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By Carroll F. Hardy

The day by day loss of industrial plants to gas and oil is chiefly by default. The coal industry is not selling its superior economy, safety, and other advantages to its customers. THE position of the coal industry has been affected by a wide variety of developments in the production and use of energy. The tempo of development and change has been increasing and the end is not in sight. Legislation is currently being proposed for commercial use of atomic power, and the employment of atomic energy in significant quantity will probably occur about the same time as the decline in production of petroleum and natural gas. But these developments are in the future and have little immediate effect on utilization and marketing of coal. While no one should try to suppress or retard the development of a new and economical source of energy, both the coal and private utility industry should be allowed to question how the nuclear power is to be used, who is to use it, and who is going to pay for it. The taxpayers have a monopoly on fissionable material and the knowledge to employ it. Any commercial use must stem from this source. It is not hard to visualize either taxpayer-subsidized private utility atomic power plants on one hand and super TVA's on the other. In view of the gains of gas and oil in the home heating field, it is interesting to compare the 1940 and 1950 census reports on the kind of fuel used for heating in occupied dwelling units. Table I shows that whereas coal provided 77 pct of the fuel for central heating (furnaces and boilers) in 1940, it was down to 45.4 pct in 1950. However, only about 1 1½ million units were lost in this 10-year period. In the non-central heating category, which principally includes stoves, the percentage declined from 39.2 to 25.6, but the units declined about 2½ million in number. The big increase was in heating units designed to burn gas and oil. Use of wood for central heating declined about one-third. Data on amount of fuels used for residential heating are not available, but information is on hand for residential and comnlercial space heating, see Table 11. Commercial space heating includes office buildings, churches, schools. and similar structures. The annual use of bituminous coal in these two categories declined about 1 million tons in the 10-year period. Other forms of solid fuel showed greater losses, except wood, which remained the same. Domestic stokers reached their high point in 1948 with about 1,200,000 in use. At the end of 1951 there were approximately 1,116,790 stokers in use. Conversions to gas and oil have been from hand-fired heating plants in the ratio of about 7 to 1 compared to stokers. In other words, for every one stoker which has been converted to gas or oil, seven hand-fired units have been converted to gas or oil. A bare recital of these data would indicate that the coal industry is holding its own reasonably well. However, 93.4 pct of the new homes built in 1951 were heated by gas or oil. Oil-burning equipment was installed in 37.8 pct and gas equipment in 55.6 pct of the new homes. This indicates that the public prefers gas when it is available, and that oil is second choice, with all forms of solid fuel apparently used when it is unavoidable. It must be pointed out, however, that during the period of rapid expansion of gas pipelines gas has been sold for house heating at prices that are in some cases actually lower than coal prices, or very nearly on a par. Gas has been sold at wells at far below the comparable price for oil produced from the same wells, and far below its actual worth. This situation is being remedied at the present time by increases in gas prices at the wells. For example, the wellhead price of gas in Texas averaged 7.494 per Mcf in 1952. In 1949 it was 4.59c per Mcf. This increase in price is being reflected in pipeline gas prices, and in most of the markets served by the pipelines the tendency is to get it out of the bargain basement type of sales. The American Gas Association estimates that at the end of 1952 there were in the United States about 11 million customers for gas house-heating, and the Association expects additional gains each year until around 18 million homes will be heated by gas in 1975. By 1975 there should be 60 million dwelling units to be heated in the United States, if dwelling units increase at the same rate as the population. If the gas industry heats 18 million dwelling units by that time, this still leaves 42 million units to be heated by some other fuel. If oil is used to heat 18 million dwelling units in that same year, 24 million would of necessity be heated by coal, coke, wood, electricity, or another fuel. The total number of dwelling units using coal listed in the 1950 Census was 18,776,000, so it would appear that coal has a chance at least to stand still in the tonnage sold for domestic use. In the first quarter of 1953, 2044 domestic stokers

Jan 1, 1955

By F. W. Rols-Hausen, F. W. Jessen

It is the purpose of this paper to present data on brines occurring in the Frio formation of the Texas Gulf Coast, and to show how their composition varies, (1) with depth below the surface, (2) with depth below the top of the formation, and (3) along the approximate strike. The brines vary in chloride content from 3,180 to 73,000 p.p.m., though the average salinity of the salt waters is shown to vary with total depth; the concentration being 35,000 to 40,000 p.p.m. at 3500 to 5500 ft., slightly less than 50,000 p.p.m. chloride at 5500 to 6500 ft. and average 38,000 to 40,000 below 6500 feet. From the analyses available, it appears that the highest concentration of salts occurs in the upper 300 ft. of the formation, while lower salinity is found with increasing depth below this point. The salt waters from wells in Starr County show less concentration of dissolved salts than in any other group of wells farther north along the strike. In all, 116 analyses from 63 fields and 14 wildcats, from depths ranging from 1300 to 11,400 ft. below the surface and from z to 3240 ft. below the top of the Frio, are recorded. Introduction Brines have been studied for many Years in an attempt to solve some of the geologic and production problems associated with the production of oil and gas. One practical application of study of . water analyses is the correlation of waters occurring above, in, or below the producing sand in the same field or throughout the same formation. The Frio formation, the series of sands and shales occurring below the Marginulina zone and above the Vicksburg, is one of the major oil and gas-producing formations in the Texas Gulf Coast. Fossils are rare or absent in the upper Frio throughout most of the area. When available, cuttings and cores, and electric logs were used to determine the top of the Frio. A change in lithology was used to determine this point in most of the wells, and fossils were used in some of the deep wells. It is realized that a change in lithology is not perfect for correlation purposes over long distances and some of the trends may be influenced by the inability to differentiate between the nonfossiliferous Marginulina zone and the Frio. It underlies virtually all the area shown on the accompanying map (Fig. I). Although it is not productive in the updip facies, it has been explored to a limited degree below I2,000 ft. Further more, toward the coast line future drilling to deeper depths should encounter this formation. Although thousands of wells have penetrated or drilled entirely through the formation, very few water samples have been secured from the many sands occurring in this formation and analyzed. Previous Investigation No previous published study has been made of the chemical composition and concentration of waters from the Frio formation. However, one water analysis

Jan 1, 1944

By F. W. Jessen, F. W. Rols-Hausen

It is the purpose of this paper to present data on brines occurring in the Frio formation of the Texas Gulf Coast, and to show how their composition varies, (1) with depth below the surface, (2) with depth below the top of the formation, and (3) along the approximate strike. The brines vary in chloride content from 3,180 to 73,000 p.p.m., though the average salinity of the salt waters is shown to vary with total depth; the concentration being 35,000 to 40,000 p.p.m. at 3500 to 5500 ft., slightly less than 50,000 p.p.m. chloride at 5500 to 6500 ft. and average 38,000 to 40,000 below 6500 feet. From the analyses available, it appears that the highest concentration of salts occurs in the upper 300 ft. of the formation, while lower salinity is found with increasing depth below this point. The salt waters from wells in Starr County show less concentration of dissolved salts than in any other group of wells farther north along the strike. In all, 116 analyses from 63 fields and 14 wildcats, from depths ranging from 1300 to 11,400 ft. below the surface and from z to 3240 ft. below the top of the Frio, are recorded. Introduction Brines have been studied for many Years in an attempt to solve some of the geologic and production problems associated with the production of oil and gas. One practical application of study of . water analyses is the correlation of waters occurring above, in, or below the producing sand in the same field or throughout the same formation. The Frio formation, the series of sands and shales occurring below the Marginulina zone and above the Vicksburg, is one of the major oil and gas-producing formations in the Texas Gulf Coast. Fossils are rare or absent in the upper Frio throughout most of the area. When available, cuttings and cores, and electric logs were used to determine the top of the Frio. A change in lithology was used to determine this point in most of the wells, and fossils were used in some of the deep wells. It is realized that a change in lithology is not perfect for correlation purposes over long distances and some of the trends may be influenced by the inability to differentiate between the nonfossiliferous Marginulina zone and the Frio. It underlies virtually all the area shown on the accompanying map (Fig. I). Although it is not productive in the updip facies, it has been explored to a limited degree below I2,000 ft. Further more, toward the coast line future drilling to deeper depths should encounter this formation. Although thousands of wells have penetrated or drilled entirely through the formation, very few water samples have been secured from the many sands occurring in this formation and analyzed. Previous Investigation No previous published study has been made of the chemical composition and concentration of waters from the Frio formation. However, one water analysis

Jan 1, 1944

By John P. Coughlin

Software techniques developed by the Bureau of Mines Denver Research Center for real-time microseismic data analysis are presented. These techniques focus on the simple acquisition of P-wave arrival times and their use in event location. The paper discusses in detail software techniques to separate microseismic events from mining noise such as drilling and from very large events such as rock bursts. Incorporation of these techniques has enhanced the reliability and accuracy of computer-based monitoring of microseismic activity in ongoing research by the Bureau.

Jan 1, 1982

By Chi-shing Wang

In many cases the roof strata of a bedded deposit may be considered as a composite of rock beams of rectangular cross section, whose component layers differ in thickness and may or may not be separable from each other when they are subjected to loading by their own weight. An analytical study of the behavior of such multiple-layer beams is extremely difficult owing to the heterogeneity and anisotropy of rock materials. The complexity is revealed by the fringe photographs obtained from several series of barodynamic photostress experiments conducted on various types of multiple-layer model beams of a medium-grained Bedford limestone. Further discussion on the applicability of barodynamic photostress techniques to the model study of the behavior of mine roofs in stratified geologic media is presented by comparing the phenomenological observations recorded in this investigation.

Jan 1, 1968

By A. E. Halim, J. F. Brune

The 2006 Sago, Darby, and Aracoma mine disasters in the United States (US) forced the US government to implement the 2006 MINER Act and additional regulations that require all US underground coal mines to install and maintain refuge chambers to manage entrapment emergencies, in particular, fires and explosions. However, there is a debate on whether barricading in refuge chambers is a good strategy to survive such emergencies. Australian coal mines are not required to use refuge chambers and, instead, have adopted a strategy that focuses on instructing and training miners to self-escape to the surface. This paper analyzes merits and problems of using refuge chambers and self-escape to the surface to manage emergencies in fires or explosions in an underground coal mine. The authors found that the use of refuge chambers may not be the best strategy during extensive fires or when multiple explosions happen. In these situations, mine rescuers are unlikely able to extract miners who are sheltered in chambers and conversely, self-escape may save more lives than sheltering. Chances for successful self-escape are further improved by regular, externally assessed training such as Level 1 Emergency Exercises required in the Australian State of Queensland. These exercises put pressure on mine operators to ensure and maintain the effectiveness of their emergency management system.

By F. X. Tartaron

The comparison of actual energy of comminution with theoretical surface energy presents a wide gap. On the other hand, Solid State Theory presents a viewpoint that places actual energy of breakage in understandable relationship with the theoretical strength of materials. Therefore the physical background of comminution theory favors Kick's Law. A11 discussions of comminution theory appear farfetched when comparison is made of the actual energy of crushing with the energy input called for by thermodynamic theory. Quoting Taggart:' "The work required to crush halite was of the general order of 0.10 kg cm per sq cm of new surface produced (based on air percolation) whereas the theoretical energy of this new surface, based on thermodynamic calculation by a number of investigators is 1 x 10'4 kg cm per sq cm or the work expended was 1000 times the new surface energy — an indicated crushing efficiency of 0.10 pct." It is frustrating to probe into comminution theory with the prospect that the energy one is measuring is 99.9 pct waste energy. Do the laws of comminution deal with energy consumed by mineral breakage or with waste heat energy? There seems to be something wrong. Solid State Theory may provide the answer. The following statement is particularly apt to the situation: "The fundamental fact about metals and indeed all materials, is that they are much weaker than they should be. By this, we mean that if the stress required to cause a given plane of atoms to slip past a neighboring plane is calculated from basic atomic and Solid State Theory, the resulting number is some 1000 times too large to be accounted for by errors in approximations or assumptions. We know now that this is due to dislocations, and we even have a fair understanding of the details of the process by which dislocations make a crystal weak. An intriguing possibility which suggests itself, results from the discovery of very minute metallic crystals which are apparently free of dislocations and which have a strength approaching the ideal value for a perfect crystal." Here we have an extraordinary reversal of the situation. The actual energy for breakage is only one-thousandth the theoretical instead of 1000 times as given by Taggart. But the theoretical energy presented by Solid State Theory is the binding energy between atoms (or ions) in a crystal lattice. This is the kind of energy envisaged by Kick's law. The surface energy or the other hand corresponds to Rittinger's law. Comparison of theoretical with actual, on the basis of surface or on the basis of Rittinger's law, seems to present an absurdity; yet Rittinger's law is confirmed by an impressive array of experimental evidence. Comparison of theoretical and actual on the basis of Solid State Theory or, in other words, on the basis of Kick's law seems reasonable; yet there is not a scrap of evidence to verify Kick's law. The situation appears paradoxical, but the developments in the next section of this paper show that the paradox is a hint to a strange turn of events. ENERGY-WEIGHT FRACTION FUNCTION charles3 has presented a final equation showing the relation of energy consumed in comminution to size of product n{-1) a-n + 1 E is energy, C is proportionality constant, a and n are constants and k is the coarsest size in the ground product (size modulus). In the course of study of a large amount of experimental evidence, Charles discovered that in the general case, a-n + 1 approximated zero. For some reason, a and n differed only by unity. But if a—n + 1 = 0 within experimental error, then it is obvious that Eq. 1 states that it requires an infinite amount of energy to grind any sample to any size. This is a case where nature gives an absurd answer to a man-made mathematical equation, hence something is wrong with the equation. An adjustment must be made to fit the equation with experience. TO reveal the nature of the adjustment, the differential equation preceding the second integration in Charles' group of equations is given When Charles integrated the quantity xa-n it was almost impossible for him to realize that he was dealing with a special case of integration and that

Jan 1, 1962

By T Soares, P Esteves, C Senna, V Souto, E Dias

Steinert provides a wide portfolio of Sensor Based Sorting (SBS) technologies, including the possibility to combine different sensor data in the development of the separation applications. This multi sensor approach provides a larger applicability and extensive flexibility for the technology. This effect is emphasized for mining applications, once every ore body presents its own features that can also comprise a large material variability. In this sense, every sorting application is customized and comprises a personalized solution. This means each project development includes a test work stage that approaches from the project discussion, test definition, up to test outcomes and processing development. In relation to very complex and large projects, a sorting pilot scale plant has become a crescent tendency. By having a pilot plant stage can represent a chance to test larger amounts of material from different mining areas, different mining projects, such as to consider different processing targets and application approaches. Based on that, a better understanding about the technology application can guide a more assertive development of large and complex ore sorting projects. The aim of this paper is to provide information about the applicability of the Steinert multi sensor technology at different pilot plants in South America. It consists in a compilation of laboratory test results, plant design and operational results. For that, a chromite, an IOCG deposit and a sulphide gold ore projects are presented. Additionally, the paper discusses the application of different sensor technologies combinations such as various processing targets, thus providing a wider understanding about sorting applications and flexibility.

Nov 10, 2020

By Ning Wang, Tengfei Guo, Wanyan Li, Hanjie Wen, Hannian Gu, Zehai Li

Bauxite residue (red mud) is an alkaline waste derived from the industrial process for extraction of alumina from bauxite ore. Some bauxite residues contain considerable concentrations of critical metals, for example, rare earth elements. Lithium in red mud was also reported as a potential resource. In the current study, a Li-rich red mud was leached using acetic acid to investigate the leaching behavior of lithium followed by neutralizing with hydrochloric or oxalic acid. By neutralizing red mud using diluted hydrochloric acid (0.01 mol/L), 58.04–60.27% of lithium was leached using 25% acetic acid at 95 °C for 60 min. In the meantime, more than 95% of sodium and 85% of calcium were also dissolved in the leachate solution. While oxalic acid (0.5 mol/L) was used to neutralize red mud prior to acetic acid leaching, lithium performed lower leaching efficiencies (42.41–46.88%) in comparison of using of hydrochloric acid–neutralized red mud. Nevertheless, these leaching efficiencies of lithium were close to that of calcium and much higher than those of sodium under the condition. In this study, 25% (v/v) of acetic acid, at 85 °C for 60 min, was demonstrated as optimum conditions for lithium extraction from oxalic acid–neutralized red mud using acetic acid. The results would be useful and of interest for lithium recovery and purification from red mud.

By C. R. Copeland

Combustion processes, comminution and materials handling can generate airborne particulates. Regulation of these particulates by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) is becoming progressively more stringent, and regulations will soon include ?nanoparticulates,? which are particles finer than 100 nanometers (0.1 mm). Nanoparticulates are believed to have significant negative health effects due to their high surface area and reactivity. Although it was argued that nanoparticulate concerns were only important for combustion, studies at Michigan Technological University have shown that materials handling and comminution release significant quantities of nanoparticles into the air. Laboratory studies have shown that the use of sodium metasilicate reduced airborne particles finer than 10 mm (PM10) by 86% and particles finer than 2.5 mm (PM2.5) by 80% for iron ore. Additional studies were conducted that revealed that nanoparticulate emissions were present in the types of operations conducted at pyrometallurgical facilities.

Jan 1, 2008

By M. Howard Berliner

"INTRODUCTION During the last 4 months of 1943, the Bureau of Mines engaged in an investigation and exploratory drilling program in the area between the Coughlin and Galena Level mines near the town of Shullsburg, in Lafayette County, Wisconsin. The work was undertaken as part of a general Bureau of Mines investigation of the zinc-producing area of southwestern Wiscon¬sin at a time when an effort was being made to increase the production of metals important to the Nation's war program.The portion of the southwest Wisconsin zinc district in the immediate vicinity of Shullsburg and the Coughlin and Galena Level mines is well mineralized. The principal ore horizon is at shallow depth, and there is evidence that relatively extensive surface mining for lead was done over a period of many years. Underground mining' for lead and zinc has continued to the present time.The Bureau undertook an exploratory drilling program in the area immediately west and southwest of the Coughlin mine workings after thorough preliminary investigations and geologic studies indicated that such work would serve to guide operators in the development of new ore reserves needed for continuance of mining operations in that area."

Apr 1, 1947

U.S. Borax’s mine in California’s Mojave Desert is the source of nearly half the world’s supply of refined borates. These minerals are used in hundreds of products, including essential plant nutrients that increase crop yield and quality, and safe building products that protect homes from insects and the elements. Borax’s workforce is also safe. In fact, it is among the safest in the nation. In 2003, the company was recognized by the U.S. Mine, Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) for achieving the best safety record among large U.S. mining operations. It was also recognized by its parent company, Rio Tinto, for achieving the best record among its nearly 80 worldwide mining operations. Borax’s safety performance is five times better than the national average. And its workforce recently achieved more than two million hours without a lost-time injury.

Jan 1, 2004

By Arthur Boynton

IN THE preparation of this paper the writer has been influenced by the fact that descriptions of various means of cleaning blast-furnace gas have been published and that further descriptive treatment of the subject will probably be less interesting than a statement of conclusions with regard to preferable methods which have been reached by him as a result, of experience and observation in this country and also as a result of somewhat detailed investigation of the subject made toward the end of the year 1927 on the Continent of Europe and particularly in. Germany. Owing to various circumstances, including a cost of fuel that is extremely high in relation to the wages of labor, the German iron and steel industry has accumulated experience in gas washing which is as yet in part lacking in the United States of America. The paper begins with a statement regarding the economics of the use of blast-furnace gas, then considers the principle's and practices employed in its purification. USES OF BLAST-FURNACE GAS For many reasons having to do with the utilization of coke-oven and blast-furnace gases in steel manufacture and with the use of hot metal, the blast furnace is now usually a part of a steel-producing unit, which also includes coke plant and rolling mill. Therefore both blast-furnace and coke-oven gas are usually applicable to any of the iron and steel-making processes, including the generation of power, and their allocation in any given works should be considered as a single problem. The uses to which blast-furnace gas, either alone or mixed with coke-oven gas may be put, include the following: Regenerative Heating of Air for the Blast Furnace.-This is the oldest and metallurgically the most important of all uses. It is universally performed with unmixed blast-furnace gas and under proper conditions should require not over 23.5 per cent. of the total gas generated for a blast temperature of 1350° F. For Steam-raising Purposes.-This is almost universally done with unmixed blast-furnace gas. From the standpoint of quantity used, it is at the present time the most important application in American steel-works practice.

Jan 1, 1928

By Oscar T. Marzke

Four alloys that precipitate the alpha phase from the beta of the copper-zinc system were heat-treated in various ways to develop as many forms of the segregate as possible. It was found that the precipitate may have the form either of plates or of needles. Plates usually result when precipitation occurs at low temperatures and needles when precipitation takes place at high temperatures. The needles tend to align themselves along certain planes in the matrix and to coalesce into plnte-like structures. The two phases were found to be related so that a (111) plane and [Oil] direction of the precipitate are parallel to a 10111 plane and 11111 direction of the matrix. DISCUSSION (E. A. Anderson presiding) D. W. Smith, Pittsburgh, Pa. (Written discussion).—Tllis report by Dr. Marzke covers completely all possible heat treatinents over a considerable range of compositiol~s in which a1pha precipitates from beta brass, and may be said to complete the Inctallographic part of this problern The lining up of ncedles of segregate to form plates, espeeially as shown in Fig. 5, appears to he regular, although the author's frequency plot in Fig. 11 makes it appear rather irregular. Has the author attempted anY correlation between some of the major dircetions and the oricntntaion of the parent grain as determined by X-ray analysis? Also, in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 the cross-sections of the needles appear to be straightsided and regular. Have these directions been correlated with the matrix latttice? Dr. Mnrzkr 's method of interpretation of the orientation rclationships between the alpha. and beta phases is a bit uncertain and seems to wed more explanation. If this relationship, as staited is such that :L (1111 plane and a [I 10] direction of that plane in the precipitate is parallel to a. {110} p1ane and a [111] direction of that, plane in the matrix, there mill be a maximum of 24 possible orientations of the alpha phase within a. single grain of the beta phasc. This relationship is expressed strercographical1y in Fig. 13, ill which the locations of a11 of the alpha {111} poles for the 24 orientations of alpha me given. Fig. 12 chccks fairly closely with this thcoretical plot,. with a few exeeptions which may be due to the inaceuracy inherent in the method used by the anthor in determining the orientations of the segregates. The method might have been refined somewhat had corrections been made for the displacement of the slip p1ancs upon deformation.

Jan 1, 1933

By C. Veloo

"Westmin Resources operates a mine/mill complex at Myra Falls and produces copper and zinc concentrates with minor associations of gold, silver, and lead from a polymetallic, massive sulphide orebody. Mill flotation performance has historically been plagued by periods of uncontrollably high circulating loads leading to low concentrate grades and below optimal tails. This led to a detailed examination of the flotation process. Locked cycle, and pilot plant data are presented. In addition, plant design and commissioning as well as column cell details are discussed. A comparison between actual and predicted performance is also presented. Benefits realized are higher copper and zinc concentrate grades and improved zinc recovery.PrologueMyra Falls Operations is located at the south end of Suttle Lake in Strathcona Provincial Park. Access to the mine site is provided by a 90km paved highway from Campbell River, British Columbia.The mine and facilities are nestled in the narrow Myra Valley between Mount Phillips and Mount Myra. These steep, rugged mountains rise from the valley floor at an elevation of 900 feet to summits of almost 6000 feet. The steep slopes are heavily wooded with fir, hemlock, and cedar up to an elevation of 4000 feet where a transition to alpine meadows occurs. The summits are craggy rock faces, some capped with glacial ice. Myra Creek winds its way through the valley dropping several hundred feet into Suttle Lake. Precipitation is high at over 100 inches per year, which may include up to 10 feet of snow in winter. The temperature may range from 32° C in summer to -18° C in winter.Myra Falls began production in 1965 with the Lynx Mine, supplemented by the Myra and Price Mines in subsequent years, feeding a 950 stpd mill up until the middle of 1985 when the H-W mine was brought into production. The original mill was replaced with a modern 2700 mtpd facility and in 1988 production was increased to 4000 mtpd.Both Lynx and H-W mines are currently in production producing an average of 3650 mtpd. The ore minerals are primarily sphalerite and chalcopyrite, with subordinate galena, bornite, tetrahedrite, and electrum."

Jan 1, 1992

By Ivette E. Torres

Aruba, formerly a. part of the Netherlands Antilles, separated on January I, 1986, and became an autonomous part of the Netherlands. Full independence of the island from the Netherlands is scheduled for 1996. In this chapter, however, Aruba's statistics are included with those of the Netherlands Antilles. Tourism continued to be the main industry of the island, which continued to depend heavily on imports, mostly from the United States. During the year, the Government was preparing legislation to regulate the exploration of oil deposits in the relatively shallow sea around Aruba.

Jan 1, 1989

By D. W. Smith, J. J. Koskinen, T. A. Enwald, M. E. Ball

"A full-scale demonstration unit of Tampella's LIFAC desulphurization process was tested at SaskPower's Poplar River Power Station Unit No. I. The test program included a series of parametric tests, followed by a 1500 hour operational evaluation. This paper summarizes the results of the test program, and SaskPower's economic evaluation which led to selection of the LlFAC process for SaskPower's 300 MW Shand power station. IntroductionOne of the major influences on the coal mining industry today is public and legislative response to acid rain. When sulphur-bearing fuels such as coal are burned, the sulphur oxidizes to sulphur dioxid e (S00 which, if uncontrolled, enters the atmosphere as one of the by-products of combustion. S02 then combines with water in the air to form an acid and acid rain results. Combustion also produces nitrogen oxides (N0J which can combine with water in the air forming nitrogen based acid , also contributing to acid rain.Acid rain has become a significant international concern. Newspapers have reported on dying forests, dead lakes and crumbling statues. Papers also include articles professing that the physical results of acid rain are vastly overstated. In the United States, a IO-year, Y2-billion dollar study called the National Acid Precipitation Assessment Program (NAPAP) was commissioned to evaluate the effects of acid rain. Even this extensive scientific study did not resolve the controversy. Despite disagreement over the quantitative effects of acid rain, there is no doubt that public concern over the issue is widespread and deeply felt.In response to this concern, legislators throughout the world have reacted with programs that restrict the emission s o f SO, and NO,. To industries involved in the supply and use of coal, the impact of these legislative programs has been extensive. United States power plants will be spending 10 billion dollars in the next decade for flue gas clean-up equipment. Even all this new equipment will not stem the tide of change to low sulphur coals and to “clean “natural gas. The following summarizes legislative actions taken for Canada and the United States."

Jan 1, 1993

By Charles L. Morgan

The Minerals Management Service of the U.S. Department of the Interior and the State of Hawaii Department of Planning and Economic Development are investigating the cobalt-rich ferromanganese oxide crust deposits found within the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) of the Hawaiian Islands and Johnston Atoll. The objective of this investigation is to complete a preliminary resource assessment and an Environmental Impact Statement for potential leasing of mineral rights to these crusts. The results of this effort will be summarized and published in a Draft Environmental Impact Statement in March 1986. Three oceanographic cruises to deposit sites in the Hawaiian Islands EEZ were conducted by the University of Hawaii in 1984. As a result, data and sample analysis yielded the following resource estimates (in thousand tonnes): (1) total crusts - 378,500; (2) cobalt - 2,500; (3) manganese - 76,200; (4) iron - 59,700; and (5) nickel - 1,400. These estimates do not include key factors such as deposit continuity, recoverability, and environmental sensitivity. A preliminary attempt to quantify some of these factors for one particular deposit is in progress and will consist of detailed field studies followed by laboratory analysis. Similar evaluations of the Johnston Island EEZ have also begun and are based upon field work conducted by West German researchers and the U.S. Geological Survey. The Johnston Island EEZ appears to have crust resources about as large as those contained in the entire Hawaiian EEZ.

Jan 1, 1985

By M. Tang, X. Tong

"SynopsisSlime coating is one of the most common ways for serpentines to contaminate metallic mineral concentrates during traditional flotation of coarse sulphide particles. This could pose quite a complicated and challenging problem in the case of some types of low-grade and finely disseminated Cu-Ni ores bearing high serpentine contents. This is the case for the copper and nickel sulphides from the Yunnan Mine, China. Previous batch flotation tests of this ore resulted in satisfactory recoveries of 86.92% Cu, 54.92% Ni, and 74.73% Pt+Pd, and concentrate grades of 4.02% Cu, 3.24% Ni, and 76.61 g/t Pt+Pd. However, the MgO content in these concentrates was more than 19%. In the current study, microflotation tests and settling rate tests were introduced to investigate the effects of a combination of strong collectors (a 2:1 weight ratio of butyl xanthate and butyl ammonium dithophosphate) on entrainment of serpentines in metallic mineral concentrate, as well as visual observations of the concentrates in suspension using still photography. All test results indicated the presence of serpentines entrapped in the hydrophobic flocs that resulted from these collectors, even with the use of effective gangue depressants. These strong collectors are used to flocculate the ultra-fine sulphides by forming loose and ‘fluffy’ hydrophobic flocs. However, these hydrophobic flocs may also be able to load or entrap some serpentine slimes into the concentrate, and this entrained serpentine could be harder to remove by using depressants or intensified conditioning than serpentine slime coating on the particle surfaces.IntroductionSerpentine minerals, which have the generalized composition (Mg,Fe)3Si2O5(OH)4, can be easy to crush and grind due to their convoluted and bent layered structures. These serpentines can hinder the enrichment of some metallic minerals and dilute their concentrates by entrainment during flotation. The resulting high pulp viscosities, slime coatings, and high content of dissolved ions adversely affect the flotation recoveries of copper and nickel sulphides, and high levels of MgO entrained in the concentrates lead to heavy penalties from smelters. Since the quality of nickel flotation concentrate depends heavily on its MgO content (generally less than 6–7% for No.1 or 2 grade nickel concentrate according to the standard requirement from National Nonferrous Industry), reducing the entrainment of serpentine during flotation is becoming more and more pressing. Previous research has focused on the collectors and depressants that are commonly used in copper-nickel flotation, as well as their interaction mechanisms."

Jan 1, 2015

By I. J. Moon

The reduction behavior of hematite by H2 and H2-CO gas mixtures was investigated to elucidate the reduction mechanism at 800-950 °C. The hematite compacts were made by Cold Isostatic Pressing to produce compacts of uniform shape and size. The compacts were sintered at 1000° C for 30min, and showed a contraction of 29%. Mercury pressure porosimeter was used for measuring the total porosity, pore size distribution and pore surface area of the compacts. Reduction was measured by means of weight-loss technique using Cahn Balance (Model : TG-171, capacity log, accuracy f 10pg). Microscopic examination and X-ray analysis were used to correlate the structure of reduced compacts with the mechanisms of reduction. Neither chemical reaction control nor diffusion control is adequate in describing the complete course of reduction of the hematite compact. The reduction of hematite compacts was initially controlled by the chemical reaction at oxidelmetal interface. The reaction goes through a transition phase .where it is undergoing a mixed control, followed by the diffusion control towards the end of the reduction. The values of apparent activation energies for chemical reaction control were 3.48-8.43 kcal/mol depending on the gas compositions.

Jan 1, 1997