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By M. W. Von Bernewitz, J. J. Forbes

"In the United States there are hundreds of underground and surface (inside and outside) inclines at coal mines on which trips of cars are continually being run with coal, rock, supplies, and men. The safety of the men and prevention of damage to the slopes depend, excluding the personal element of the hoist-man, on the strength and condition of the wire cable, draw bars, and the couplings, and on the links of chains and pins as well. Within a recent period of four weeks there have been two runaway trips, one on the surface and one underground; it seems desirable to call attention of mechanical engineers and others at coal mines to the need for closer and more frequent inspection of the cable, draw bars, coupling links and pins, derailing devices, wheels, brakes, and other parts of cars or trips on which men are hauled on inclines. This bureau has never published anything on this class of accident heretofore.How frequently runaway trips occur is not known. If no serious injury or fatalit has to be reported to the State authorities, a number of such happenings may occur and not be mentioned outside of the immediate vicinity of the mine.Runaway trips can and do result in considerable loss of life, in injuries, and damage, either at or near the place of the break, or throughout a mine by causing an explosion of gas or coal-dust or both, This report is restricted to a study of the mechanical and physical phases of car trip construction and of the metal of couplings and ropes; derailed trips are not included and may be the subject of another paper. There is no need to mention gas accumulations, coal-dust and rock-dusting, open lights, protected power lines, and permissible equipment, because these have all been well covered in Bureau of Mines publications which have been widely distributed and partly or wholly reprinted by others.Most of the items regarding the runaway trips tabulated have been abstracted from reports made respectively by Clarence Hall, W.O. Snelling, and J. W. Paul; D. Harrington and J. J. Forbes; H. C, Howarth and G. S. McCaa; K. L. Marshall and E. H. Denny; J. J. Forbes, G. W.- Grove, and R. D. Currie; S, P .Howell and K. L. Marshall; and .J. W. Paul, H. D. Mason, and G. E. McElroy, all of the mining and safety divisions; and C. H. Herty, jr., and G. R. Fitterer of the metallurgical section of the Bureau of Mines. W. J. Fene, K. L. Marshall, and S. P. Howell of the safety division, and J. F. Lessig, mechanical engineer, and G. St. J. Perrott, superintendent, Pittsburgh Experiment Station, read the text and offered sugges¬tions. W. J. McGregor, coroner for Allegheny County, and P. F. Nairn, State Mine Inspector of Pennsylvania, contributed valuable information."

Mar 1, 1931

By Simons W.

The object of the paper is to describe the standards of quality that should be specified in ordering material ordinarily required for colliery use, and also the qualities most suitable for particular purposes. Tables are presented of British Standard tests for wrought iron grades A, B and C, Admiralty tests for iron in chain, the quality of material for wheels and axles, and the composition and mechanical properties of wrought iron, Armco (ingot) iron and drawbar-gear steel. (Paper presented at the North Staffordshire Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers' general meeting held in Stoke-on-Trent, March 27th 1916, Mr. John Gregory, President, in the chair)

Dec 1, 1916

By A Grant, H Thomas, C Clarke, B Fuller

Native seed and plants are often a core input into the rehabilitation process of mine closure. Native plant establishment rate and performance is a function of many input elements including seed quality (purity and germination percentage), processing, treatment, storage, supply chain handling, application and ongoing management. Traditionally native seed has been supplied with very limited supporting information which in some cases has led to establishment failures, repeated attempts at successful plantings, and biosecurity issues, leading to increased rehabilitation costs for mining companies. Product procurement scrutiny, and sustainability credential requirements, in all supply chains is increasing the need for transparent, accurate, verified, and certified information. This collectively continues to evolve towards a social license to operate in all industries, including mining. The Australian Seeds Authority (ASA), in partnership with native seed supplier AustraHort, traceability software company Trust Provenance and supporting partners including Transport for NSW and Queensland Transport and Main Roads (TMR), were recipients of a DAWE National Traceability Grant. The project team has developed a framework and traceability software platform currently being piloted within the Australian native seed industry. The framework and platform allow for all critical-tracking-events along the journey of a native seed batch to be easily captured utilising a smart phone application (APP) and the global standard for data capture. The platform provides a unique identification for each batch of seed and critical tracking event. The batch ID belongs to that batch and all supply chain stakeholders can contribute to batch traceability by providing more information/data to increase information integrity. This gives the end user, and other stakeholders, increased levels of trust in the product to support value, increase efficiency and reduce costs. For mining companies these efficiencies and cost reductions are in the form of information availability across site/company, potentially improved vegetation establishment, less rework and efficient monitoring. Ultimately this contributes to safe, stable and sustainable rehabilitation. By capturing data on harvest, logistics, storage (including temperature and humidity), aggregation/blending, treatment, application and ongoing management, the native seed industry and end utilisers of native seed have a greater level of product integrity, brand integrity and information integrity.

Aug 2, 2023

By William J. Campbell

This analytical method development and evaluation was undertaken by the Bureau of Mines to provide accurate determinations of eight minor elements in low-alloy steels prepared from ferrous scrap. Fluorescent X-ray spectrography was the principal method investigated. Confirming analyses were made by conventional instrumental and chemical methods. All X-ray data were processed by a timesharing computer. No corrections were found necessary for inter-element effects or overlapping spectral lines. Concentrations were calculated from the least-square fit of a linear calibration equation derived from measurements on three sets of standard steels. These studies show that X-ray spectrographic analysis of lathe-finished surfaces provides accurate determinations of aluminum, copper, chromium, manganese, nickel, phosphorus, silicon, and tin.

Jan 1, 1973

By Lizelle Glaner

An investigation was carried out by Mintek to investigate the influence of additions of gold to ?Fecraloy?, alloys based on Fe-Cr-Al. The aim was to try and improve the oxidation resistance of the ?Fecraloy? alloys at elevated temperatures over extended periods of time. The ?Fecraloy? alloys are very oxidation resistant alloys already employed in industry as substrates for metallic catalysts in auto-catalyst systems for high performance cars. Since their life and durability is limited by the slow, but steady, oxidation of the substrates, any change in the growth or stability of the oxides could be an improvement.

Oct 1, 2003

Recommendations from 44 mining industry workshops are summarized and reviewed in the context of Bureau of Mines research and development programs on-going during the period 1974-1977. Approximately 1,000 specific recommendations for research and development are summarized in a systematic and comprehensive format appropriate for review by mining research and development program managers. Relevant Bureau of Mines research programs are briefly described and some opportunities for future research and development are identified.

Jan 1, 1979

By L Boczek

The term Engineer of Record (EoR) is commonly used in North America and South Africa to define the responsible person for the design, construction and operational phases of a tailings storage facility (TSF). Recently, this role has been elevated in prominence within Australia, but what does it really mean? Recent updates to international TSF guidelines suggests appointing an EoR is good practice, but where does the responsibilities of the EoR start and finish. Interestingly, both Samarco and Mount Polley failures had active EoR’s in place. This suggests that nominating an EoR alone, is not the full answer to mitigating the potential for a TSF failure. Appropriate construction and operational practices are key to the success of the design of TSFs, where all too often, operators ignore the operating plans developed by the designer. To be successful, a key consideration of the EoR role, is involvement in the operational phase of the TSF. This requires ‘buy-in’ from the mine managers and a change in the way TSFs are perceived by site. This paper explores how the roles and responsibilities of the EoR can assist in improving governance of TSFs if implemented effectively and what role the client has to ensure the success of the EoR.

Jul 1, 2021

By Jeremy Fletcher

In today’s world, the requirement of Steel Producers to revamp and modernize their blast furnaces on-time, safely and with the latest technology is paramount. In addition they must meet the detailed design, construction and safety legislation and regulations, which can be different for the various countries around the world. Siemens MT is renowned for its ability to perform Blast Furnace rebuilds, relines and modernisations within extremely tight time frames and in a safe manner. Modular Blast Furnace construction concepts have been perfected to minimise project duration and plant downtime for furnace rebuilds. Safety and certainty are the keys for success. Siemens MT are constantly introducing new technologies into the market place including cyclone gas cleaning and triple external cone gas scrubber, along with step changes in technology such as dry gas cleaning and dry slag granulation. The economic environment and the continuing requirement for improved environmental performance, drive many of these innovations. This paper describes some of the latest rebuild reference projects of Siemens MT, along with the latest technical innovations installed on these furnaces, and some of the construction methodology used for a safe and secure rebuild.

Aug 1, 2018

By David P. Conover

The U.S. Bureau of Mines (USBM) has developed a computer-assisted Ground Control Management System (GCMS) for near realtime evaluation of underground coal mine ground conditions. The GCMS combines existing mine-monitoring system and sensor technology with automated computer analysis techniques to enhance the acquisition, analysis, and display of geostructural data. The GCMS, which combines mine structure data with other information, such as geologic conditions and mine layout, has provided information on mining-induced stress transfer and pressure buildup associated with several ground control events. The GCMS collects and analyzes shield-leg pressure, ground pressure, and strata movement data to evaluate the structural behavior of an active Western U.S. Iongwall coal mine. Field data are transmitted over a dedicated phone line to the USBM Denver Research Center (DRC) mine monitoring laboratory, 240 km (150 miles) from the mine site. Real-time collection, processing, and analysis of mine structure and shield pressure information has proved to be an effective method for near-face ground conditions while mining progresses. The GCMS provides the mine operator with information to rapidly identify and manage potentially hazardous ground conditions while mining is in progress.

Jan 1, 1994

By Roy L. Grant

The Bureau of Mines investigated the up-and-down method with factorial designs to determine if shorter, and therefore less costly, trial sequences could be used. Although sequences of 50 trials are usually recommended, sequences of 20 trials were arbitrarily chosen for the experiments with permissible coal mine explosives described in this report. These explosives were fired from a cannon pointed into a flammable natural gas-air atmosphere at the Bureau of Mines Explosives Research Center gallery to ascertain their safety properties. The investigation demonstrated that the shorter sequences led to useful conclusions with a reduction in cost of the experimental program.

Jan 1, 1967

By Billy W. Parks

This paper reports on the first 2 years in operation of a special-purpose coal handling rig which provides blending, temperature reduction, and continuous, automatic mechanical sampling as part of midstream barge to ship coal transfers. Briefly reviewing some of the characteristics of coal handling peculiar to midstream transfers, the paper discusses how the most beneficial aspects of midstreaming were enhanced through the design of this blending and sampling rig.

Jan 1, 1986

By H. J. van Antwerpen

AngloGold Ashanti operates the world`s deepest mine, Mponeng gold mine, in South Africa. A vast refrigeration and ventilation system provides acceptable working conditions 3800m below surface at 60°C rock temperature. In such a system, optimisation and assessment of modifications becomes very difficult. With that in mind, a research project was launched to determine whether recently developed system simulation technology can be applied to a mine as vast and complex as Mponeng. Using the techniques and methods as implemented in FLOWNEX software, it was indeed proven to be possible to do a mine-wide combined simulation of compressed air flow, ventilation air psychrometry and refrigeration water systems. Interactions between the various streams included heat transfer, pressure drop, evaporation and condensation. The simulation model was used in a parametric study to test various water flow and temperature operating points for the refrigeration system. It was found that, given current limitations, the mine refrigeration system is running fairly close to optimal but with some opportunities for improvement. The simulation model also provided useful insight for future changes or extensions to the system.

Feb 23, 2014

By Q. G. Reynolds, R. T. Jones

The choice of furnace design parameters has a marked effect on the integrity of the furnace that is constructed. The design methodology for DC arc furnaces typically begins with the chemical reactions and feed materials that define the process. The specific energy requirement of the process, and the feedrates of the raw materials largely determine the power requirement for the furnace. A chosen value for the 'power intensity' sets the diameter of the furnace. Justification is provided for why this is a good choice of scale-up parameter. Equations are presented to quantify the resulting trade-off between thermal efficiency and the degree of error that can be tolerated in the balance between power and feedrate. This improved understanding should provide a better rationale for selecting an appropriate power intensity (or furnace diameter) for future furnaces.

Jan 1, 2015

By C. L. Brown

Coal has been transported by belt conveyors in mines for many years; however, only since the beginning of the general mechanization period have complete transportation system of this type been employed. Aside from my complete belt-conveyor transportation systems, belt conveyors are frequently used in conjunction with other transportation. Many early installations, for the most part, were made without standards as a guide. As a result, some States have outlined certain requirements based more or less on experience following mine fires. Correlation of these regulations should result in more uniformity in connection with standardization of regulations. The National Electrical manufacturers Association has published standards for mining-belt-conveyor installations2/ that should be helpful to the coal-mining industry generally. Bureau of Mines Schedule 2F3/ requires certain controls for permissible-belt- conveyor drives, and similar requirements are listed in Bureau of Mines bulletin 514.4/ Committees of the American Mining Congress have prepared much valuable information concerning operation of belt conveyors, and a subcommittee on fire-resistant belting has been active. 5/

Jan 1, 1956

By R. Adsero

"A high altitude review of the state of the mining industry provided by a study of multifactor productivity shows a continuation of lower output year on year for the capital and labor inputs applied. The story is sadly similar for both U.S. mining and the Australian mining sector. In fact, according to PwC analysts, the world’s mining equipment productivity has declined 20 percent during the past seven years (Lumley, 2014). Although the reasons for the continuing decline in mining productivity are varied, the need for improvement is clear.The world’s mining industry fleet of more than 400 large draglines moves billions of tons of overburden and ore (phosphate, limestone, etc.) annually. This discussion will review a few of the tools available for improved productivity in dragline operations.Benchmarking equipment performance exposes the possibilitiesIn the September 2013 Mining Engineering cover story Graham Lumley and R. Adsero suggested that analyzing best practice equipment performance from an industrywide database for specific equipment performance improvement goals would be beneficial (Adsero, 2013). Benchmarking equipment performance by normalizing differences and then comparing specific measures of performance will provide a road map to improvement for those following the leaders. For those already performing at best practice levels, a benchmark confirms and bolsters what has already been achieved. As described in the SME February 2014 paper by this author, best practice is the average of the top 10 percent in annual output. Filling performance gaps identified by a comparison to best practice by investigating the details of the why and taking action to change, makes all the difference. This is true for all major mining equipment. Given the large gap between average performance and best practice performance most mining operations can benefit. Best practice performance provides a view of what is possible to the 90 percent majority of mining operations that are performing below the top 10 percent.For dragline mining operations, identifying specific characteristics and practices of leading dragline performance will provide a reference for comparison."

Nov 1, 2016

By D. Parks, A. Miller, M. McNinch, R. Jacksha

Each year, hundreds of mine workers are involved in machinery-related accidents. Many of these accidents involve inadequate or improper use of lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures. To mitigate the occurrence of these accidents, new safety methods are needed to monitor access to hazardous areas around operating machinery, improve documentation/monitoring of maintenance that requires shutdown of the machinery, and prevent unexpected startup or movement during machine maintenance activities. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is currently researching the application of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies to provide intelligent machine monitoring as part of a comprehensive LOTO program. This paper introduces NIOSH’s two phase implementation of an IoT-based intelligent machine monitoring system. Phase one is the installation of a proof-of-concept system at a concrete batch plant, while phase two involves scaling up the system to include additional sensors, more detailed safety/performance metrics, proximity detection, and predictive failure analysis.

By Ehsan Alavi, Eren Kusdogan

The City of Toronto’s Coxwell Bypass Tunnel is currently being constructed by North Tunnel Constructors ULC, a joint venture of Jay Dee Canada, C&M McNally Tunnel Constructors and Michels Canada. This project includes construction of approximately 10.5 km of 6.3 meter finished diameter rock tunnel, five 20 meter diameter storage shafts and eleven tunnel connection drop shafts, along with associated deaeration and adit tunnels. This paper describes progress on the project to date and reviews the risk mitigation measures utilized on the project to move the project forward through tough geological conditions during shaft excavation and tunneling phase of the project.

Jun 13, 2023

Discussions of the paper of Mr. Gayley read by title at the Lake Superior hieeting, but first presented at the New York meeting of the Iron and Steel Institute, October, 1904 (see p. 746). With the exception of Mr. Pourcel's discussion (p. 1038), these papers are here published under a mutual agreement between the Councils of the two Institutes, and will also be found, with others, in the Journal of the Iron and Steel In-slitute for the pear 1904, Mr. E. Windsor Richards, Past-President,' said that in 1799 Mr. Dawson, of Low Moor, read a paper before a scientific society in York pointing out the great diff'erence in the moisture of the air going into the blast-furnace in the hot months of the year and in the winter months. A cold blast-furnace was a very sensitive instrument, and showed this very clearly, for in June, July and August the furnace did not drive so well; it did not make the quality of iron and required more fuel; so that Mr. Gayley was on the right road to effect an enormous improvement in this direction. He considered that Mr. Gayley was on the way to great success, and hoped that the apparatus would not be a very expensive one. He supposed it mas too early for Mr. Gayley to let them know what the saviug was

Jan 1, 1905

By J. H. Jacobs

This report records a chapter in the history of the development of an electrolytic manganese industry in the United States. Nearly all the manganese requirements of the United States have been imported. Although there are large quantities of manganese ore in the United States, most of it is low-grade and cannot be used for the production of ferromanganese. Since the electrolytic production of manganese carried out by a process developed in the laboratories of the Bureau of Mines offers a method whereby the extensive low-grade deposits may be utilized and since commercial development had proceeded slowly, the Bureau constructed a new and larger pilot plant at Boulder City, Nev., where abundant electric power was available. An authorization in November 1940 covered a plant of only several hundred pounds daily capacity. Additions to some sections author¬ized by subsequent appropriations have enabled the plant to produce over 2,000 pounds a day for extended periods.

Jan 1, 1946

By FELIPE SÁNCHEZ, PHILIPP HARTLIEB

Innovation plays a critical role in the mining industry as a tool to improve the efficiency of its processes, to reduce costs, but also to meet the increasing social and environmental concerns among communities and authorities. Technological progress has also been crucial to allow the exploitation of new deposits in more complex scenarios: lower ore grades, extreme weather conditions, deeper deposits, harder rock mass, and high-stress environments. This paper discusses the importance of innovation for the mining industry and describes the mechanisms by which it is carried out. It includes a review of the drivers and actors involved and current trends. The digital transformation process that the industry is going through is analyzed, along with other relevant trends that are likely to shape the mining of the future. Additionally, a case study is presented to illustrate the technical and economic implications of developing a disruptive innovation project.

Jul 23, 2020