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By D. Williamson

In the post war years metals analysts and statisticians have generally tracked the demand for metals in line with changes in OECD industrial production (IP) growth rates because, undoubtedly, the correlation between IP growth and metal demand was reasonable. However the correlation was exaggerated. During times of expanding IP growth metal demand increased at a faster proportional rate than IP growth. This was probably due to industry restocking in anticipation of growing demand at the start of each economic cycle. Conversely, metal demand would slacken at a greater rate than would be suggested by negative IP growth as industry destocked in order to reduce costs. Nonetheless, overall, a reasonable correlation between IP growth, over the longer term, and metal demand could be painted. Yet, although this correlation has stood well since the last world war it has been based on the fact that the bulk of the world's IP growth stemmed from the industrialized countries of the western world, latterly including Japan. The so called "developing world" was of little consequence, whilst countries of the Soviet Union and Communist Bloc were deemed to be closed, self-contained entities which, for each metal, would either be net exporters or importers. These quantities would be used by analysts to calculate the overall supply/demand equation for the western world only and to deduce whether a commodity was in shortage or surplus. It is now believed that this method of projecting total world supply and demand for raw materials is outdated and takes little account of the worldwide political changes which have occurred since the collapse of communism and the revitalization of China, albeit under a notional communist government. It is no longer appropriate to assess global balances for raw materials on the basis of three economic blocs namely, western world, developing world and communist bloc. Rather, global balances need to be projected on a global basis. In this regard, since the collapse of communism and the removal of many other totalitarian regimes, capitalist forces are at work and are attempting to satisfy, with some considerable success, the expectations of the great mass of the world's poorer people. Such people, usually located in Asia, Africa and Latin America have aspired to the same standard of living as people living in western Europe, North America and Japan. Now, with free market forces at work their aspirations will start to be met. Consequently, the demand for metals and other raw materials will now rise at a much faster rate than at any other time in the world's history. Not only will the production of raw materials have to keep pace with rising IP in the developed world but will also have to keep pace with the demands associated with the rising expectations of rapidly increasing populations in the developing world, as well as from within the old communist bloc countries. This paper sets out to argue the case that metal demand could well increase at a rate faster than the world's mining companies, governments and financiers can deliver.

Jan 1, 1997

By Klaus Schonert

The elements of a mill matrix and the classifier matrix de- scribing the grinding process depend on operating conditions, especially on the feed rate. Relationships between the matrix elements and the feed rate have a great influence on the stability of a closed circuit and its optimum point. These problems have been studied by means of computer simulation and different kinds of classifier characteristics have been considered. A circuit with a cross stream classifier has only a limited range where stable operation condition can be attained. Beyond the stable limit, the recirculation ratio increases rapidly and there is no correlation between feed rate of the circuit and feed rate of the mill. In comparison, a spiral stream classifier gives a wide range of stable operation. The recirculation ratio can be greater than in the case of the cross stream classifier if the feed rate is small. The results of the simulation provide a better understanding of the real behavior of closed circuit grinding.

Jan 1, 1969

By Peter J. Szabo

In 1980, a caravan of representatives of Japanese trading companies debarked on the shores of the United States bearing gifts of watches, electronic games, and radios. In early 1983, we find in a parking lot of a major U.S. coal company, a haggard general manager of marketing returning to the Orient with a box under his arm of trinkets of his own; cross pens with company logos, alarm clocks, etc. The tables have turned, but our fellow sitting in a jet plane over the Pacific Ocean had only to heed the warning of the famous 19th Century poet well familiar with the ways of the Far East. Kipling said; "And the End of the Fight is a tombstone white and with the name of the late deceased, And the epitaph drear, a fool lies here who tried to hustle the East."

Jan 1, 1984

Commercial explosives range from pure emulsions to pure ANFO, with blends of these providing interesting alternatives: energy is often adjusted through addition of aluminium, or the control of density. The energy rating of explosives is derived chiefly from detonation codes, which are used to derive expressions for the internal energy change of the detonation products as they do work under expansion. While all codes used for this purpose work on the basis of Ideal detonation, it is common knowledge that commercial explosives operate in the Non-Ideal domain, which affects the mode of energy delivery to the environment. However, since Ideality represents the foundation from which actual performance evolves, it is valuable to examine the intrinsic energy release of a formulation before attempting to understand the influence of Non-Ideality. In examining the Ideal pressure profile of fundamental formulations, remarkable correlation has been found with field performance, and this increases understanding of the influence of various formulation modifications, especially in regard to the stage at which energy is released, and the effect on rockbreaking. This work has emphasised the value of attempting to understand and define better the non-ideal detonation process.

Jan 1, 2001

By P. Chauvet

From a computational point of view calculating a variogram is a perfectly simple operation. For any particular study, we know which variable is to be studied. We also have a good idea of structural parameters which are likely to be important (the scale of the phenomenon, the probable direction of the anisotropy, etc.). Finally, we know the structure of the data file. So we can specify the parameters to be used to calculate the variogram (the distance classes, the angular classes, etc.). This allows us to decide which variogram program is most appropriate (1, 2 or 3 dimensional data, regularly or irregularly spaced, etc. ) . In general, the basic statistics (mean, variance, correlation? etc.) have been calculated beforehand, and so the distribution of the data is already known. Consequently, the choice of the parameter values fed into the variogram is by no means arbitrary. But it must nevertheless be made before the' variogram is calculated. If the resulting variogram is not satisfactory, the whole sequence of operations has to be repeated. Before going on to see how this can be avoided, it is worthwhile having a brief look at the common causes of "unsatisfactory" variograms.

Jan 1, 1982

The engineering company's participation in quality assurance in the mining industry is twofold. Not only must it have such a program to ensure the necessary high standards for its own design and construction of a minerals processing plant, but it is also responsible as the "engineer" for both the selection and the quality of purchased equipment which goes into that plant. It is in this latter role that the engineer finds the most difficulty, or controversy, since while it is relatively easy to control his own performance, this is not ncessarily so when dealing with companies, all with their own ideas or standards. The engineer has perhaps rather reluctantly become more involved with the quality assurance of purchased equipment. This is because he has been used to writing performance type specifications and expecting the equipment manufacturer to provide the degree of quality, and control of that quality, for the product to meet the specified operating conditions. However, this has sometimes placed the manufacturer in a difficult position since to remain competitive in today's market conditions, he cannot always insist on product improvements or options which may in the long run be vital to reliable operation of the equipment.

Jan 1, 1982

By G. Taylor, S. Bounds, G. Moran, M. Cross, K. Pericleous

"A variety of interacting complex phenomena takes place during the casting of metallic components. Here molten metal is poured into a mould cavity where it flows, cools, solidifies and then deforms in its solid state. As the metal cools, thermal gradients will promote thermal convection which will redistribute the heat around the component (usually from feeders or risers) towards the solidification front and mushy zone. Also, as the evolving solid regions of the cast component deform they will form gap at the cast-mould interface. This gap may change the rate of solidification in certain parts the casting, hence affecting the manner in which the cast component solidifies. Interaction between a cast component and its surrounding mould will also govern stress magnitudes in both the cast and mould - these may lead to defects such as cracks.This paper presents a multiphysics modelling approach to this complex process. Emphasis will be placed on the interacting phenomena taking place during the process and the modelling strategy used. Comparisons with plant data are also be given."

Jan 1, 1999

By T. Stergiou

An extensive research is being carried out on the shaft furnace operation in order to minimize down-times and reduce operational cost. The need to increase the scrap percentage on the charging mix, together with the need of cheaper spare parts has led to the investigation of alternative materials for the burner system on the shaft furnace. This system consists of a burner block and a flame holder. Traditionally these items are constructed either from SiC ? oxide bonded or SiC-nitride bonded. A lot of problems have been confronted over the past 8 years of operation. Usually, large cracks are formed on both flame holders and burner blocks. This resulted in leakage of combustion gases to the back of the lining and a quick erosion of it. Additionally, the burner blocks suffer from chemical erosion, due to the increased amount of scrap used in the charging mix and the presence of slag inside the furnace. Alternative materials such as stainless steel for the flame holder and alumina-chromia refractory for the burner block have been tested in terms of life-time and resistance on chemical erosion. Furthermore, additional changes have been made on the burner block design in order to alter the flame shape and improve the scrap melting operation.

Jan 1, 2007

By William W. Leathen

Acid mine drainage became a reality through the exposure of the first bituminous coal seam, either by man or by nature. At first the small amount of acid formed was quickly and efficiently neutralized by basic rock strata and by neutral or alkaline water. As soon as extensive mining operations overtaxed nature's own defensive measures, acid mine drainage became a problem of concern to government and the coal industry. It was the purpose of the studies conducted at Mellon Institute to accumulate knowledge, both applied and fundamental, relating to the formation and disposal of acid mine effluents. It was during this program that the microbiology of acid mine water was studied. Most bituminous coal mine effluents are highly acidic and contain, along with other ions, high concentrations of ferrous iron. The acid is sulfuric, and. the iron is present as the sulfate; both are the oxidation products of iron sulfides (FeS2) which are present in the form of pyrites, marcasites, or other sulfuritic minerals. The oxidation occurs, in the absence of moisture, according to the following reaction: [ ]

Jan 1, 1959

By R. P. Rothwell

THE first difficulty mentioned is that in some instances two or more beds of coal separated by sandstone or slate rocks of considerable thickness in one part of a basin, are found running together in another part. Of course, we may happen to strike first the part of the basin where there is but a single seam, and in this case the bed would appear to divide into two or more branches within a short distance. Such cases are not rare in the anthracite coal-fields. I would suggest as an explanation of this phenomenon the gradual sinking of the peat-marsh-the embryo coal-bed-on one side, and the moving forward of the marsh, so that on one part of the bed the formation of peat would still be progressing, while another part, being under water, would be covered with mud and sand. Thus we have different portions of the same bed of different ages. Now if the sinking of the marsh be stopped for a time, the bed will become thicker in the portions left exposed, and if the sinking now changes in direction, so that the part that had previously gone down com¬mences to rise, we should have the phenomenon of a bed, continuous throughout, with one portion overlying another, and separated from it by rock strata. These are exactly the conditions observed in splitting beds. While one side of the lake is sinking, and the peat-marsh moving on in that direction, the other side may be rising,

Jan 1, 1873

By Tom B. Corry

INTRODUCTION Located approximately 48 km (30 miles) south of Dallas, Texas, use to be the site of the Superconducting Super Collider. For those of you unfamiliar with the project, this was a multi-billion dollar project taken on by the U.S. Government for the further advancement of technology, medicine, and science. Major components of the project consisted of a Linear Accelerator known as the LINAC; three accelerating rings known as the Low Energy Boosters (LEB), Medium Energy Booster (MEB) and the High Energy Booster (HEB); the East and West Campuses where the Inner Reactor Halls would have been located; and the 87 km (54 mile) main collider tunnel. Unfortunately, this all came to an end on December 6, 1993, with the termination of the project due to the Government's cancellation of funds. This paper will deal with the two of the underground contracts before the termination. These two contracts were the 1122 contract which ran from N25 to N40 and the 1130 contract which ran from N40 to N55. (See figure 1) The 1122 contract was awarded to us in July of 1992 and consisted of the excavation and support of six (6) shaft varying in diameter from 5.5 m (18 feet) to 8 m (26 feet) and ranging from 39.6 m (130 feet) to 61 m (200 feet) deep and the driving of approximately 13,100 m (.43,000 If.) of main collider tunnel. Our second contract, the 1130, was almost identical to our first

Jan 1, 1995

By A. A. Millar

THE output of coal from the Province of Alberta reached its peak; in the year 1928, when 7,334,179 tons were produced. Following this, a steady decline was recorded, and in 1930 a low mark of 4,564, 290 tons was made. Since that time, however, the tendency has been upward, and this year (1937) 5,551,682 tons were produced, compared with 5,696, 375 tons in 1936 and 5,462,973 tons in 1935. The value of the output in 1937 was $14,434,969, against $14, 720,004 in 1936. The coals of Alberta have been classed under three heads, viz., domestic, sub-bituminous, and bituminous The domestic (or lignite) and the sub-bituminous coals are used chiefly for domestic purposes, with the possible exception of the smaller sizes and the output of the two stripping pits at Stereo and Coal Valley The bituminous output is used mainly by the railways, for locomotive purposes, which, in 1937, accounted for 80.6 per? cenr of the total sales of bituminous coal. A fair proportion is sold for stationary engine and steam purposes and, in 1937, 25,000 tons were used in making briquettes at plants operated by the Canmore Coal Company, Limited, and Brazeau Collieries, Limited. The International Coal & Coke Company, Limited, used 99,500 tons in their plant at Coleman, for making coke. The bulk of the 66,000 tons of coke produced was sold for use at the smelter at Trail, B.C.

Jan 1, 1938

By W. Geo. Waring

The winning of zinc and lead ores from the comparatively shallow deposits of the Joplin district presents few such problems for the mining engineer as are encountered in deep ore mining and in the handling of complex ores. However, for those who are interested in the origin and nature of ore deposits in general, there is much here to investigate, and upon studies in this direction will depend, in no small measure, the future of an industry that has produced during the year 1916, in southwest Missouri, lead and zinc ores to the value of $26,319,383; adding $46,022,164 to the metallic wealth of the nation. Including the adjacent mines in Ottawa County, Oklahoma, and Cherokee County, Kansas, which are really continuations of the Joplin district, the total value of ores produced reached the sum of $34,089,503, and that of the metals, $58,927,941.l The ores produced in the Joplin district are remarkable on account of their almost uniformly high metal content in both lead and zinc. Their superiority in this regard is unparalleled, and is doubtless due to certain geological conditions that are now possibly explicable, provided that the artesian circulation = ascension hypothesis of the origin of the ore deposits is proved beyond question to be the only tenable explanation of the facts. These, as well as other valuable zinc-ore deposits, are bound to be exhausted in time, for ordinary mining purposes, and it concerns the mining engineer that the conditions under which ores of this character were actually deposited in the form in which they occur, may, if possible, be ascertained, in order that he may learn where to look for similar deposits in other regions, or even how to reproduce artificially such condi-

Jan 1, 1918

By Ivan Bonchev, Elisaveta Djurova, Evgeni Visariev, Viktor Stoilov

"Two types of slag cooling is used world wide - cooling in ladles and cooling in pits. The flotation comparison of the type cooling regimes was done at Aurubis Bulgaria. In Copper smelter Aurubis Bulgaria (Pirdop), the residual copper in the slags from Flash furnace and Converters is recovered by flotation. The slag flotation plant processes blend of three parts FSF and one part converter slag. The slag processing comprises: pit cooling, crushing, two stages grinding (autogenous and ball) and flotation. The copper content in flotation concentrate is over 20 % and in flotation tail is under 0.5 %. In order to improve the copper recovery, different cooling rate of the liquid slags should be achieved. Three cooling experiments with flash smelting furnace (FSF) slag have been done: two of them in pits with different volume and one cooling experiment in metallic ladle. The ambient air temperature during the cooling tests was from -4 to +4 OC. Laboratory flotation tests in open cycle were done with an aim to compare the slags behaviors cooled at different conditions. In this paper the effect of different cooling on the flotation process will be presented. The copper recovery and distribution by sizes in the tails, copper content in the rougher concentrate, and the concentrate yield are discussed."

Jan 1, 2014

By W. Geo. Waring

Introduction THE winning of zinc and lead ores from the comparatively shallow deposits of the Joplin district, presents, few such problems for the mining engineer as are encountered in deep ore mining and in the handling of complex ores. However, for those who are interested in the origin and nature of ore deposits in general, there is much here to investigate, and upon studies in this direction will depend in no small measure the future of an industry that has produced during the year 1916, in southwest Missouri, lead and zinc ores to the value of $26,319,383; adding $46,022,164 to the metallic wealth of the nation. Including the adjacent mines in Ottawa County, Oklahoma, and Cherokee County, Kansas, which are, really continuations of the Joplin district, the total value of ores produced reached the sums of $34,089,503, and that of the metals, $58,927,941.1 The ores produced in the Joplin district are remarkable on account of their almost uniformly high" metal content in both lead and zinc. Their superiority in this regard is unparalleled, and is doubtless clue to certain geological conditions that are now possibly explicable, provided that the artesian circulation = ascension hypothesis of the origin of the ore deposits is proven beyond question to be the only tenable explanation of the facts. These, as well as other valuable zinc-ore deposits, are bound to he exhausted in time, for ordinary mining purposes, acid it concerns the mining engineer that the conditions under which ores of this character were actually deposited in the form in which they occur, may, if possible, be ascertained, in order that he may learn where to look for similar deposits in other regions, or even how to reproduce artificially such condi-

Jan 9, 1917

By R. S. Archibald

The subject of this paper is particularly appropriate, since Daniel C. Jackling was active in early exploitation of taconites on the Mesabi Range and contributed greatly to their later economic development. After his success in developing the low grade porphyries in the West he looked for more worlds to conquer, and so undertook the concentration of low grade taconites, from which he hoped to produce commercial ore. Mesabi Iron Co., organized in 1919, actually did produce merchantable sinter from taconites in 1922. The enterprise did not prove commercial at the time, as cost of production was high and the surplus of iron ore in the Lake Superior District already contributed to a low market price, but this same property has since been developed by Reserve Mining Co. The work done by Jackling had much to do with the success of this later venture. Iron ore was first discovered on the Marquette Range in Michigan in 1845. The first ore from this range came from the old Jackson mine in Negaunee in 1848. During these early years this property and others on the Marquette produced limited tonnages for transportation to Lower Lakes and for consumption by charcoal furnaces in the area, where a plentiful supply of hardwoods furnished the charcoal for iron smelting. The Marquette and other ranges tributary to Lake Superior did not produce much ore for transportation to Lower Lakes until the locks at Sault Ste. Marie were constructed, but from the time the first lock at the "Soo" was completed in 1855 these ores were transported through the locks to consumer centers in the East. The Marquette Range has a history of continuous production from 1848 to the present day.

Jan 5, 1959

By K. Harlow

"Zircon is a naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) and as such is subject to a variety of regulations around the world. The regulatory processes and their implementation are summarized and the key issues affecting zircon and zirconia highlighted. Having absorbed the activities of the former Zircon Minerals Committee, the strategy of the Zircon Industry Association (ZIA) is to be the ‘go-to place’ for information on these matters, and its activities in the NORM space are described. Chemical industry regulations such as REACH are spreading around the world, and the paper provides an update of their status in the key jurisdictions. As mineral sands are transported to market in oceangoing vessels, they are subject to the regulations of the International Maritime Organization, which are summarized in the paper. IntroductionFrom a global perspective, zircon is generally not found in high concentrations other than in placer and dune deposits where it has been deposited along with other heavy minerals such as ilmenite, rutile, and monazite. Such deposits have been sorted and concentrated over geological time by the action of tides, waves, and wind to form concentrated deposits of heavy minerals along old coastlines and in river beds and deltas. Consequently, zircon is mostly found in association with the principal titanium minerals ilmenite and rutile. These secondary concentrations in placer deposits provide the commercial sources of zircon.All geological materials contain natural radioactivity, although the term NORM (naturally occurring radioactive material) is mostly used for minerals and other materials with above-average uranium and thorium concentrations. Importantly, the radioactive nature of zircon has not changed, but the way in which radioactivity is viewed by regulators has, affecting the zircon industry throughout the value chain."

Jan 1, 2017

By William A. Prosser, Kyle R. Ott, Philip Rice

"INTRODUCTION The existing Baltimore and Potomac (B&P) Tunnel accommodates Amtrak (National Railroad Passenger Corporation) and MARC (Maryland Rail Corporation) service between Baltimore, MD and Washington, DC and occasional local freight service. The Baltimore and Potomac Tunnel Replacement Project proposes new tunnel construction through Baltimore, Maryland along the Northeast Corridor (NEC) that maintains connections to Baltimore Pennsylvania Station. After the Replacement Project is constructed and operational, the disposition of the existing tunnel must be determined. The tunnel could be abandoned; however, considering its location in a congested downtown, alternative uses have been considered to take advantage of this unique piece of infrastructure by repurposing it. Alternative uses for the existing 140-year-old B&P Tunnel may end up being cost effective and should be considered, as the tunnel can be made accessible to construction crews for extended periods of time that will allow for efficient work activities unlike when it is fully operational. Possible alternatives include conversion for non-rail use, rehabilitation, or complete modernization for continued rail traffic. The following paper describes the four potential fates of the conceptual designs for the existing B&P Tunnel. The four concepts include: • No Build – rehabilitate to keep the tunnel operational. • Abandonment – complete or partial sealing of the tunnel. • Adaptive Re-Use –repurpose the tunnel with sustainable building practice. • Full Rehabilitation and Modernization – bring to current fire-life safety aspects. Of the four concepts, only the no build addresses maintaining the tunnel while it is under traffic. The remaining fates address the existing tunnel after the new tunnel is operational and railroad traffic has been diverted to it. Development of these conceptual designs were provided in a concept design study (Parsons Brinckerhoff/Parsons, 2015) that supports the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review process for the Project, which includes evaluation of possible alternative uses of the existing B&P Tunnel."

Jan 1, 2016

By D. F. Hewitt

Page Introduction..............................305 Geologic features of eastern Oregon....................306 Geology of the Sumpter quadrangle....................306 Rocks older than the ore deposits...................307 Rocks younger than the ore deposits.............. . Lodes of the Sumpter quadrangle..................312 Areal distribution.......................312 Geologic distribution.................... . Major features of the veins...................313 Mineralogy and texture of the veins.............. . Ore deposits zonally disposed around the Bald Mountain batholith . 317 Summary of mineralogy and texture.............336 Zonal relations......................337 Ore deposits zonally disposed around Greenhorn Mountain batholith. 340 Zonal relations..................... . Relation of textural features to zonal arrangement of veins.....341 Summary of zonal relations.................. . Comparison with similar districts................. . Outlook for the district......................344 Introduction In an earlier report on the Sumpter quadrangle1 it was briefly stated that the quartz lodes of that region might be separated into several groups or belts on the basis of the kind and abundance of the minerals of which they are composed, and that these belts were disposed as areal zones around the principal intrusive mass of the region. When the opportunity to revisit the region was offered in 1929, as a result of a cooperative agreement between the State Mining Board of Oregon and the United States Geological Survey, it seemed advisable to pay particular attention to this feature of the lodes, in the hope that if the idea of zonal relations was confirmed it might serve as a guide in exploitation.

Jan 1, 1931

By D. B. Smith

DURING the summer of 1953, test work commenced at the Sullivan Concentrator with a view to the modification of filtration practice by the inclusion of wet cyclone classification of the lead concentrates, with separate filtration of the underflow and overflow products. Formerly, practice was conventional and the equipment employed comprised one 50-foot diameter thickener ?with the underflow routed via a 20-foot stock tank to two 8-foot by 12-foot Oliver filters. Heating of the filter feeds to 40° C. and the use of mechanical slappers on the filter drums ?have both been standard features of Sullivan practice for years. Both of these have been retained. Currently (February, 1956), lead concentrates are being classified into sands and slimes by 12-inch cyclones with the underflow, at 75 per cent solids, being fed to No. 1 Oliver filter. The overflow is thickened to 75 per cent solids and filtered separately by a No. 2 Oliver filter . The tonnage split is approximately two of underflow to one of overflow. The overflow contains 75 to 80 per cent of the total minus I 500 mesh slimes in the feed.

Jan 1, 1956