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By Bert C. Morrison

In 1961. American Smelting and Refining Company was conducting exploration for lead in southeastern Missouri using several geophysical methods. Electrical methods were used in almost every hole drilled during this period. These methods met with only limited success, with one exception. This paper deals with that exception: An Electrical Potential Method used at a single hole to indicate direction to better mineralization. This method was notably successful in the program.

Jan 1, 1970

By H. C. Wade

"Description and UseDischarge liners or pulp lifters as they are sometimes called are a trough type liner used at the discharge end of the mill where ground ore passes to the trunnion.There are basically two methods of discharging pulp. The First and most common is the overflow method. Here ground ore travels from the feed to the discharge end where it exits through the discharge trunnion in an overflowing manner, hence the name ""overflow"". (See Figure I) The second method of discharging pulp is the grate method. With this method you block-off the trunnion and hold the ore inside the mill for a longer period of time. This allows only the desired size of ore out of the mill. Ore passes through the grate liners, into the Vibrathane Discharge liner, and finally down to the trunnion. Greater control of the ore size results wit1 this method as compared to the overflow method and it also eliminates reclassifying and regrinding. (See Figure 2)Types in UsePresently the majority of discharge liners in use today are rubber. (Metal insert and rubber covered) In some extremely course applications steel and nihard are used."

Jan 1, 1980

By Keith Wallace

Although systematic control of ventilating air currents in underground mines dates back to the Greek and Roman empires, quantified analysis dealing with the cost of providing airflow did not appear until about 1860 when the first fans with acceptable efficiencies became available. Initially, these were introduced to avert methane explosions initiated by shaft bottom furnaces. However, discussions arose on how much coal the steam driven fans consumed in comparison with shaft furnaces in order to produce the sane amount of airflow. Ventilation economics had arrived. In 1981/82 a project was funded by the Department of Energy and carried out at the University of California, Berkeley in order to analyze and compare alternative ventilation designs from the viewpoint of economics and systems efficiency1. This paper highlights some of the results of that study.

Jan 1, 1983

By J. A. M. van Liempt

Since the discovery of von Laue, that a crystal forms a natural grating for X-rays, our knowledge of the structure of solids has gone forward with rapid strides. This progress is not only of purely scientific interest, but has also yielded direct technological results. One of the most valuable results is the broadening of our knowledge of the structure of pure metals and alloys. To promote these studies it is often desirable to have at our disposal pieces of metal consisting of one single crystal. As is so often the case in the natural sciences, we obtain the best results by making our earliest experiments on pure, simple materials and avoiding unnecessary complications. The Cryogen Laboratory at Leyden followed this method with much success, because the work was done at such low temperatures that the heat movement of the atoms was almost absent. Similarly we can simplify the studies of metals by leaving out of consideration the influence of the grain boundaries and the mutual influence of the crystals by using unicrystalline instead of polycrystal-line metal. Methods of making single crystals have been scientifically studied during the past few years. Some methods were already known in the arts, but these have been improved and new methods have been developed. The methods for making metallic single crystals may be divided into the following groups: A. From the liquid state B. From the gaseous state C. Electrolytically D. By recrystallization in the solid state Method A 1. Tamwmnn's Method1—Tammann succeeded in making bismuth single crystals of a maximum length of 20 cm. by undercooling the molten metal 0.1 to 0.3' G. below its melting point in glass tubes of a maximum

With the proving of a mineable orebody at Orlando in May 1961, Peko Mines N.L. was faced with the decision of whether to mill the ore on site or to haul it 25 miles to central facilities at Peko. Orlando was a relatively small orebody, so that it was decided to haul, although no reliable assessment of possible ore haulage costs was available.The necessity for a good haul road was recognised from the beginning and a 17 mile, 12 ft wide, single seal bitumen road was constructed, to link the mine to the Stuart Highway and Peko. The initial selection of 20 ton capacity diesel-powered end-tipping ore carts was made, with the best information available at the time.Since then some 130,000 tons of ore have been carted over a period of 3 years, and this paper presents the experiences of this haulage operation and the lessons learned.A second mine has just been brought into operation at Ivanhoe, 19 miles from Peko. For this haul it was decided to use an ore haulage vehicle of the side tipping road train type, which would cart some 70 tons, or more than three times the load of the vehicles initially selected.Only about 5,000 tons had been hauled at the date of this paper, but preliminary figures indicate a cost 01 1· 65d./ton-mile as against 2·47d. for the smaller vehicles.It would appear that the road haulage of ore from small outlying mines to a central plant can be highly economical, if certain basic rules concerning haul roads and vehicle selection are followed. This paper does not try to determine the maximum tonnages and haul distances which would finally make road hauling uneconomical...

Jan 1, 1966

By Otaviano Donizeti Valadão de Freitas

Ruídos elétricos afetam os circuitos lógicos e conseqüentemente podem comprometer a confiabilidade nos controles de processos, e para minimizar as influências desses ruídos, algumas medidas básicas foram tomadas, com instalações adequadas de todo o sistema, como padronização do aterramento, encaminhamento de cabos, etc. Depois que as medidas foram implementadas, o resultado foi um sistema mais confiável. Se apenas um fio for encaminhado de forma incorreta ou se o aterramento estiver inadequado, pode ser suficiente para causar problemas. A experiência mostra que é muito difícil que todas as medidas sejam aplicadas integralmente, mas se não forem tomadas pelo menos as medidas básicas, o sistema ficará suscetível.

Sep 25, 2017

By A. Van den Steen

In the early fifties Professor Breckpot of the Louvain University in Belgium in collaboration with the Research Laboratory of Metallurgie Hoboken, discovered the possibility to separate nickel from cobalt sulfate solutions by a nickel sulfide depolarized cementation. This reaction, completed later with a zinc precipitation, was developed into purification processes for the Shituru and Luilu Gécamines cobalt plants in Zaíre. Due to increasing demand for higher quality products and the necessity of lowering the production costs, more laboratory and pilot plant investigations concerning the key parameters for the nickel and zinc sulfides precipitation were under- taken. Especially the relative stabilities of cobalt, nickel and zinc sulfides, precipitated with elemental sulfur or sodium hydrosulfide, were examined in relatlon with the pH and with the redox potential. These investigations have led to better plant practice and new development possibilities. The valorisation of the precipitated sulfides has also been considered.

Jan 1, 1988

By Paul M. Tyler

The colony of French Guiana ( or Cayenne ) is administered by a governor , assisted by a privy council of five members . A council - general of 16 members is elected by French citizens resident in Guiana, and the colony is represented 3 in the French parliament by one deputy . The area is about 34,740 square miles . French Guiana is the largest gold producer of the French colonies , producing nearly $ 1,000,000 worth annually . Considerable prospecting has been done on the bauxite deposits , which are extensive . Copper , iron , lead , and 4 mercury deposits are also reported . In 1931 , 10,000 prospectors for gold were reported as working . The French Government is taking an active interest and has sent a committee of mining experts to explore the region ; no permits are to be issued to individual prospectors while the committee is in the colony . Plans for development of mining industry include consideration of 4,500 convicts and 2,500 natives already in the colony and available for labor .

Apr 1, 1933

By R. Binning

"Economic high density mineral reclamation and subsequent transportation of solids through a pipeline presents many formidable engineering problems.Mineral reclamation system design by theoretical formulas is almost impossible because solids composition, ie. concentration, velocity, moisture content, solid size, etc. can only be controlled within a broad pumping range.Traditionally this has restricted pumping to relatively dilute slurries whereas it is usually preferred, because of economic considerations to reclaim as high a concentration as possible.At Toyo/De-Velde Corp. we recognized these pumping limitations and began to develop and manufacture a range of standard and auxiliary equipment that would exceed these technical restrictions.MATERIAL RECLAMATION & PIPELINE INJECTIONTo minimize fluid usage and increase material reclamation efficiency we designed a submersible dredge mixing pump that uses most of its energy to pick up material from rest, mix it with fluid into a highly concentrated slurry then push it firmly into a pipeline.Where material is too compacted to be mined by the standard submersible mixer pump, auxiliary high torque self contained submersible excavators can be fitted around the periphery of the mixer pump. This is to facilitate excavation and break up of the compacted material into a slurry.High flexibility of this system can be achieved by combining the many equipment variations available into the most efficient format to fit individual site requirements.Whatever combination of equipment is selected, torque is nullified by counter rotating excavators against each other. This increases effective excavator/material bite torque but also allows mixer/excavator rig suspension by cable for deep water material recovery."

Jan 1, 1985

By David Oyler, Craig Compton

The The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Pittsburgh Research Laboratory (PRL) is continuing to investigate the behavior of fully grouted roof bolts in the weak roof rock of the Safety Research Coal Mine (SRCM). This paper describes the results of three studies: • A series of 24 pull tests of bolts installed fully grouted and overcored to leave 12 inches of grouted bolt. The tests compared the pull-out performance of offset-head roof bolts with that of standard 5/8-inch bolts; • A second series of 24 tests that compared the pull-out loads obtained by bolts installed with 1 ft of resin (a Short Encapsulation Pull Test or SEPT) to that of fully grouted bolts overcored to leave only 12 inches of grouted bolt, and; • An investigation into the pressures generated during the installation of fully grouted resin bolts. All of the bolts installed and pulled were overcored and removed from the roof after the pull tests to allow inspection of the resin. The first study found that there was no significant difference in pullout load between the offset-head bolts and the standard bolts. The second study, comparing the SEPT bolts and the partially-overcored fully grouted bolts, indicated that SEPT can significantly underestimate bolt anchorage grip factor, suggesting that the SEPT is a conservative measure of actual bolt performance. Significant loss of resin to cracks in the roof was observed in the bolts overcored in the SRCM. The third study explored one possible explanation for the resin loss, high pressures generated during bolt installation. These tests employed bolts installed in strain gauged steel tubes. The results confirmed that significant pressures (greater than 4,000 psi) can be generated during bolt installation. The results of the pressure tests, combined with the observations of resin loss in bolts installed in the SRCM, suggest that under some circumstances resin loss and under-encapsulation could take place and lead to degraded bolt performance. Glove fingering was observed in all recovered bolts to various degrees. The limited comparative data suggested that the effect of glove fingering ranged from slight to moderate. Complete mixing of the resin was observed on all of the 40 bolts recovered (28 fully grouted and 12 SEPT). Australian and U.S. resins were compared and the Australian resins were observed to have much smaller catalyst compartment areas and lower resin viscosities. These differences are suggested as potential explanations for occasional resin mixing problems noted in Australian resin bolt installations.

SEVERAL serious accidents, which had occurred owing to the platman leaving the plat without first withdrawing the "chairs" from the shaft, set the writer scheming to devise a mechanically operated system which would obviate such accidents and be "fool-proof". It was obvious at the outset that some means of indicating to the engine-driver by the movement of the "chairs" themselves, whether they were "in" or "out" of the shaft, was necessary.An arrangement of signalling similar to railway semaphores was considered, but was rejected owing to the difficulties accruing from the large number of communicating wires which would be required down the shaft-viz., 2 for each level. After several experiments, a comparatively simple and efficient electrical system was devised, and which is covered by Commonwealth Patent TO. 10,402.One of the chief features of the apparatus is its simplicity, and its strongest point is the fact that both the engine-driver and platman receive visual indication of the position of the "chairs." The arrangement consists of a miniature coloured glow lamp, one for each level of each shaft compartment, arranged and placed beside the numbers and arrows corresponding to the various levels, on the winding engine indicators. Also a large indicating glow lamp is installed at each compartment in the various levels, in proximity to the levers for operating the "chairs." Upon operating the various levers for the "chairs," an electrical current...

Jan 1, 1909

By K. D. Genn, A. Mucha

This paper deals with Hilton Mines' approach to the maintenance of wear items such as truck boxes, shovel buckets, tractor pads, crawler sprocket idlers and the drop-ball. Each will be given a brief. description as to application, design, kind of materials involved and type of wear. The maintenance procedure is then outlined in terms of materials used, preliminary preparation, and welding and machining practices. The service history of new and re-paired items and the relative economics of repair vs replacement will then be presented.

Jan 1, 1969

By Chris M. Healey

"Abstract - Perhaps the single most significant variable in the evaluation of a mining project is the reserve estimate. Many parameters are considered when estimating reserves, among them geology. This paper examines the link between the quality of a reserve estimate and a good understanding of the geological controls for the deposit. A clear understanding of the geometry is essential to the accurate definition of the shape and size of the deposit. This includes the definition of any structural controls as well as the proper interpretation of the stratigraphy. Further when the distribution of grades is erratic and there is consequently a high nugget effect, there are significant problems in estimating the true grade of the deposit.Two Saskatchewan examples are presented, one with good knowledge of the controls and therefore good estimates of reserves, and the other with a poor understanding of the geology and resultant problems in deriving good estimates. In both cases the reserve estimates at various stages in the project development are compared to actual results from underground work. The first example is the Star Lake Mine where just about all the estimates were within 10% of the actual on both tonnage and grade. The Laurel Lake deposit is discussed to show how problems in interpreting the geological data make reserve estimation very difficult. Laurel Lake has the additional problem of erratic grade distribution."

Jan 1, 1992

By J. P. Brady

A major spontaneous combustion incident occurred in the sealed goaf of the SL3 Panel; Southland Colliery in 2003 resulting in the loss of a longwall and sealing of the mine. The most important issue for the new owners, Yancoal Australia Pty. Ltd, was to effectively manage the atmosphere in the fire affected sealed area. This atmosphere comprised of flammable gases, the products of combustion and excessive levels of oxygen due to pressure differentials across the panel isolation seals with a potential ignition source associated with the residual spontaneous combustion event. The challenges were met in the first instance by the erection of pressure balance chambers with limited success. The problem was not solved until the pressure chambers were pressurized using a Floxal Nitrogen Plant supplied by Air Liquide Australia. Given the success of this approach on a small scale, a higher capacity Air Liquide Floxal Unit was acquired to manage spontaneous combustion at the recommencement of longwall mining operations. This provided the ability to pressurize pressure chambers that were installed in the Maingate Seals behind the face of the adjacent Longwall Block effectively preventing the ingress of oxygen and permitting the goaf to self inert in a reasonable time period. This paper summarizes a new proactive method of mitigating the risks associated with active and sealed goaves. Proactive management of these areas using low flow nitrogen into pressure chambers to maintain a positive pressure has eliminated typical reliance in explosion proof or explosion resistance seals as the primary control.

Jan 1, 2009

By N. Watson

Historically the insurance industry's involvement in any project has been relatively late in the process. Often it was a case of the last item to be ticked off the checklist has been to ensure that the insurance is in place. However, in more recent times insurers have imposed more restrictions on the cover they are prepared to provide, which has in some cases necessitated a change in the contracting structure to accommodate the insurance policy(ies). In addition, changing contractual practices have changed the allocation of risk between the various parties involved. This calls for a more proactive approach to the design and implementation of an insurance program for both the construction and operational phases of any resource project. This paper explores how a risk managed approach to the design and implementation of an insurance program for a resource project can align itself with current management approaches to project development. From the authors' experience, this approach is best adopted early on in the project (often in conjunction with the bankable feasibility study) and follows AZ/NZS4360 to objectively examine and compare a wide range of risk exposures of the project in a time-effective manner across the following areas: ? personnel; ? environment; ? general management; ? compliance - legislation, systems, protocols; ? asset management; ? change management; ? financial impacts to the organisation; ? products/services; ? service delivery; and ? technology. Having identified and then analysed the risk exposures according to common consequence and likelihood ratings the next step is to develop a risk map of all considered exposures. The true value of this approach lies in the development and implementation of a risk treatment plan for identified exposures where the exposure is unacceptable. The plans will lead to the optimal solution to the appropriate risk prevention, risk mitigation and risk transfer options available. This paper also examines other benefits to the project that may arise from adopting a risk managed approach in addition to the ability to design an insurance program which recognises the exposures and the ability of the organisation (and other project parties) to retain risk.

Jan 1, 2007

By H. E. Stauss

THE time-to-fracture test has been applied to pure platinum and to two alloys of platinum under the special conditions of small cross-sectional area of the specimens and of a test temperature above the annealing temperature. While the results are similar in character to those secured with large specimens of steel at temperatures below the annealing temperatures, two differences are noted: (I) an upward inflection in the curves for log stress vs. log time for the alloys, and (2) a sharp break in the curve for log stress vs. log time for pure platinum when single crystals filled the wire. The experiments showed that: (I) platinum and 10 per cent rhodium-platinum maintained their strengths at 1100°C. better than did 10 per cent iridium- platinum, and (2) the rhodium-platinum after a time exceeded the iridium-platinum in strength at 1100°C. Platinum alloys in their service at high temperatures encounter conditions some- what similar to those that exist in the usual form of the time-to-fracture "l test with steel. This paper is intended primarily to present results obtained by a "time-to- fracture" test under conditions approximating actual service for platinum (at the temperature 1100°C. under oxidizing conditions) with three materials, pure platinum (99.99 per cent), a platinum alloy with lo per cent iridium, and a platinum alloy with 10 per cent rhodium. The experimental procedure differed from that previously used in this type of measurement in that the samples were of small diameter (0.010 in.), were fully annealed, and were tested at a temperature definitely above their annealing points (600°C., 1000°C. and 1050°C., respectively, for 60 per cent cold reduction and 15 min. heating time2,3). The experimental arrangement was similar to that previously described,4 using as heating unit a small, horizontal, platinum- wound furnace, ½ by 12 in., maintained at constant temperature by an automatic controller. The samples were 0.010-in. wires, which had been annealed at 1200°C. by drawing them slowly through the furnace. The time-to-fracture was measured electrically. Elongation was not determined because of the difficulties inherent in the experimental arrangement. Life-that is, the time-to-fracture-was considered the important property in these first tests. No attempt was made to measure the reduction in area, but the types of fracture were noted qualitatively; in the text they are referred to as (I) the normal, plastic, or necked fracture, (2) the knife-edge fracture, and (3) the brittle or intercrystalline fracture with small reduction of area. Results for different constant applied stresses are plotted in Fig. I. In all cases at least two trials were made for each stress, although they cannot always be indicated separately on the curves. The breaking stresses drop very rapidly to a small frac-

Jan 1, 1943

By E. H. Dix

During an investigation of high-strength manganese bronze by til Engineering Division of the Air Service, at McCook Field, Dayton, Ohio, particles of a "blue constituent" were noted in the microstructure of most of the bronzes examined. The constitution of the simple copper-zinc base alloy is still a matter of dispute in spite of the fact that the copper-zinc series is one of the oldest industrially important groups of alloys, and has received thc carly co~l+itlcl-ntio11 of scirntific rcsc:trch. Thc diagram, according to the rnost rcrent \vork.' IS shown in Fig. 1. The disputed questions involve the tcrmi~r:~tiorl of the beta field and the lint at 470' C. The parliest expc~imc>ntcr, Rol)erts--~1~11stcri, detectrd an arrest in some of his cooling curves :it approximately this temperature and ascribed them to the formation of a cutectic; it has since been proved that there arc no eutectics in this series. Shepherd? was unable to detect any thermal arrests at this temperature, his. diagram was essentially as shown in Fig. 1, except that the line at 470" ('. was omitted and the beta phase carried down to normal temperature. 1,:ttcr. carpenter and Edwards, by a very painstaking research, definitely established the authenticity of the line but attributed it to the breakdown of the BETA constituent into a cutectoid of alpha and gamma. microscopic evidence of the formation of the cutectoid is doubtful and it seems more likely to he due to an allo-tropic change in the beta constituent as shown by Fig. 1. At least for practical purpose?, it is more convenient to think of the structure of a 60-40 brass as a mixture of alpha and beta prime crystals rather thin alpha plus an unresoluble eutectoid of "apparent beta" as it has often been called. * Chief, Metals branch, Engineering Division, Air Service. 1 0. F. Hudson: Jnl. Inst. of hlvtals (1913) 12, 2 E. S. Shepherd: Jnl. Phys Chrm. (10141 8, 421. H. C. H. Carpenter and O. A. Edwards: Jnl, Inst. of Metals (1911) 5, 127.

Jan 1, 1923

By E. H. Dix

During an investigation of high-strength manganese bronze by til Engineering Division of the Air Service, at McCook Field, Dayton, Ohio, particles of a "blue constituent" were noted in the microstructure of most of the bronzes examined. The constitution of the simple copper-zinc base alloy is still a matter of dispute in spite of the fact that the copper-zinc series is one of the oldest industrially important groups of alloys, and has received thc carly co~l+itlcl-ntio11 of scirntific rcsc:trch. Thc diagram, according to the rnost rcrent \vork.' IS shown in Fig. 1. The disputed questions involve the tcrmi~r:~tiorl of the beta field and the lint at 470' C. The parliest expc~imc>ntcr, Rol)erts--~1~11stcri, detectrd an arrest in some of his cooling curves :it approximately this temperature and ascribed them to the formation of a cutectic; it has since been proved that there arc no eutectics in this series. Shepherd? was unable to detect any thermal arrests at this temperature, his. diagram was essentially as shown in Fig. 1, except that the line at 470" ('. was omitted and the beta phase carried down to normal temperature. 1,:ttcr. carpenter and Edwards, by a very painstaking research, definitely established the authenticity of the line but attributed it to the breakdown of the BETA constituent into a cutectoid of alpha and gamma. microscopic evidence of the formation of the cutectoid is doubtful and it seems more likely to he due to an allo-tropic change in the beta constituent as shown by Fig. 1. At least for practical purpose?, it is more convenient to think of the structure of a 60-40 brass as a mixture of alpha and beta prime crystals rather thin alpha plus an unresoluble eutectoid of "apparent beta" as it has often been called. * Chief, Metals branch, Engineering Division, Air Service. 1 0. F. Hudson: Jnl. Inst. of hlvtals (1913) 12, 2 E. S. Shepherd: Jnl. Phys Chrm. (10141 8, 421. H. C. H. Carpenter and O. A. Edwards: Jnl, Inst. of Metals (1911) 5, 127.

Jan 1, 1923

Firedamp drainage has become an essential part of many mine environmental systems, and new applications are arising. Installations are evolving further to satisfy ever changing basic requirements, standards, and iniilny needs. In this paper, water seal, vacuum based installations are considered, as well as moni- toring, protective and control systems which have been developed for continuous, manless, and trouble free operation. Some factors affecting plant capacity and extractor per- formance are identified and assessed. INTRODUCTION Firedamp drainage applications are incr- easing world wide as mining engineers strive for improved safety and security, and further concentration of coal output. Fewer and fewer mines are able nowadays to satisfy coal prod- uction and firedamp control requirements solely by air dilution or by air dilution and underground firedamp extraction plants. As a result, dependence on surface extraction plants is increasing. This paper deals with som requirements and applications of such installations. I. DEVELOPMENT AND PRACTICE Firedamp drainage has existed for over 250 years following the early work of Carlisle Spedding at Whitehaven (1730). Some fundamentals of current firedamp drainage systems can be recognised in the

Jan 1, 1982

By J. Patrick Ryan, Thor H. Kiilsgaard, Charles W. Merrill, E. T. McKnight

The U.S. Treasury stocks of silver have been reduced at such a rapid rate to meet industrial and coinage requirements that they face exhaustion in 3 or 4 years. Alleviation of the silver problem will require increasing supply or reduc ing demand. This paper examines poss ible long-range resource development and research programs and improved secondary recovery. The possible reduction or elimination of silver in coinage and development and introduction of substitutes in the arts and industry are also discussed.

Feb 1, 1965