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By G. Taylor

"The Iron Ore Company Of Canada's Carol Project is located in Labrador City, Newfoundland. Labrador City is some 912 air kilometers northeast of Montreal, and 417 ratl kilometers north of Sept-Iles, Quebec.Over 2,800 employees work at the Carol Project to produce some 20.0 million tonnes of concentrate and 10.5 million tonnes of pellets annually.In 1979 our Training Department started to develop the DACUM System of training for our Concentrator Operations Department.DACUM is an individualized, self-learning, training program. It is both a curriculum plan and an evaluation instrument.To date, the DACUM System has been completed for all occupations in the concentrator and work will commence shortly to develop DACUM for our Pellet Plant and Mine Operations Departments."

Jan 1, 1982

By R. van Heerden, T. R. Stacey

In the challenging environments of deep-level, narrow tabular orebody gold mines in South Africa, rock mass classification offers a potential method for predicting hazardous areas and optimising rock support systems. This study evaluates the applicability of various rock mass classification systems, with a focus on the Modified or Mining Rock Mass Rating system tailored for high-stress, deep-level mining conditions. Extensive data collection was conducted at Kusasalethu Mine, involving underground mapping and analysis of the 2020/2021 fall of ground database. The Mining Rock Mass Rating system was adapted to the unique geological and operational conditions, providing a simplified, user-friendly approach for rock engineering and geology personnel. Results indicate that this adapted Mining Rock Mass Rating system effectively quantifies rock mass conditions and influences proactive mining adjustments. The study’s findings highlight the system's capability to enhance understanding of rock mass behaviour and substantially mitigate the occurrence of rockfalls and ground collapses. Further application and refinement of the system are recommended to continuously improve mining safety and efficiency.

Oct 24, 2025

By G. Budge

In the extractive industry the term ‘continuous improvement’ (CI) usually means procurement of the latest state of the art equipment. This is generally perceived as the only way to add further value to the supply chain, with the driving philosophy of increased tonnage to dilute operational costs. However, not all market places can facilitate this approach. RJB lives in a fiercely competitive market and has targeted the standard efficiency drivers of rationalisation and stock management with a vengeance; and also operate CMMS (Computer Maintenance Management System), RCM (Routine Condition Monitoring)and CBM (Condition Based Maintenance) methodologies. Ultimately though, these systems are only as good as the people who operate and manage them and to add further value without procurement, people must be re-introduced back into the operation. Through TPM (Total Productive Mining), that is what RJB have set out to do.

Jan 1, 2001

By William Kent

More than twelve years were spent by Wöhler at the instance of the Prussian Government in experimenting upon the resistance of iron and steel to repeated stresses. The results of his experiments are expressed in what is known as Wöhler's law, which is given in the following words in Du Bois's translation of Weyrauch:* " Rupture may be caused not only by a steady load which exceeds the carrying strength, but also by repeated applications of stresses, none of which are equal to the carrying strength. The differences of these stresses are measures of the disturbance of continuity, in so far as by their increase the minimum stress which is still necessary for rupture diminishes." A practical illustration of the meaning of the first portion of this law may be given thus: If 50,000 pounds once applied will just break a bar of iron or steel, a stress very much less than 50,000 pounds will break it if sufficiently often repeated. This is fully confirmed by the experiments of Fairbairn and Spangenberg, as well as by those of Wöhler; and, as is remarked by Weyrauch, it may be considered as a long-known result of common experience. It partially accounts for what Mr. Holley has called the " intrinsically ridiculous factor of safety of six." Another "long-known result of experience"—although this has not, as the writer believes, been investigated by scientific experimenters—is the fact that rupture may be caused by a succession of shocks or impacts, none of which alone would be sufficient to cause it. Wrought iron will crystallize by repeated blows in service and become weaker than cast iron. Iron axles, the piston-rods of steamhammers, and other pieces of metal subject to continuously repeated shocks invariably break after a certain length of service. They have a "life" which is limited. Iron rods in bridges sometimes crystallize and break, although the rods in most of our iron bridges

Jan 1, 1880

Professor Jenney has performed a notable service in presenting this summary of the steadily increasing body of observation on the presence of carbon in rocks of all kinds and its probable influence upon ore-deposition, and in formulating a mode of comparing directly the relative resistance of minerals to oxidation, as well as their reducing-power, and the protective action which minerals having higher reducing-powers exert in preventing the oxidation of associated minerals which possess relatively lower affinities for oxygen. I have had an opportunity of observing a vein which falls within the scope of his interesting discussion. The vein at Ku Shau Tzu, Mongolia, lies directly across a contact of limestone and overlying bituminous shales. Probably it occupies a compression-fissure. The shale has been reduced to such a condition of' non-coherence that much of it can be crushed in the hand, producing a handful of angular fragments resembling beech-nuts in shape and size. In the limestone the metals are principally in argentiferous galena with some pyrite and blende; but the latter two are very subordinate in quantity to the galena. In short, it is an every-day lead-vein in limestone, with siliceous limestone gangue. It is one of those veins in which the ore is not continuous, but consists of a band in the country-rock in which seams of lead sulphide begin at one wall and cross in a bent form, increasing in thickness, to the other wall, where they thin out and end. This may indicate torsional stress, but the shape of the lenses points to some other action. They often ran nearly parallel to the hanging-wall for a considerable distance and crossed the vein on a moderate angle, but turned sharply along the vein on approaching the foot-wall. The intermediate rock contains nodules, bunches and specks of ore, and the lenses vary exceedingly in size, shape and position in the vein.

Jan 1, 1903

By HARRY H. SMITH

IT IS my understanding that, speaking broadly, the function of the engineering profession is to find how to do the thing required better for less money. Mechanical engineers, mining engineers, and the various other kinds of engineers are engaged in discovering and effectuating new and improved methods .of producing better goods and services at less cost to industry. The savings and advantages, thus, accruing ace reflected from time' to time in increased productive powers of industry and lower costs to the public which consumes the goods and services.

Jan 1, 1931

By R. E. Crockett

MAGNETITE mining and milling in the Eastern States was at capacity during 1940, owing to the heavy industrial, defense, and war demand, coupled temporarily with the almost total stoppage of imports of foreign ores other than those under American ownership. In New York State the active mines were those operated by the Republic Steel Corp. at Mineville and Lyon Mountain. Republic's new concentrating mill at Port Henry, handling the Mineville ores, went into production about the first of April. Other large magnetite deposits in New York are currently being prospected and studied and may be under development in the near future. In New Jersey the Mt. Hope and

Jan 1, 1941

By Hayati Karaman, Tevfik Güyagüler

In this paper fires due to spontaneous combustion in Middle Anatolian Lignite mine (OAL) which is the first fully mechanized underground lignite mine in Turkey, are studied. Since the installation of mechanization (1986), due to spontaneous heating, four panel fires namely, A01, A02, A03 and A04 have broken out. During these fires, the concentrations of carbon monoxide, methane and the velocity of air are measured continuously by the Micro Minos Environmental monitoring system. For each fire, the environment where fire has started is examined and the possible causes of the fire are investigated. Also the precautions taken to extinguish the fire at different stages are described and the importance of the early detection of mine fire are discussed together with the limitations of the monitoring system and the practical difficulties observed during the fire.

Jan 1, 1995

By Ludwig Schmidt

Large quantities of gasoline are lost each year by evaporation from bulk-storage station tanks. The rate of evaporation from bulk-station tanks is influenced by two principal factors: First, the vapor pressure of the gasoline in the tank; and second, the amount of "breathing" of the tank. The vapor pressures of the gasoline govern the amount of the gasoline vapor in the air-vapor mixture above the gasoline in a tank at a given temperature. This is one of the principal factors in determining the total pressure of the air-vapor mixture within the tank. The "breathing" of the tank is caused by the inflow of air from the atmosphere during certain periods of the day and the expulsion of the air-vapor mixtures at other times, caused by atmospheric variations. The pressure built up within a tank and the amount of gasoline in the air-vapor mixture are both a direct function of the temperature existing within the tank. Therefore, two of the most common methods for reducing evaporation losses from bulk-station tanks are: (1) The use of vapor-tight tanks equipped with relief valves and operated at 1 or 2 ounces of pressure and about 1/2-ounce vacuum; (2) reducing the temperature of tanks and their contents by painting them a light color, by insulation, and in some instances by using water sprays. Water sprays, although effective, usually are too expensive to operate economically. In order to determine and compare the effects of various colors, insulation, and pressure in reducing the evaporation losses of gasoline held in storage in bulk-storage tanks, the Bureau of Mines made observations from May 29 to October 15. 1930, on five horizontal tanks of 12,000-gallon capacity each, which were erected at the plant of Black. Sivalls and Bryson Manufacturing Co., Kansas City, Mo. This report gives in detail the results of these evaporation tests.

Jan 1, 1931

By H. H. Kaveler, W. R. Evans, Jack Tarner

The geological features, development history and engineering detail of the Shuler Field and the results of approximately two years of unitized operation of the Shuler Jones Sand Pool, were discussed in a prior publication.' The purpose of this paper is to present the results of pressure maintenance in the Shuler Jones Sand Pool after nine years of unit operation. GENERAL INFORMATION The Shuler Jones Sand Pool is located in and about Section 18, Township 18 South, Range 17 West, Union County, Ark. The pool was discovered .in September, 1937, unitized in February, 1941, and subjected to gas injection operations in July, 1941. Water was first returned to the reservoir in July, 1944. The reservoir is an anticlinal trap covering about 4,000 acres. The 154,000 acre-ft of sandstone initially consisted of approximately 150,000 acre-ft of productive oil zone and 4,000 acre-ft of gas-cap. The average depth of production is 7,400 ft. Maximum closure of the reservoir is 135 ft and the oil column lies between a gas-oil contact at -7,270 ft and a water-oil contact at -7,370 to -7,380 ft. The field is approximately four miles long. east and .west, and one and one-half miles wide. The sand grains are angular and vary from fine to medium size. The porosity of the sandstone averages 20.2 per cent. The specific permeability averages 400 md. Some zones have as high as 30 per cent porosity and specific permeability of 4,000 md. The reservoir rock is not uniform in character but consists of sandstone zones interspersed with shale. The variation in rock characteristics is evident in the electric log and core analyses presented in the original publication. Asphalt present in the pore space of the sandstone limited the reservoir to the southeast and apparently blocked any encroachment of water from that direction. The initial reservoir pressure at a subsea depth of 7,300 ft was 3,520 psi. The reservoir temperature was 198ºF. Initially, the solution gas volume was 765 cu ft per bbl and the reservoir volume factor was 1.45. The gas solubility and formation-volume-factors of the reservoir liquid are related with reservoir pressures above 300 psi as follows: Solution gas, cu ft per cu ft, S = 0.0334 P + 18.65 Formation volume factor of reservoir oil, FVF = 8.0 x 10 -5 P + 1.168 Gas volume factor, standard cu ft of gas equivalent to one cu ft of gas at reservoir conditions of temperature and pressure, F = .062 P - 4 Pressure (P) measured in psia. The equation for the gas volume factor presented above is based on a direct measurement of a sample of the gas and is a correction of that used in the original paper. The gravity of the oil produced is from 32 to 34" API. CALCULATION OF INITIAL OIL IN PLACE The Jones Sand production history is interesting because it lends itself to analysis by material balance. Production statistics from discovery of the Jones Sand through 1949 and material balance calculations of the initial stock tank oil in place are shown in Table I. The usual procedure in testing the application of material balance calculations is to compute the apparent initial volume of oil in place, using production and pressure information obtained at different time periods. If the apparent oil in place volumes computed increase with successive time periods, water encroachment is indicated and approximations must be mads to correct for its influence. The first requirement in utilizing such calculations is reliable reservoir pressure, accumulated gas, oil and water production, and PVT data. Calculations of apparent oil in place in the Jones Pool, based on field data

Jan 1, 1951

By W. R. Evans, H. H. Kaveler, Jack Tarner

The geological features, development history and engineering detail of the Shuler Field and the results of approximately two years of unitized operation of the Shuler Jones Sand Pool, were discussed in a prior publication.' The purpose of this paper is to present the results of pressure maintenance in the Shuler Jones Sand Pool after nine years of unit operation. GENERAL INFORMATION The Shuler Jones Sand Pool is located in and about Section 18, Township 18 South, Range 17 West, Union County, Ark. The pool was discovered .in September, 1937, unitized in February, 1941, and subjected to gas injection operations in July, 1941. Water was first returned to the reservoir in July, 1944. The reservoir is an anticlinal trap covering about 4,000 acres. The 154,000 acre-ft of sandstone initially consisted of approximately 150,000 acre-ft of productive oil zone and 4,000 acre-ft of gas-cap. The average depth of production is 7,400 ft. Maximum closure of the reservoir is 135 ft and the oil column lies between a gas-oil contact at -7,270 ft and a water-oil contact at -7,370 to -7,380 ft. The field is approximately four miles long. east and .west, and one and one-half miles wide. The sand grains are angular and vary from fine to medium size. The porosity of the sandstone averages 20.2 per cent. The specific permeability averages 400 md. Some zones have as high as 30 per cent porosity and specific permeability of 4,000 md. The reservoir rock is not uniform in character but consists of sandstone zones interspersed with shale. The variation in rock characteristics is evident in the electric log and core analyses presented in the original publication. Asphalt present in the pore space of the sandstone limited the reservoir to the southeast and apparently blocked any encroachment of water from that direction. The initial reservoir pressure at a subsea depth of 7,300 ft was 3,520 psi. The reservoir temperature was 198ºF. Initially, the solution gas volume was 765 cu ft per bbl and the reservoir volume factor was 1.45. The gas solubility and formation-volume-factors of the reservoir liquid are related with reservoir pressures above 300 psi as follows: Solution gas, cu ft per cu ft, S = 0.0334 P + 18.65 Formation volume factor of reservoir oil, FVF = 8.0 x 10 -5 P + 1.168 Gas volume factor, standard cu ft of gas equivalent to one cu ft of gas at reservoir conditions of temperature and pressure, F = .062 P - 4 Pressure (P) measured in psia. The equation for the gas volume factor presented above is based on a direct measurement of a sample of the gas and is a correction of that used in the original paper. The gravity of the oil produced is from 32 to 34" API. CALCULATION OF INITIAL OIL IN PLACE The Jones Sand production history is interesting because it lends itself to analysis by material balance. Production statistics from discovery of the Jones Sand through 1949 and material balance calculations of the initial stock tank oil in place are shown in Table I. The usual procedure in testing the application of material balance calculations is to compute the apparent initial volume of oil in place, using production and pressure information obtained at different time periods. If the apparent oil in place volumes computed increase with successive time periods, water encroachment is indicated and approximations must be mads to correct for its influence. The first requirement in utilizing such calculations is reliable reservoir pressure, accumulated gas, oil and water production, and PVT data. Calculations of apparent oil in place in the Jones Pool, based on field data

Jan 1, 1951

By J. Roger Loebenstein

Demand for arsenic trioxide exceeded supply in 1978 and 1979, and the major domestic and foreign producers allocated available supplies to customers. Major demand has been from the cotton-growing and wood-preserving industries. Ample supplies of arsenic metal produced in the United States and Sweden were available in 1978 and 1979. Major demand for metal was from the automobile battery industry in Japan, Europe, and the United States. Legislation and Government Programs.-The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), promulgated the final standard on the occupational exposure to inorganic arsenic, effective August 1, 1978.2 The need for the standard was a result of OSHA's conclusion that inorganic arsenic is a human carcinogen. The purpose of the standard was to minimize the incidence of lung cancer among workers exposed to inorganic arsenic. The maximum exposure to arsenic was lowered from the previous ceiling of 500 micrograms per cubic meter of air to 10 micrograms per cubic meter over an 8-hour time period. OSHA had originally recommended a ceiling limit of 4 micrograms per cubic meter in January 1975. Provisions of the new standard require exposed employees to wear respirators and undergo continuous medical monitoring. Other provisions establish regulated areas limited to authorized employees and require the construction of special lunch-room and worker hygiene facilities and the posting of signs and labels warning of the presence of arsenic. The new arsenic standard will have a significant economic impact on copper, zinc, gold, and lead smelters as well as consumers of arsenic trioxide. A number of copper companies have joined together to contest the standard in court. However, measures to comply with the standard have been initiated by ASARCO Incorporated at its Tacoma, Wash. plant.

Jan 1, 1980

By Gordon B. French

The Occidental Oil Shale mining and retorting system for the production of shale oil has many advantages over the conventional underground mine and surface retort systems. For example only a portion of the oil shale is mined and transported to the outside, where it blends with the existing shale talus found on most of the slopes in the immediate area. The retorted spent shale is retained underground so that it does not become a surface disposal problem. The process consumes only minor amounts of water which is produced in adequate amounts in the retorting to fulfill all mining operations needs without outside supplies. Noise and dust levels are kept to a minimum with most of the facilities located underground. The exception being the generating stations and facilities as required to monitor air and water qualities, and last but not least, more than four times as much oil is pro¬duced from a given acre than from conventional surface processing. With the increased thicknesses as available on the government monopoly area this number could be increased by a substantial amount.

Jan 1, 1975

By Bruce T. Stanley

Though most porphyry-molybdenum deposits lend themselves to various reserve estimating techniques, still there must exist the constant effort to not merely obtain an estimate but rather to obtain the best estimate. To answer the challenge of a complete ore reserve estimation, one must attack the problem with the purpose of obtaining the results closest to reality. What we wish to determine is simple: metric tons (short tons), grade, and kilograms (pounds) of molybdenum contained. In order to effectively accomplish this task, further consideration must be given to the ease of using the information obtained and its inherent reliability. The only known method for ore reserve estimation that supplies the needed results along with its distribution and a measure of confidence provided by sound mathematical backup is geostatistics. The following review is an example of geostatistical application of an ore reserve estimate at the AMAX Henderson mine demonstrating technique, viability, and usefulness of results.

Jan 1, 1979

Past work on the ignition of methane-air mixtures by coal-cutting picks is reviewed, with special reference to the factors that contribute to ignitions and ways of reducing them. The main conclusions obtained from this review are outlined for the following aspects: mechanisms of ignition, methane concentrations, and the roles of rock types, cutting parameters, cutting tools, and water. However, many of these factors have been investigated on a qualitative, rather than on a quantitative, basis. A considerable amount of effort over a long period has been expended in this area of research. It is shown that a number of the factors influencing ignitions by machine picks have been researched adequately, but that there is still work to be done. Research is continuing in this area, being concentrated primarily upon the ignition potential of the coal-cutting pick.

Jan 1, 1985

By M. Tomono

Harima Works is operating as the zinc and lead simultaneous smelter utilizing the imperial Smelting Process. The smelter commenced its operation in 1966 with designed capacities of 3500 t/M of zinc and 1500 t/M of lead. After that, owing to the results of progressive developments and improvements in operating efficiency and equipments, it has doubled its production figure. This report reviews our recent developments carried out from 1983 to 1985. Firstly, the furnace bottom design was modified for the purpose of reducing carbon consumption ratio. As a result, shaft operating condition has been satisfactory and carbon consumption ratio was improved by 2%, in addition, furnace zinc production was increased by about 8%. Secondly, the oxygen enriched operation at sintering machine was tested from July 1984 to June 1985, in order to increase the sinter productivity, and to solve the capacity imbalance between sinter plant and ISF. As the test result, it was found out that sulfur elimination rate was increased by approx 10% with the oxygen enrichment of 500 Nm3/hr.

Jan 1, 1986

By John D. Sullivan

MAJOR technical advances seldom occur in a single year, and this is especially true with aluminum and magnesium where marked improvements in metallurgical processes and products took place during the war years. Nevertheless, the light metals and alloys, particularly aluminum, are advancing in commercial importance and are finding their niche in industry. New applications during the year have resulted from a better over-all knowledge of properties, handling, etc., rather than from revolutionary new developments.

Jan 1, 1948

By R. E. Wilmot

This paper is based on the experiences, over many years, on the part of numerous authors in the South African mining industry and that of the hot dip galvanizing process and its application as a corrosion protection system. The paper sets out the extensive development, financial resources and stringent operating requirements of the South African mining industry. After many years of research and operational experiences, hot dip galvanizing and when necessary, duplex systems, have been found to meet the demanding requirements of this particular industry. The paper sets out the requirements from the standpoint of corrosion criteria and is followed with a practical example; ?case history? where the corrosion protection properties of hot dip galvanizing are demonstrated. This case history traces the early investigation of the expected corrosive conditions to be encountered in a new mining operation (now 10 years on) and concludes with two follow up visits to the mine in order to examine actual performance of the corrosion protection system after ten years in service.

Jan 1, 2006

By J Lombardi, M Weidenbach

"OZ MineralsÆ Prominent Hill copper-gold concentrator is located 650 km north-east of Adelaide, 130 km north-east of BHP BillitonÆs Olympic Dam operation and 130 km south-east of the regional township of Coober Pedy, in the Gawler Craton region of South Australia. The concentrator was built in 2008 and commenced commercial production in early 2009. The Prominent Hill concentrator is comprised of a conventional grinding and flotation processing plant with a 10 Mt/a ore throughput capacity, operating well over the design rate of 8 Mt/a. Increased throughput rates have seen a decreased water recovery from the tailing thickener due to operating above design. Subsequently, greater pressure was placed on the site water balance and bore field off-take rates due to increased evaporation losses from greater volumes of water reporting to the tailing storage facility. This resulted in a trade-off between water availability and milling rates as part of the operating strategy.Two projects were implemented to increase the tailing thickener underflow density, thus improving water recovery directly back into the operating plant, reducing water losses via evaporation and decreasing the reliance on the bore field system operating at maximum rates to maintain mill throughput. The two projects were: tailing thickener feedwell redesign implementation of the Manta Cube control system.This paper discusses the background, implementation and benefits attained from these two key projects. Combined they have allowed a two to three per cent increase in tailing thickener underflow density to be consistently achieved, which has allowed greater water recovery. As a result, the processing plant has been able to operate at higher throughput rates when required, with greater water availability in the process plant recirculating system and a reduction in occurrences of the plant being æslowed downÆ due to water supply shortfalls. Both projects have also delivered a significant reduction in flocculant usage.CITATION:Weidenbach, M and Lombardi, J, 2012. Tailing thickener operability and control improvements at Prominent Hill, in Proceedings 11th AusIMM Mill OperatorsÆ Conference, pp 137-142 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Oct 29, 2012

By J. B. Gayle

A 1/2-ton experimental coke oven was installed ac the Bureau of Mines Southern Experiment Station, Tuscaloosa, Ala., in 1948. Designated as the Tuscaloosa oven, this unit features a 17-inch carbonizing chamber, globar heating elements, and silica-brick walls designed to simulate as closely as possible the carbonizing conditions for commercial slot-type ovens. Because of the small force exerted on the oven walls in most tests conducted to date (probably owing to the practice of charging coals and blends at a moisture content approximating that normal to commercial plants operating in this district), little information has been obtained about expansion properties. Two sole-heated ovens have therefore been constructed and used as supplementary equipment for determining the expansion properties of coals tested in the Tuscaloosa oven. The reasons for constructing the Tuscaloosa oven, the details of design, the operating, characteristics of the oven and the reproducibility of results have been discussed in previous publications. 3 4 5/ The present report deals with the effects of substituting various high- and low-volatile coals for components of a selected base blend carbonized under conditions similar to those normally used for producing foundry coke. Results of tests of 11 coals and 14 blends indicate that several blends tested rave cokes having physical properties very similar to those produced from the reference blend.

Jan 1, 1957