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By B. E. Davis, D. A. Stanley, C. E. Jordan

A prototype expert advisor was developed by the U.S. Bureau of Mines to systematically offer advice on the control of a Florida phosphate operation. The PC based system receives input from remote sensors for circuit parameters such as feed rate, reagent addition, and pH and from operator entered information such as the quality of the concentrate and tailings in each of the coarse, fine, and amine flotation circuits. The computer evaluates the information using rules obtained from industry representatives and Bureau flotation experts. Recommended actions and questions are displayed to quickly guide the operator to a problem within the flotation circuit and suggest a solution. This process control system could provide more uniformity among the flotation operators and also serve as a trainer for new operators. In addition, it represents a step toward fully automated systems for phosphate flotation.

Jan 1, 1990

By John B. Malcom

The discovery of tungsten-bearing quartz outcrop- pings in Vance County, N. C., by the Hamme brothers in 1942, made international news in the mining industry and was, in fact, one of the major ore discoveries made in the U.S. during the last 25 years. Operations began at the Hamme mine in 1942, but after 16 years of successful operation, the mine was closed down in 1958 under adverse market conditions. By that time, it had produced nearly 20 million lbs of metallic tungsten. Because of the square-set timber mining method then in use, mine operating expenses were high, actually representing 78% of the total operating expenses at the property. In timber work alone, 160 men were employed. Approximately 500,000 bd ft of timber were placed monthly at a direct supply cost of $1.00 per ton of ore mined.

Jan 4, 1962

By Reid JG, Cutfield S

Considerable quantities of dissolved nickel are lost in the waste liquors from the QNPL nickel treatment plant. Cementation, precipitation and ion exchange techniques were investigated to reduce this loss. Ion exchange was the most successful of the procedures studied and a process for recovering nickel from stripped ammoniacal process liquors was developed in the laboratory and scaled up to plant flow volumes. The system developed uses a carboxylic ion exchange resin operated in a completely ammoniacal cycle. The regenerant is itself regenerable using existing plant, thus the only loss is the stoichiometric value of NH4+ required to displace the exchanged cations from the resin. Existing plant sand/anthracite filter beds have been adapted for use as resin columns containing 3 cubic metres of resin capable of treating effluent at a flow rate of 6000 litres/min.

Jan 1, 1978

By Restarick CJ

Plant data are presented which indicate a relationship between flotation rate constants and pulp density in zinc cleaning circuits at Broken Hill. The data were obtained from down the bank sampling of cleaner and recleaner banks at North Broken Hill and New Broken Hill Consolidated Concentrators. It was found that, under normal plant operation, flotation rate constants increased at the lower pulp densities existing in the later cells of cleaner banks. The addition of dilution water to the feed to the bank increased flotation rate constants, thereby confirming the relationship. It is shown that the relationship between flotation rate constant and pulp density is size dependent, being most pronounced for larger sized particles. In contrast, the effect is not markedly dependent upon mineral type. Possible consequences of this relationship for control of cleaner operation are discussed with the aid of some simulated results.

Jan 1, 1978

By S. C. Suboleski, R. Zhao

A Simulation/Animation Model (SAM) with several unique features has been developed for continuous mining in room-and-pillar production systems. Initial cut data are generated by the program based on a short list of general section parameters, and is graphically displayed on the screen for checking and editing. This portion of the program includes several intelligent features. For example, a different cut sequence will be generated for uni-directional section ventilation than for bi-directional flow. Once the data are accepted, the entire simulation may be viewed in animation. Effectively, much of the data are checked visually by watching the actions of the mining equipment. Following the simulation, results are summarized as bar and pie charts, as well as printed output. In addition to the extensive use of graphics, the program contains several advances in simulation techniques as well.

Jan 1, 1993

By W. J. Sharwood

(San Francisco Meeting, September. 1915) THE assay or estimation of the total gold content of an ore presents little difficulty, when circumstances permit of securing a thoroughly representative sample. The general practice has been fairly standardized, and such errors as occur in the results obtained are for the most part attributable to the methods of sampling rather than to those of assaying, while duplicate assays made by skilled workers usually agree closely. When it is a question of estimating the "free" or amalgamable gold of an ore, as opposed to the total gold, there is but little uniformity in the methods employed by different workers, and often equally little in the results obtained when duplicate determinations are attempted, no satisfactory standard method having been generally adopted. The methods in use are of two general types-"panning" and "amalgamation."

Jan 8, 1915

A series of laboratory based push and pull tests were carried out to investigate how surface profile influence the load transfer mechanism of bolt/resin interface. Tests were carried out in both 75 mm and 150 mm long steel sleeves. Three types of bolts were examined, they were bolts most commonly used for strata reinforcements in underground coal mines in Australia. The bolts had near equal core diameter but of different profile configurations. The change in the length of the encapsulation sleeve was examined in light of the small number of profiles encapsulated effectively in short 75 mm long sleeves. The results showed that peak loads and displacements were directly related to the height and the spacing of the bolt surface profiles. Profile spacing appears to have greater influence on load transfer capacity than the profile height.

Jan 1, 2006

By I. L. Nichols, D. C. Seidel, D. E. Traut

A fluidized countercurrent ion-exchange system was developed, operated, and evaluated by the Bureau of Mines. The system consisted of integrated multiple-compartment absorption and elution columns in which the solution flows are continuous except for short periods when resin increments are withdrawn. The exchange of uranyl sulfate between a simulated acid leach uranium solution and a strong-base, ion-exchange resin together with the subsequent elution with an acidified sodium chloride solution was studied. The effects of the number of sections, section heights, amount of resin withdrawal, and solution flow rates were investigated. Also examined were the kinetic and equilibrium relationships for the absorption step. The experimental data indicate a strong interdependence between variables. Solution retention time appears to be a major limiting variable. The column was efficient over a range of conditions, but close control was needed for optimum operation.

Jan 1, 1977

Eliminate the occurrence of false fire detection alarms caused by the operation of diesel-powered vehicles in underground coal mines. Approach Fire detection systems used in underground mines are based on measurements of airborne combustion products such as carbon monoxide or smoke particles. The effectiveness and credibility of these systems can be reduced by the occurrence of false alarms that result from the operation of diesel-powered equipment, which produces the same combustion products. False alarms end up being very costly to the mine operation in terms of downtime and labor needed for verification. To improve upon current fire detection systems used in the presence of internal combustion engine products, the U.S. Bureau of Mines developed a fire detector that can discriminate between the occurrence of real mine fires and the presence of engine smoke.

Jan 1, 1989

Pilot plant work has played a major role in the process development and design phase of the Iscor Heavy Minerals project. The pilot plant campaigns have been aimed at three process areas, namely primary beneficiation (wet gravity circuits), heavy mineral separation and ilmenite smelting. A process development structure was put in place, and the various pilot plants designed and built. A number of pilot campaigns were conducted during the project phase since 1995, and most of the key objectives were achieved. Various other valuable ælessonsÆ were learnt, and were incorporated in the full-scale plant designs, or used to change operating philosophies, equipment choices et cetera. The cost and durations of the pilot runs were significant, and an analysis indicated that the major risk and technology area of smelting has contributed more than 70 per cent of the total cost.

Jan 1, 2001

The Mine Safety and Inspection Act, 1994 of Western Australia recognises the importance of ground control in underground mining. The recent safety performance of underground mining is summarised in terms of the most common causes of injury and fatal accidents. A review of current ground control practices is presented and the concepts of local and large-scale ground control are introduced. The need for a more systematic approach to ground control is considered to be directly related to requirement to improve safety performance. The new regulations will require that certain geotechnical issues be addressed during the life of a mine. To comply with the regulations it is suggested that a ground control management plan be developed for each mine. The geotechnical issues associated with the ground control management plan are reviewed and hazard recognition aspects discussed.

Jan 1, 1995

By Graham A. Mathieson

A detailed breakdown of capital and operating costs is an essential element in the planning and evaluation of any mining project. The OPCOST System was developed by Golder Associates to provide mining engineers with the facility to synthesize detailed cost estimates for all aspects of an operating or potential open pit mine. The system can also be applied to underground mines equally as well. Such estimates can be prepared at a variety of levels depending on the detail required by the project. The OPCOST System is a suite of computer programs linked through a common hierarchical data base. It simulates the thought and reasoning processes within the quantity takeoff and cost estimation phases of a mining project. The system was developed as a mining cost engineering tool on the basis that it would have to satisfy a variety of purposes, namely:

Jan 1, 1982

By Lewis J. W

The mineral sand orebodies of the east coast of Australia occupy approximately three per cent of the dune-heath-wetland coastal environment. They are associated with coastal plant communities ranging from Holocene high dunes carrying mature Eucalypt forests to low- lying heaths on Pleistocene deposits. Commonly, 0.25 to 1.5 per cent of the sand volume mined is removed from the site. Therefore, the volume change is insignificant. The equipment and techniques in use are flexible and the land can be returned in a manner suited to its subsequent use for grazing, subdivision or recreation. Landforms similar to the pre-existing are created in two case studies given. Sophisticated revegetation techniques are practised and are discussed in two case studies. Pre-mining vegetation surveys and post-mining monitoring are used to guide the management of the ecosystem.

Jan 1, 1976

By D Fargher

BHP BillitonÆs Cannington operation began production in 1997 and is presently the largest tonnage and lowest cost single mine producer of both lead and silver in the world. The original design capacity was 1.5 Mtpa and this has progressively increased via a series of debottlenecking projects in both the mining and milling operations. In 2003, 2.39 Mt of ore was mined, whilst 2.31 Mt of ore was milled. In February 2003 Cannington received approval to expand the project to a sustainable capacity of 2.4 Mtpa. This resulted in underground development into the northern zone, upgrades to the concentrator, increased accommodation at site and power station capacity. The Cannington project development team implemented a partnership approach to the project. Fraser Osborn Engineering and Outokumpu Technology worked closely together with the Cannington team to meet all of the project constraints.

Jan 1, 2004

Key elements of open-pit design fixing the ultimate pit limits are stripping ratio, pit slope angle, and grade cutoff. Results of exploratory and development drilling should be reduced to horizontal sections corresponding to level spacing. It is advisable to interpolate the actual drillhole values to a uniformly spaced 50-ft grid system. Vertical sections can be and are used to approximate the fixing of pit limits, but horizontal sections must be used to optimize a pit design. To develop a pit design requires the establishment of the break-even stripping ratio. This ratio is applied only at the surface of the final pit and must not be confused with the over-all ratio, which is always less; otherwise there would be no profit in the operation. The break-even stripping ratio is determined by the formula: [ ]

Jan 10, 1967

By Tucker A. J

An overburden blast utilising horizontal blast holes was successfully attempted at the Ulan Coal Mines during December 1991. The blast reduced operational problems and costs and improved dragline productivity in an area of that contains poorly consolidated sands and clays overlying very hard Permian strata.The fan shaped shot consisted of seven 250 mm diameter holes between 80 and 95 metres long drilled into the highwall face. The holes were loaded with ICI Powergel Gold 25606 bulk Emulsion explosive. The design powder factor was 0.15 kg/bcm for the total shot of 180 000 bcros and 0.44 kg/bcm for the competent Permian strata into which the holes were drilled. Fragmentation from the horizontal blast was comparable to areas conventual blasted. Following the success of this shot further shots are planned for this area.

Jan 1, 1992

The phosphate pebble-bearing matrix in the Florida Phosphate Pebble Field has physical properties which make it readily adaptable to hydraulic transportation methods employing solids-handling pumps and pipelines. The abundance of water available, a practically flat terrain, low costs per ton-mile, and beneficiation of the matrix by agitation while being pumped have contributed to the popular choice of hydraulic transportation. Phosphate pebble mining in Florida, begun in the 1860's, first used high pressure water and solids-handling pumps for overburden removal about 1900. Removal of the average 25 ft of overburden was followed by hydraulic mining of the matrix, with 6-in. and 8-in. pumps handling 50 to 100 cu yds per hour being moved along the floor of the pit as they were advanced toward the face being undercut and slurried by hydraulic guns.

Jan 3, 1961

By Henry Carlisle

W. W. Mein: One of the most amusing things in Nevada City – I was born and was going to school there - was that my mother made overcoats for us, and because they were different from other boys’ overcoats, we’d hide them under a bridge and pick them up on the way home. I left Nevada City with my parents when I was about eleven years old, and moved to Oakland. This was caused by the closing down of the hydraulic mines and my father being send to the El Cayo mine in Venezuela, which was then one of the richest gold mines in the world. Hamilton Smith operated the hydraulic mines in California, and when they were closed down by the Sawyer decision, he was persuaded by the Rothschilds to go to London. There, together, they formed the London Exploration Co.

Jan 1, 1964

Warkworth Mining has been successfully operating a large open cut coal mining operation in the Hunter Valley of NSW since 1981.The mine is a complexmulti seam operation and utalises both truck and shovel and draglinetechniques. Warkworth Coal Sales Ltd markets approximately 10 different coal types.Since the mines inceptionthe development of mine scheduling and planning has been an ongoing programme. Resource recovery and coal utalisation have been the driving factors with this development as we strive to achieve maximum revenue for the investment dollar.The principal aim of this paper is to discuss the scheduling methodology as it is utilised todayhighlighting the interaction in the development of the final coal products schedule.Whilst the system is notperfect it has evolved and operated successfully in these difficult economic times and offers a practical and achievable approach to resource optimisation.

Jan 1, 1992

By Roberto Nova

The selection of the Osterberg Cell (O-Cell) technology as the standard testing method for deep foundations of the Railways Po Viaduct in Northern Italy offered a relevant number of field measures on large bored pile behaviour in alluvial soils. The assessment of pile response during such ?non standard? testing procedure was performed through the comparison with standard top load tests on companion piles as well as by numerical models of the tests including a simplified pile-soil interaction scheme. As shown in this paper, the O-Cell technology allowed a careful assessment of the non-linear pile behaviour even at quite small loading levels as those required by a posteriori proof tests on production piles. Simple numerical models proved to be very effective in the simulation and the interpretation of pile behaviour during such unconventional testing procedure.

Jan 1, 2008