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By Julian Johnson

The effect of changing redox potential (Eh) on the high temperature sulfuric acid leaching of Western Australian dry-land nickel laterite ores has been investigated. In particular, the effect of added reductant (sulfur, sodium sulfite) or oxidant (potassium chromate) on Eh, leaching kinetics, metal extractions, acid utilisation and leach residues has been determined. Three separate ores - nonhonitic ores from Murrin Mumn and Bulong, and limonitic ore from Cawse - were used in the study. Sulfur addition varied from 0 to 7.8 kg/t ore. The total acid loading was kept constant at 430 kg/t (Murrin Murrin ore) and 330 kglt (Cawse ore), whilst acid loading for Bulong ore was varied according to the presence of either reductant or oxidant. The extraction of both nickel and cobalt from limonite ore remained unaffected when small amounts of sulfkr were added, but addition of even small amounts of reductant to nontronitic ore decreased both nickel and cobalt extraction. Increased manganese and iron dissolution were observed as the levels of reductant increased, accompanied by a decrease in chromium dissolution. As the iron dissolution increased, free acidity decreased, with a subsequent decrease in nickel extraction. In contrast, addition of oxidant lead to reduced iron and manganese dissolution and slower extraction of nickel and cobalt. Keywords: Limonite, Nonhonite, Eh, Nickel Extraction

Jan 1, 2004

By Ali Tabeshian, Ragnhild E. Aune, Reza Beheshti

Today’s lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) are found in more than half of the hybrid-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles on the marked, all-electric vehicles, and nearly all consumer electronics. As a result, recycling of LiBs will be a strategic necessity in the near future. In the present study, the feasibility of application of conventional aluminum recycling process (secondary aluminum production) as a suitable process for treatment of LiBs was studied. The overall idea is to recover aluminum, copper and lithium from a mixed waste stream of LiBs and aluminum scrap. A two-stage process, consisting of a preheating step and a melting step, were tested on cell phone batteries mixed with pure aluminum in a ratio 1:10 and the distribution of elements between the metal phase and the slag phase evaluated. The obtained results are compared and discussed based on the thermodynamic calculated by the use of the FactSage™ software version

Mar 1, 2017

By H. J. White

Haynes International, a world leader in the manufacture and production of nickel, and cobalt base alloys has invented and developed a low cost high temperature material, with a unique combination of superior oxidation resistance and weldability/ fabricability. HAYNES® HR-224TM (Ni ? 27.5Fe ? 20Cr ?3.8A1 ? 0.3Si ? 0.3Ti) forms a planar/ continuous/ adherent aluminum oxide film at high temperatures which has been shown to effectively limit chromium poisoning in solid oxide fuel, cell, systems. A 20,000 pound vacuum induction melted (VIM) + electroslag remelted (ESR) heat has been melted and converted into various product forms: sheet, plate, bar, welded tubing, wire, etc. The alloy was designed for service in severely oxidizing environments recuperators, automotive catalytic converters, wire strand annealing furnace tubes, etc. and has been of great interest to solid oxide fuel, cell, manufacturers as a materials of construction in balance of plant (BOP) design. This manuscript presents the physical, properties, mechanica, properties, and oxidation resistance of the alloy compared to other materials being considered for solid oxide fuel, cell, design

Jan 1, 2010

By R. S. Simkus, J. R. Egan

"Changes have recently been applied to the Sullivan Concentrator lead and zinc circuits to treat fine-grained ores which make-up the majority of ore reserves in the mine. Pilot plant test work conducted in 1990-91 indicated that concentrate grades would be substantially improved by reducing the particle size (P,0) of the lead from 38 to 15 µm and the zinc from 45 to 24 µm.Circuit revisions involved installation of major new equipment including: two GUO kilowatt Vertimills for regrinding, a 4 metre diameter column flotation cell and a 4 metre diameter hyperbaric pressure filter for dewatering. Duties of the existing regrind mills were reassigned.IntroductionThe Sullivan ore body is a massive sulphide deposit consisting of fine grained mixtures of sulphides, sometimes inter-banded with country rock and varying widely in their content of lead, zinc, iron and silicates. Principal economic minerals are marmatite and galena. Iron is mainly present as pyrrhotite (85%), and to a lesser extent as pyrite (15%) .The orebody has been actively mined since 1923, with 1992 ore reserves estimated at 15,800,000 tonnes with an average grade of 4. 7% lead and 7. 9% zinc. Current plans call for treatment of 1,600,000 tonnes/year, (7,000 tonnes per operating day), with flotation feed grades of 5.9% lead, 10.1% zinc, and 22.0% iron."

Jan 1, 1994

Deep level block caving as a mining method is becoming more popular due to the fact that it is the lowest cost per ton underground extraction system. However, many block caves do not achieve their full potential due to draw horizon instability. In this paper five design rules are given to overcome this problem. The design rules described are applicable for slusher and trackless block caves where the operational depths exceed 500 metres.

Jan 1, 1999

In 1801, Hatchett discovered the oxide of a new element while he was examining a heavy black mineral from Haddam, America, which had been presented to the British Museum. He named the mineral Columbite and the metal Columbium. A year later a Swedish investigator, Eckeberg, while working with a new mineral resembling columbite-yttrotantalite discovered a new element, to which he gave the name of tantalum.In 1844, Rose announced the existence of two new elements in a sample of columbite from Bodenmais. One was similar to Eckeberg's tantalum and the other was called Niobium. Wollaston, in 1909, attempted to show experimentally that columbium and the tantalum were identical, but it was soon proved that they were two separate elements. Subsequently a number of investigatiors found other "new elements" in tantalum and columbium bearing ores, but these were shown to be mixtures of the twin metals.Since Hatchett's Columbium and Rose's Niobium are identical, it is more fitting to use the name assigned to this element by the earlier investigator. However, the term niobium is still retained in Germany and England.The separation of tantalum and columbium has been one of the major problems for analytical chemists since the discovery of the two elements and it is only in recent years that tantalum of a high degree of purity has been produced. High purity columbium metal is probably still to be obtained.Until 1903 tantalum was merely a laboratory curiosity, but about this time its use in incandescent electric light bulb filaments was discovered. Eight years later it was replaced by tungsten, which was better and cheaper. For a time the electrolytic valve action of tantalum was used in the charging of storage batteries, but the chief uses of the metals' to-day are for corrosion resistant apparatus, in vacuum tubes and as carbides in the manufacture of hard cutting and shaping tools.Most of the recent work on the metals has been done by C. W. Balke, in America. Tantalum has been studied more than columbium. OCCURRENCE OF TANTALUM AND COLUMBIUMI. NATURE OF ORESTantalum and columbium occur, nearly always together, as the oxides in combination with other metallic oxides. The only known exception to this is the reported occurrence of metallic tantalum with gold in the Ural Mountains. Unlike most other metals, no compounds with sulphur are known to occur in nature. Tantalum and columbium minerals occur usually...

Jan 1, 1943

George Smith, Sydney, N. S. Wales (communication to the Secretary): The very interesting paper by Mr. Emmons on " The Secondary Enrichment of Ore-Deposits " has just come under my notice; and its reference to my own paper* on " The OreDeposits of the Australian Broken Hill Consols Mine "† is therefore only noted some two and a half years after its publi-

Jan 1, 1903

By Perry G. Cotter

The borides of the transition metals in Groups IV and VI exhibit, in addition to a certain degree of hardness, considerable resistance to heat and oxidation. They have high melting points (1,850°-3,060° C.) and low coefftcients of thermal expansion and can be bonded with other materials and hot-pressed to desired shape (cermets). Suggested uses for the borides include use in rockets and jet engines, as thermocouple protection tubes, as containers for molten metals in die casting, as flame-plated coatings on less refractory compositions to prevent erosion by hot gases, and as control rods and neutron shielding material in nuclear engineering, The Federal Bureau of Mines investigation of zirconium diboride started in 1950 at the Boulder City Nev,, Metallurgy Research Laboratory, Its purpose was to reduce the cost of raw materials for the production of zirconium diboride.

Jan 1, 1961

By R. M. Keeney

Before the outbreak of the war in 1914, the only electric-furnace smelting plant operating on a commercial basis west of the Mississippi River was an electric pig-iron plant in California; rare metal ores were not smelted, concentrates of molybdenum, tungsten, uranium, and vanadium ores being shipped East for reduction. Practically no chrome ore was being mined, and only comparatively small amounts of manganese ore. Today there are two electric smelting plants in California, one in Washington, one in lowa, and four in Colorado; two plants are under construction in California, and one in Montana. Ores of manganese, chromium, molybdenum and tungsten are now smelted in the West, and although uranium and vanadium concentrates are still shipped to the East, they will probably be treated in western plants in a short time. The four electric-furnace plants in Colorado are listed in Table 1. Table 1.—Electric Smelting Plants in Colorado Capacity. Company Location KilowattB PRoductS Tungsten Products Co........... Boulder 800 Ferrotungsten, ferromo- lybdenum. Boulder Tungsten Production Co .. Boulder 400 Ferrotungsten. Ferro Alloy Co.................. Utah Junction 1200 Ferrochrome, ferrotung- sten. Iron Mountain Alloy Co......... Utah Junction 3000 Ferromanganese. Power for all of these plants is supplied by the Colorado Power Co. The plant of the Ferro Alloy Co., at Utah Junction, contains one 750-kw., three-phase furnace, to which power is supplied by three 250-lrw. transformers, connected /Y to give 129 volts on the furnace cables, the transformer ratio being 13,200 to 75 volts. The furnace operates with an actual voltage of 120 volts, and produces about 3 tons of ferrochrome per 24 hr. from 40-per cent. Cr2O3 ore. The furnace consists of a steel shell of circular cross-section, 8 ft. (2.43 m.) in diameter by 7 ft. (2.13 m.) deep, lined with magnesite, and having three vertical carbon electrodes 12 in. (30.48 cm.) in diameter. A 450-kw. furnace, of the same size as the 750-kw. furnace, is also operated on chrome ore. This furnace is three-phase in appearance, but operates electrically as a single-phase furnace. There are three vertical

Jan 1, 1920

By Jr. Watts, J. L. Ambs, B. K. Cantrell, K. L. Rubow

"The University of Minnesota and the U.S. Bureau of Mines collaborated to develop and field test a personal diesel exhaust aerosol sampler (PDEAS). The PDEAS was field tested in five underground coal mines that use continuous miners and a variety of diesel vehicles, including diesel haulage and utility vehicles. One mine was surveyed a second time, with the haulage vehicles fitted with a low-temperature disposable diesel exhaust filter (DDEF). Aerosol samples were collected with a variety of instruments, including the PDEAS and the microorifice, uniform-deposit impactor (MOUDI). This paper presents the diesel exhaust aerosol (DEA) concentration data collected in these mines and assesses the impact of diesel face-haulage equipment, with and without exhaust filters, on underground mine air quality.The average DEA concentration at the haulageway location for five mines, determined by the PDEAS, was 0.89 mg/m3, with a standard deviation of 0.44 mg/m3 • DEA contributed 52 pct, of the respirable aerosol at the haulageway location. Use of the DDEF at one mine reduced DEA by 95 pct, with a standard deviation of 6 pct, and filter life averaged 10 h. DEA contributed a large proportion of the respirable aerosol concentrations in mines with diesel equipment, and a substantial reduction was achieved with use of a DDEF. INTRODUCTIONDiesel equipment is gaining popularity in underground coal mines. There are an estimated 1,951 units of diesel equipment in 152 underground coal mines compared with 1,100 units in 110 mines 5 years ago (J).5 This increased use is due to the recognition that diesel-powered vehicles are more versatile, which can contribute to increased productivity compared with their electrically powered counterparts. Approximately 33 pct of the diesel vehicles haul coal, 45 pct haul personnel and materials, and- 22 pct perform other duties, such as roof bolting, rock dusting, and road maintenance. Most mines using diesel equipment are located in Kentucky, Utah, Virginia, and Colorado."

Mar 1, 1992

By David A. Paul

Over the past several years a great deal of information on blasting vibrations and their effects on structures has been generated. Much of this knowledge has been gained through the use of ground vibration measuring equipment. While this type of information is valuable and gives us great insight into damage that can be incurred by structures from this source, very little, if any, information of this quality is available for the vast majority of cases in which an engineer is called upon to investigate alleged damage from ground vibrations. For the investigative engineer, then, the problem becomes one of accumulating whatever data is available and drawing a conclusion as to whether or not the subject structure was in fact damaged by the blasting vibrations. Such an analysis certainly requires a working knowledge of the literature on the subject and as much experience as he can bring to bear. Even thus armed, however, the data is often ambiguous, confusing, and/or contradictory. A practical approach is presented herein to aid the engineering investigator in arriving at the best possible conclusion available with the information at hand.

Jan 1, 1983

By Harry A. Lipsitt, Douglas Y. Wang

A fatigue study in completely reversed axial tension-compression has been perforried on high-purity titanium and on three high-purity alloys of titanium. The alloys each contain approxi7nately 0.75 at. pct of a single interstitial element; carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen, respectivley. The results corroborate a previously published theory which proposed that strain aging under alternating stress was responsible for the fatigue limit behavior of certain alloys. The present data indicate that in these alloys an increasing strain-talline aging effect under alternating stress is provided by oxygen, carbon, and nitrogen, respectively. CURRENT research on the nature of the fatigue limit in metals suggests that the presence of a fatigue limit in metallic materials is a manifestation of strain aging that occurs under alternating stress.lm5 A comprehensive theoretical model based on the above hypothesis has been developed to explain the existence of a fatigue limit.' This model also provides increased insight into several other fatigue phenomena as under stressing, overstressing, and coaxing effects. The theory, as well, provides equal understanding for those cases where no real fatigue limit is observed. Briefly, this theory assumes that the S-N curve for a pure metal is a smooth function of the applied stress, and the effect of adding an element that is soluble (or forms a precipitate) in the pure metal is simply to shift the S-N curve to the right. If the added element confers the power to strain age, the result is a further shift of the S-N curve, this time upward and to the right. Since strain aging is not expected to be a strong function of stress, and since damage per cycle is known to be quite stress dependent, it is to be expected that there will be some limiting lower stress at which the strengthening due to strain aging will balance the damage due to crack propagation. This stress is the fatigue limit. The position of the fatigue-limit knee was thought to be a function of the magnitude of the strain-aging effect on both the finite and infinite life portions of the S-N curve. Although the strain aging hypothesis seems to be reasonably valid for bcc materials,2'6 it needed to be tested for both fcc and cph metals. This report is the first of a series concerning the fatigue-limit behavior of titanium with varying amounts of the interstitial solutes (C, N,, and 4) that are known to cause static strain aging in titanium. Yield-point effects have been reported for polycrys-talline high-purity titanium alloys containing either carbon, nitrogen, or oxygen.7'9 These effects were observed at testing temperatures in the range 100 to 300'. In addition yield-point and strain-aging effects have been reported for single crystals of titanium containing 0.1 wt pct C plus N.' These yield points were observed over a wide temperature range, but no room-temperature aging occurred. Aging at 180' was required to cause the return of the yield point. The magnitude of the yield phenomena in titanium containing interstitials is not expected to be as large as is observed in bcc metals because of several factors. Titanium has a very high chemical affinity for oxygen and nitrogen. The thermodynamic stability of solutions of oxygen or nitrogen in titanium is recognized. Lattice parameter measurements of titanium containing arbon, oxygen,1° or nitrogen" show that the "c" parameter is expanded more than the "a" parameter, but that up to about 2 wt pct this results in an insignificant change of the axial ratio 'c/a." Ehrlich" has shown that the sites occupied by interstitial atoms in titanium are spherically symmetrical and therefore a lattice expansion, at a constant c/a ratio, results in a simple dilation of the interstitial site. Such a dilation involving no shear has been shown to react only with edge components of dislocations.13 This causes only a weak pinning action. Shear stresses would be anticipated locally when only one of the two interstitial positions was occupied. The carbon atom will cause a symmetrical distortion of the lattice whereas the oxygen and nitrogen atoms have, in addition, the previously mentioned chemical affinity of titanium for these elements. These factors will result in a considerably smaller reduction of free energy upon the association of interstitial atoms with dislocations, and therefore a much weaker pinning than has been observed for the bcc metals. These considerations would lead to the hypothesis that of the interstitial elements considered here carbon would cause the strongest pinning effect in titanium where the amount of interstitial in solution is constant. This hypothesis will be borne out in the analysis of the present results.

Jan 1, 1962

By T. K. Dichmann, J. A. Finch

"Microflotation, laboratory batch, and in-plant minicell continuous tests were conducted to determine if copper ions not only activate sphalerite but also depress pyrite when the minerals are together. Microflotation tests showed that pyrite recovery increased with addition of copper ions in the pH range of 5-10 when alone, but decreased when sphalerite was also present. Batch flotation tests (Red Dog ore) showed that upon addition of copper, pyrite recovery decreased significantly. The continuous tests (Louvicourt Mine) confirmed this and indicated that with excess copper pyrite recovery can increase. The results suggest there is competition for copper and xanthate in favour of sphalerite. To take advantage of this competition it may be necessary to control the sequence and rate of copper, collector, and lime addition. INTRODUCTIONFlotation, in common with all physical separations, is an imperfect process that results in misplacement of minerals. One source of this imperfection is accidental activation by contaminating metal ions. An important practical example is the misplacement of pyrite to zinc concentrates. Flotation of sphalerite generally requires activation by copper ions, added as copper sulphate. Copper ions are also used to activate pyrite [l] hence there is the suspicion that accidental activation contributes to the recovery of pyrite (Py) with the sphalerite (Sp). However, recent literature has shown that copper ions may make Py less floatable if Sp is also present. Xu et al. [2] conducted continuous minicell tests in-plant at Kidd Creek Operations (division of Falconbridge Ltd.) and showed that while the addition of copper sulphate improved zinc/iron selectivity, it did so as much by reducing the recovery of pyrite as increasing zinc recovery (Figure 1)."

Jan 1, 2000

By Paykan Safe

Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) modeling provides a powerful tool to assist with the design of ventilation and fume control systems in smelters and other high temperature metallurgical facilities. For this paper, this tool has been used to analyze the off-gas flow patterns exiting the mouth of a Peirce-Smith converter into a water-cooled hood and drop out box. The effects of various process and physical plant design parameters on process gas and fume capture and potential build up on the converter hoods was examined, and the optimum design and operating parameters were determined.

Jan 1, 2000

By Mario L. Villa

During 1939 oil production experienced a new and important increase in Argentina in the productive areas of Comodoro Rivadavia (Territory of Chubut), Plaza Huincul (Territory of Neuquén), and those of the. Province of Mendoza. Production in the Standard Oil Company's field in the Province of Salta declined, but that of the Government oil fields in that province inereased 62.5 per cent.

Jan 1, 1940

By Mario L. Villa

During 1939 oil production experienced a new and important increase in Argentina in the productive areas of Comodoro Rivadavia (Territory of Chubut), Plaza Huincul (Territory of Neuquén), and those of the. Province of Mendoza. Production in the Standard Oil Company's field in the Province of Salta declined, but that of the Government oil fields in that province inereased 62.5 per cent.

Jan 1, 1940

HARD as it is at any time to provide more than three million tons of coal each year for power plants, the task really gets rugged in the wintertime when the fuel freezes solid in the cars. At the Marysville plant of the Detroit Edison Co. the problem of unloading cars of frozen coal was severe because there was an unloader over only one of the two tracks in the coal unloading house. Moving downward by their own weight, with no driving force to aid them, the spuds of this old unloader were unable to break through the crust on a frozen coal car. 20,000 Lb Force To meet this problem, a new mechanical car unloader was installed over No. 2 track and placed in service in December 1947. It is a Kenney type unloader built by Heyl & Patterson, Inc. of Pittsburgh, Pa., a modification of equipment originally designed to unload iron ore cars. The major advantage of this unloader is the force with which it can drive the sharp spade on the end of its ram down through the pockets of a frozen coal car. The unloader consists of the following major units: 1. A traveling bridge structure. 2. A traveling trolley. 3. A retractable and oscillating ram. 4. The operators cab and controls. The bridge is provided with safety hooks to prevent its being lifted from the rails by the upwards push of the ram. The bridge will travel 190 fpm and has sufficient traction on its four wheels to move three loaded 70 ton cars. The trolley runs on tracks supported by the bridge girders and also has upper tracks to control the push from the ram. Two of the single-flange trolley wheels are driven by a one and a quarter hp dc motors equipped with magnetic brakes. The ram is raised and lowered by a 20 hp dc motor equipped with a magnetic brake. A full stroke of a little over 14 ft is given the ram through its rack and pinion drive and the spade can be pushed down into a loaded car with a force of about 20,000 lb. A 15 hp dc motor with a magnetic brake is applied to this drive and is able to swing the ram 45º either side of the vertical. The usual procedure in emptying a coal car is first to drive the sharp spade down through the coal until the pocket is opened and the coal starts to run out the hopper. When all the hoppers are open, the sweeping action of the ram and spade is used to move the remainder of the coal in the car over to the open hoppers. The travel of the trolley permits cleaning the sides of a coal car with the edges of the spade, using the sweeping motion of the ram. It is still necessary to clean out the corners of the car by hand. Final Clean-Out This unloader was a new development and there were improvements to be made before it was completely satisfactory, such as reduction in speed and conversion to ac drive motors. However, it helped at Marysville and unloaded many frozen cars that would have taken a lot of heating to thaw out enough for the old unloader to handle. The mechanical coal unloader described above was a considerable improvement but still left a job to be done by hand-the final cleaning out of the coal cars. The ram had the ability to open a hole through the hopper cars, but did not meet required unloading speed. To eliminate hand cleaning a car shakeout, manufactured by Hewitt Robins, Inc. was added to the installation. This equipment is used to clean the coal car out after the unloader has provided an

Jan 1, 1952

By A. T. Yu

On March 18, 1964, the 52,000 dwt ore carrier M/S Houn Maru called at the port of Coquimbo, Chile, on its maiden voyage to take iron ore to Japan. This marked the first time a vessel of this size ever arrived at Coquimbo, and the event promises to drastically accelerate henceforth iron ore exports from Coquimbo province. This was made possible by the use of a versatile shiploading system recently installed by Cia. Minera Santa Fe. Coquimbo has no mechanized loading facilities other than six conventional 5-ton cargo cranes. Limited space on shore further complicates the stocking problems. To make the best of what is available, a meticulously organized semi-hand-loading system has been developed through the years.

Jan 5, 1964

By J. O. Marsden

Part I in this series of papers considered the chemistry of medium-temperature pressure leaching of copper sulfide concentrates and reviewed the metallurgical testing and initial process development for this technology. This initial work resulted in the development of a process flowsheet utilizing superfine grinding (to a P98 of 12 to 15 µm and P80 of 6 to 7 µm), pressure leaching at 160° to 170ºC, followed by conventional solution extraction (SX) and electrowinning (EW) for the recovery of copper. However, this process required a significant amount of concentrated acid to be fed to the pressure leach vessel to meet the reaction requirements, representing a cost of between $0.03 and 0.05/lb copper (2006 basis) produced by the process. It was immediately recognized that the development of a process that did not require such a large acid addition would be advantageous. This paper, which is Part II in the series, describes the development of a process that incorporates medium-temperature pressure leaching and direct electrowinning (DEW) in a novel and innovative process flowsheet. Phelps Dodge (a subsidiary of Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.) refers to this as the ?MT-DEW-SX? process. Part III in this series covers the large-scale demonstration of the MT-DEW-SX process at Bagdad, Arizona; and Part IV addresses the development and design of a full-scale commercial application at Morenci, Arizona.

Jan 1, 2007

By V. Srajer

The Calgary Coal Research Laboratory of CANMET and the National Research Council in Ottawa are developing a series of computer models aimed at improving productivity and operational practices of the Canadian surface coal mining industry. One of the top priorities in this respect is a comprehensive computer model of truck/shovel system. A total of twelve mining companies supplied data for validation purposes. The supplied data, operating practices and variances of individual mining systems from the general version of the computer models are discussed in the paper. A short overview of the truck/ shovel model and a plan for future activities involving the application of the computer models for simulation of mining practices are also described. The presented paper summarizes the experience gained during the collection of data for the development and validation of the model.

Jan 1, 1986