem como objetivo apresentar a metodologia utilizada para o planejamento, implementação e aprimoramento da área e compartilhar os ganhos de qualidade, performance e custos com a reorganização e padronização de processos que estavam fragmentados e sendo executados em diferentes departamentos.

Oct 1, 2019

By Jinhua Wang

Based on engineering examples and theoretical analysis, the mechanism of chemical consolidation for fractured roadway surrounding rock was discussed. The chemical consolidating materials and three consolidating methods, that is, capsule, forced infusion and spraying, were introduced. Finally the application effects of the chemical consolidating technique to reinforce the fractured surrounding rock of roadways were analysed.

Jan 1, 1996

By Heribert F. Broicher

By the very nature of mineral deposits the quality of the raw material generally fluctuates and should be known for optimum processing. Early classification, for example, of limestone into road-metal grade or lime grade or of run-of-mine ores into high grade, low grade and waste as well as information for blending or for dosage of reagents are prerequisite for economic processing. Non-contact, real-time and on-line rock identification or assessment of quality parameters can be realised by introducing the analysis of laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) into the mining industry. LIF analysis is an optical method evaluating the basically known photoluminescence properties of matter, however, extending the application into hitherto unimagined fields by use of high-energy pulsed lasers and time-resolved analysis of fluorescence in the ultra-violet, the visible and near-infrared domains of light. LIF analysers and test work in a limestone quarry and a cement plant in Germany as well as in an iron ore mine in Sweden are described. First results of test work are available and proof this technology to be promissing.

May 1, 2002

The appraisal of mineral reserves by a lender is carried out at the initial stages in developing a loan for a mine. The depth of investigations is influenced by the competence of the explorer, the type of commodity and knowledge of the geological environment. The lender looks for a reserve life which exceeds the term of the loan plus contingencies for events such as cost over-runs, adverse markets and production difficulties. The physical features of importance are discussed. Factors with direct financial implications are considered for their incorp- oration in sensitivity analyses to allow risk appraisal. When satisfied, the lender can then proceed to review cash flow forecasts, the basic strength of the project, then determine with the borrower the components and alternat- ives of a loan package.

Jan 1, 1979

By Kevin Trumble, David Johnson, Kyungjean Min

The electrolytic manganese dioxide (EMD) production through electrodeposition from manganese nodules by reduction leaching in H2SO4 medium using sucrose as reductant followed by purification through 2-stage precipitation methods is described. The purified leach liquor was the starting solution for electrodeposition. Influence of in situ addition of a cationic surfactant Cetyltri-methylammonium bromide (CTAB) (0–500 mg dm −3) on the surface morphology and electrochemical properties of the EMD was examined. The XRD patterns of the deposited material were indexed to the c-MnO2 phase. FESEM results demonstrated that in the presence of CTAB uniform nanofibrous type grains were formed. Higher concentration of CTAB in the electrolytic bath however, drastically decreased the current efficiency (CE) and increased the energy consumption (EC) during electrodeposition. Under the optimum CTAB concentration of 100 mg dm −3 the obtained CE and EC values were 87.64% and 1.70 kWh/Kg respectively.

Mar 1, 2018

By Ming-Feng Ye, Guang-liang Wu

The investigations on chemical composition, mineral composition, embedded figures, texture and microstructure of chrome ores were conducted systematically byvariousanalysismethodssuch aschemical analysis, XRF, SEM, and MLA 650 system. The results showed that there are 92.66% chromite and a small amount of chlorite and forsterite as the main mineral compositions, the content of quartz is very low. Elements as Cr and Fe are almost all present in chromite. The content of Cr O is 41.84% and Cr O /FeO is 2.1. The main ele- 2 3 2 3 ments in the chromite are Cr, Fe, Mg, Al, O; the main elements in the chlorite are Mg,Al,Si,OandasmallamountofFe;themainelementsintheforsteriteareMg, Si and O. On the basis of clarifying the mineralogical characteristics, to produce high-grade alloy, this ore should not be separately put into the submerged arc furnace without pretreating. However, it also seems to be difficult to separate the gangue compositions by the conventional physical upgrading methods, such as magneticseparationandgravityseparation.So,chemicalmineralprocessingshould be taken into account. (cid:1) (cid:1) (cid:1)

Mar 1, 2018

By C. G. Bastos Andrade, F. R. Valenzuela Diaz, S. M. Toffoli

The modification of structural clays by chemical processes is a common method. It usually uses strong inorganic acid attacks, aiming at improving the clay’s properties and applications. Among the applications are its use in clay-polymer nanocomposites, cosmetics, medicines, and bleaching clays. Tests using acid attack to modified Brazilian bentonites were successfully performed and, resulted in significant improvement in the clay properties. This paper discusses the use of a Brazilian bentonite modified by acid attack as bleaching clay. The treated bentonite samples were characterized by XRF, specific surface area (BET) and SEM/EDS. The treated clay exhibited improved bleaching capacity for Brazilian nut oil and other Amazonian oils.

Mar 1, 2018

By Z. T. Bieniawski

Engineering rock mass classifications have received prominent attention as design aids in rock tunneling. Support selection in civil engineering tunnels and chambers is often based on such classifications. In the field of mining, rock mass classifications have not been utilized to the same extent but some applications have been made. This paper considers the current rock mass classification schemes from the point of view of their potential in mining. Case histories are described featuring their use in assessing the cavability of ore as well as entry stability and support. Current possibilities for rock mass classifications as design aids in mining are outlined.

Jan 1, 1980

By Dan S. Nilsson

When an open pit mine is deepened, more and more waste rock must normally be removed. Techniques for optimization of open pit design are well-established within the mining industry. The recommended method is to choose the open pit alternative with the highest net present capital value of open pit and future underground mining. When the open pit is mined out, the operation must be closed, or, if it is profitable, mining must start underground. When planning an underground operation we experience the same type of optimization problem that occurs when determining the optimal depth for open pit mining. When mining underground the ore body is often divided into a number of areas, blocks or slices, each containing a transportation system with trains, trucks, conveyors, etc. When all the ore within such a part of the deposit is extracted, the operation must be closed, or, if it is profitable, a new transportation must be developed. The question that now arises is: how large a pan of a deposit shall be included in the first development and how much shall be left for future consideration?

Jan 1, 1981

By Emmanuel Portilllos

Every paste backfill system is typically unique, this being due to the particular tailings characteristics, the backfill recipe and requirements of mine planning. Key to successful transport to the underground workings through the boreholes and the distribution pipelines is the quality of cemented paste, being free of lumps and recipe components uniformly mixed. Certain types of mixer require that the mixing environment is required to be intensive as possible. In this sense, the present paper point out some of the general aspects of paste plant design, a short discussion on paste recipe and process equipment, followed by a technical comparison between a batch mixing and a continuous mixing process, currently applied to the production of cemented paste tailings for mine backfill.

Sep 9, 2007