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By R. J. Batterham

The science and practice of mineral processing has been driven for many years by the same set of challenges that shape the mining industry ? demand and supply, grades and their decline with time, mineralogy and the need to handle more complex ores, disposal and minimising of wastes and the availability of water, power, skilled labour and the like together with increasing expectations from the community, concerns on sustainability and safety and, as well, climate change forcing a more targeted approach on energy. In this paper, the author builds on previous reviews to the IMPC and suggests that while step changes are long overdue, the unprecedented demand mitigates against drastic changes. That said, the ?Mine of the Future? is already requiring some different approaches.

Jan 1, 2014

By J. R. Cahoon, W. V. Youdelis

In a previous communication by one of us,1 a theory of inverse segregation was presented by which the maximum segregation and segregation distribution throughout a unidirectionally solidified, binary-alloy ingot could be calculated. The theory, which is based on the mechanism of volume contraction and interdendritic flow, quantitatively accounts for the observed maximum segregation in the A1 (rich)-CU' and Al-Zn2 alloy systems, and for the segregation distribution along the ingot lengths for the A1-Cu system.''4 One of the drawbacks to a more extensive use of the segregation equations is their complexity, particularly for the calculation of the segregation distribution throughout the length of the ingot, involving long tedious numerical calculations to obtain the segregation. Computer pro- grams, written in Fortran II for use on an IBM 1620 computer, have been developed by the authors (and are available from them), providing quick and accurate methods for the determination of the theoretical maximum segregation in any binary-alloy system, and also for the segregation distribution in any unidirectionally solidified binary-alloy ingot. The segregation distribution is controlled by the lengths of the various solidification zones'74 which are in turn controlled by the cooling rate, and are determined from temperature-distribution curves obtained during solidification. The theoretical segregation distributions shown in Fig. 1 illustrate the effect of the zone lengths on the distribution Curve 1, indicative of a slowly cooled ingot, represents an ingot having long solidification zones, while Curve 2, indicative of a rapidly cooled ingot, represents an ingot having relatively short zones. Although these distributions are calculated for an A1-10 pct Cu ingot, the shape of the distribution would be similar for any binary-alloy ingot. These curves show clearly why early workers obtained results which indicated that the maximum (chill-face) segregation approached zero at very fast cooling rates.3 Actually, the maximum segregation is independent of cooling rate,' but even at short distances from the chill face the amount of segregation drops considerably, particularly in a rapidly cooled ingot, making it very difficult to establish the amount of segregation occurring at the chill-face. The authors would like to thank Dr. J. A. Goldak for his assistance in the preparation of the programs. The financial assistance of the Steel Co. of Canada and of the National Research Council of Canada in the form of Scholarships to one of us (J. R. Cahoon) is gratefully acknowledged.

Jan 1, 1964

By Z X. Zhang

In sublevel caving mines, eyebrow break usually gives rise to lower ore recovery and worse safety in the field. Eyebrow break is caused mainly by two tensile stress waves: one from the front surface of a blasting ring, and the other from the roof of the drift. In order to reduce the two waves and finally to reduce eyebrow break at Malmberget mine, we employed two methods: (1) cartridge charge, and (2) double-primers in each blasthole. The two methods were tested in one ore body called ViRi. A total of 10 rings with the cartridge charge and 25 rings with the double-primers were blasted. At the same time a total of 34 ordinary rings were blasted in the same ore body. The result shows that the eyebrow break is 3.0 m for the ordinary rings, 2.3 m for the cartridge charge rings, and 2.1 m for the double-primer rings, respectively. In addition, the ore recovery for the double-primer rings is increased by 3% on the level of ViRi930, compared with that for the ordinary rings.

Jan 1, 2011

By J. F. Shaw

MINE fires are usually extinguished by constructing seals in the approaches to the areas to exclude air from the fire areas, which smothers the fires in an oxygen-depleted atmosphere. Seals should be substantially constructed and made as nearly airtight as possible and should be provided with a sampling pipe so that samples of the atmospheres behind the seals may be collected at regular intervals. Methods of constructing seals and of sampling and analysing mine atmospheres are fully described in Bureau of Mines publications. (1, 2). Information obtained on the composition of atmospheres behind fire seals is helpful in determining if a fire has been extinguished or if there is any danger of an explosion when a fire area is being sealed or unsealed. The progress of a mine fire can best be determined by studying percentages of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen in the atmosphere behind the seals. Hydrogen will be formed in a bituminous- or subbituminous-coal mine when the temperature exceeds 480° F. and in an anthracite mine when the temperature exceeds 660° F. (3). Carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide are both products of combustion of coal, wood, or other organic compounds. The presence of carbon monoxide has long been accepted as an indication of a mine fire. A sealed fire area should not be reopened until the carbon monoxide has disappeared. Trends in the percentage of carbon dioxide are also useful in determining the status of a mine fire. Carbon dioxide is sometimes liberated by rock strata. In this case, carbon dioxide in the atmosphere behind a seal will be from two sources-the rock strata and the fire. When the, fire is extinguished, carbon dioxide will be liberated from only I source, the rock strata, and when the percentages of carbon dioxide are plotted, the slope of the curve will not be as steep as when this gas was being liberated from 2 sources. If the only source is the fire, the percentages of carbon dioxide will gradually decrease after the fire has been extinguished. By studying analyses of a mine-fire atmosphere, it is possible to determine if the atmosphere is explosive; if the mixture is capable of becoming explosive when mixed with air; and if the mixture can be made nonexplosive or be prevented from becoming explosive by being mixed with an inert gas. These factors can be computed mathematically or determined graphically. The mathematical calculations advanced by Ash and Felegy (7) are discussed, and graphical solutions of their equations are presented. It is believed that the graphical solution will be extremely helpful in determining the characteristics of a mine-fire atmosphere when fighting a fire, because the results can be obtained in a matter of minutes, and there is less likelihood of an error being made under the stress incident to control efforts. The experimental and theoretical work upon which the formulas are based have been adequately described and are not discussed at this time (5) (6).

Jan 1, 1955

By Ronald F. Balazik

[This Bureau of Mines study is intended to identify and evaluate potential effects of impending large-scale U. S. rail line closings (abandonment) on domestic nonfuel mineral industries. This is the first nationwide study of rail abandonment impacts focused on nonfuel minerals. The analyses presented is based principally on a survey of 200 rail freight records and on statistical tests that correlated 2,000 points in the Bureau's Mines Industry Location System (MILS) with 700 prospective abandonments throughout the United States. The conclusions derived from the analysis can be useful in evaluating proposed national rail abandonment policy rind legislation regarding nonfuel miner it shipping. Among these conclusions are the following: (1) Certain mineral materials (especially fertilizers) are likely to account for a large percentage of the rail traffic affected by abandonment in the next few years, but the total tonnage- involved will be small; (2) abandonment will adversely affect some mineral shippers, particularly local smart haulers; and (3 abandonment could significance reduce the opportunity to develop new resources or reopen defunct mining facilities. Despite these problems, however, the data examined in this study do not indicate that current abandonment trends will cause widespread disruption 01 domestic nonfuel mineral shipping.]

Jan 1, 1980

By Robert Glass Cleland

THE CONNECTING link between Phelps Dodge and the copper mines at Bisbee and Morenci was a Canadian-born mining engineer and metallurgist named James Douglas. Judged by almost any standard, Douglas was an extraordinary man. Like John Muir of the California red- woods, he had in his blood "the heather and bog juices of Scotland," and the rugged virtues of a singularly great race. His father, for whom he was named, was a graduate of Edinburgh University, a member of the Royal College of Surgeons in London, and a man of rash and adventurous spirit. Extremely catholic in his intellectual interests and attainments, he was unusually skilled in his profession, certain-sometimes to the point of disastrous stubbornness--of his own judgments and decisions, careless of life or fortune where duty or moral issues were involved, and always deeply moved by the sufferings and misfortunes of his fellow men. The career of the senior Douglas included a curious medley of novel and adventurous experiences-prolonged hunger and cold while acting as surgeon on a Greenland

Jan 1, 1952

By A. Galibois, H. Monette, J. L. Collins

This paper deals with the problem of caving, which occurs in varying degrees in blast holes before loading. It is shown that the distribution of the amount of caving in materials may be described by a gamma density function. A decision model to determine the optimal depth of over-drilling 'in order to minimize the expected additional cost per hole is described. Two different policies are discussed. In addition, charts which permit the mine operator to realize significant savings have been drawn for different actual situations.

Jan 1, 1971

By C. Allen Born

INTRODUCTION As the title of this paper suggests, the author does not believe that risk can be managed. Rather, the objective is to identify the risk which will be present in a given venture and assess the level of that risk which is acceptable. More often than not, the risk which is present is subject to little or no modification. After identifying and measuring the risk a corporation will decide to accept it and proceed in such a way that it will be less exposed, or it will decide not to proceed at all. The exercise for a corporation is different only in degree from everyday judgements made by average people in average situations. However, that word "degree" means that it is considerably more complex on the corporate level. There is good reason for the additional complexity of corporate risk evaluation. The variables influencing a company's decision can be more numerous and the penalties for miscalculation much greater than those normally encountered by an individual. It should be understood that no analysis of risk, certainly not one as brief as the following, can do more than touch on some of the high points. Before examining the sorts of risk which affect the development and operation of specific mines, let us consider the broader aspect of the term with which mining companies, and all other business corporations, must deal. Companies must determine their long-term objectives and strategies within the context of a constantly changing world. To plot their direction they must attempt to read the future by seeking answers to questions such as: How will society evolve? Which businesses will thrive? In which of these should we place our emphasis? If a company hopes to be around five or ten years from now it must make the attempt to answer such questions in order to judge the impact of changing patterns in the evolving business environment. Information is available to allow the lessons of the past to be projected on the future. We have data on birth rates, economic booms and busts, patterns of conflict within and between nations, drought and other forces of nature as well as individual events which cannot be predicted, but which over time, do seem to occur in regular cycles. Ultimately the question "where will we be and what will we be doing a decade from now?" must be answered by one or more senior people with responsibility for the company's future. The compilation and interpretation of hard data by competent support staff, can only be used up to a certain point in determining future corporate strategy since there will be alternative possible futures and a high degree of risk will always remain. At this point those elusive qualities of experience, instinct, and - "gut feeling" - become important factors in choosing a long-term corporate direction. The goals of a company have a significant bearing on its attitude towards risk. This in turn dictates the "hurdle rate of return on investment" which a project decision-maker will require. The hurdle rate is the minimum-discount-percentage-rate applied to forecast cash flows to give a present value of zero to the All-Equity-Funded Investor. The feasibility study for a project is a fundamental tool in the management of risk. An experienced team has an established and well-understood set of ground rules for the preparation and assembly of a feasibility study. The necessary degree of conservation is built in at all levels of study data and, if the project is technically feasible, the hurdle rate becomes a catch-all measure of risk in a base-case project cash flow.

Jan 1, 1985

By Cyril Smith

A STUDY of the mechanical properties of the alloys of copper and silver led to the discovery that the solubility of silver in copper was greatly different from that generally supposed, therefore some work was done to determine the solubility with greater accuracy than had previously been achieved. After the work had been completed, two papers were published1 giving solubility figures which agreed closely with one another and with the work described herein. A detailed comparison of that work with the present will be given later. PREPARATION OF ALLOYS The copper used in making the alloys was electrolytic ingot of high purity. The silver was prepared by precipitation as chloride from nitric acid solution, followed by fusion of the washed precipitate with sodium carbonate and potassium nitrate. This method gives metal containing at least 99.99 per cent silver. The copper was first melted under charcoal in a small electric resistance furnace and the silver added as pure silver, it being unnecessary to make any intermediate alloys. After thorough stirring the metal was poured into a mold of suitable form. The alloys contained between 0.008 and 0.015 percent of oxygen. Small amounts of oxide were visible under the microscope, but it is not believed this would have much effect on the results. Copper-silver alloys are notorious for segregation, consequently a few experiments were carried out to find a form of casting with as little segregation as possible. A mold 6 in. long and 1/2-in. dia. was first used, and an alloy nominally containing 5 per cent silver was cast in it, while some of the same alloy was poured directly into water to obtain the maximum rate of cooling possible. Analyses were made both on this sample and on turnings from the top and bottom of the 1/2-in. dia. casting, the turnings being separated into three parts according to the position

Jan 1, 1931

By S. Gorzalczynski

The recent trend in underground mine developments is “bigger is better.” This is most certainly evident in the mine shaft and conveyances that operate within its compartments. Today, there are several new installations requiring mine cages that can transport up to 170 passengers. The technology in mine hoisting is advancing to address a combination of higher capacity requirements, deeper hoisting depths and faster winding rates, however, some areas of the hoist plant have not changed in the past 50 years. The most notable of these areas is the shaft compartment guide string and the conveyance mounted safety arrest mechanism. The technology in use today for the protection of passengers in a shaft conveyance from a hoist rope severance incident remains conceptually unchanged from Elisha Otis’ design of 1850. The actual retardation components, the safety dogs, have taken on several forms since Elisha’s invention with the last major design change occurring in the late 1940s. The arrest of a free falling shaft conveyance requires that the shaft guides withstand the energy imparted on them by the safety dogs. There are some very real limitations presented by the use of wood for this application. The new hoisting era will most certainly continue to demand larger capacity equipment, but also an increased awareness toward safety

Jan 1, 2002

No records have been found of coal in the old Spanish documents, although some mention of it probably exists in manuscripts. Coal was found in Mt. Diablo, in Contra Costa County, about five miles south of the San Joaquin River in 1852, but the first mine, the Teutonia, was located in 1858. The deposits are located on both sides of a high ridge, and vessels of 1,000 tons burden could ascend the river to the nearest point to the mines.1 In 1854, coal was found about four miles from Oroville, on the Feather River, in Butte County. Development work was started and in 1856 a mine was opened. From the description the coal was likely a variety of lignite and probably never amounted to anything commercially, as it does not appear again in the records 2 The more valuable mines at Mt. Diablo were opened in 1859 and 1860. By 1867 there had been 11 mines started and at that time five were in operation. The seam conditions were much disturbed and lack of knowledge of them caused much waste of effort and money. All of the coal excepting that used locally and in nearby towns, was shipped to San Francisco, and largely used for steam purposes. The first receipts were in 1861-6,620 tons. A railroad to the river had been constructed and opened in February 1866. The Corral Hollow field in Alameda County was found and prospected to a small extent in 1862. Two mines were opened but little work was done and the field was then abandoned. Good exposures were rare and the cost of underground exploration was then prohibitive. The Commercial mine produced coal in 1869 and 1870, but a fire in the latter year destroyed the tipple and communications to the mine. The Livermore mine was abandoned after 18 months operation in 1875 and 1876 and no other work was done here until the nineties. In 1867 Hyne reported the presence of coal in workable thickness, and of good quality, on the property of the Pacific Coast Petroleum Company,

Jan 1, 1942

By I. S. Servi, N. F. Graves

THE etch-pit technique has long been used to reveal low-angle boundaries and, in general, the distribution of dislocations in high-purity metals. Often this technique is amenable to quantitative computations,' but generally is affected by some degree of uncertainty because etch pits can be nucleated not only by dislocations, but also by inclusions and surface imperfections. In the case of high-purity zinc, Gilman' reported that etch pits were produced only after adding 0.1 atomic per cent of cadmium to the crystals and aging at a proper temperature. In the course of a study of low-angle boundary behavior in zinc crystals, etch pits were produced in 99.999 pct zinc without resorting to intentional contamination, by etching in a 50:50 HNO3H2O solution. The technique consists of etching until the heat of reaction brings the solution to a boil, and in displacing the etchant rapidly with a stream of cold water, thus avoiding staining. The undesirable features of this technique are the heating effect and the removal of a considerable amount of material. A high polish is obtained if staining is controlled properly; therefore, the etch pits appear very clearly and with excellent contrast when observed under dark field illumination. This is especially helpful for cursory examinations at low magnifications. Several observations were made on zinc crystals of square cross section, having one face parallel to the basal plane and one edge parallel to a slip direction, Fig. l(a). When such a crystal was bent about 2" over a glass die and annealed at 390°C, a sharp boundary was formed only in the inner portion of the crystal. Near the two prismatic faces, perpendicular to the basal plane, the boundary was always branched into many lower-angle boundaries, Fig. 1(b). Attempts to move the main boundary by applying a shear stress to the specimen invariably resulted in curving the boundary, the branched ends remaining pinned in their original location, Fig. 1 (c). The prismatic face, when etched as indicated in the foregoing, revealed the existence of numerous (sometimes up to 30) fine boundaries, nearly parallel to each other. Pre-existing lineage boundaries, generally parallel to the direction of growth, were barriers to the formation of polygonization boundaries and interrupted the continuity of the substructure, Fig. 2. Twin

Jan 1, 1959

By R. B. Gavert, David J. Mack

ROOM- and elevated-temperature compression tests were made on the binary 3/2 electron compounds AuZn, CuAu, AgZn, AgMg, AuCd, and NiA1. These compounds possess either the B2 CsC1-type ordered structure or the A2 bee disordered structure represented commonly as ß and ß on equilibrium phase diagrams. In testing at room temperature, cylindrical specimens 0.508 cm by 0.330 cm diam were seated directly on an instron compression load cell (CF 0 to 10,000 lb). At elevated temperatures, testing included a special apparatus with a furnace heat source and a protective atmosphere.' The specimens were strained at a rate of 1 pet per min. The compounds were prepared from 99.99 pet or better high-purity elements. Vacuum and/or argon cover gas was used throughout the mixing, melting, and specimen drawing processes. The generally equi-axed specimen grains varied in size from 0.5 to 1.5 mm for the five different compounds. The stress-strain curves in compression showed

Jan 1, 1968

By R. B. Snow

THIS paper describes a technique of polishing and etching specimens of open-hearth furnace slags or hearth aggregates for identification of the crystalline constituents-lime (CaO), tricalcium silicate (3CaO•SiO2), dicalcium silicate (2CaO-SiO2), monticellite (CaO•MgO-SiO2), or forsterite (2MgO•SiO2), with especial emphasis on the mineral merwinite (3CaO-MgO.2SiO2). With proper standardization, this identification does not require the use of the petrographic microscope. The composition of basic open-hearth slags and furnace bottoms falls, almost without exception, within systems containing CaO, MgO, "FeO," MnO and SiO2, in which the number of basic molecules so greatly exceeds the orthosilicate ratio (two molecules of base to one of silica) that free basic oxides, and combinations between them such as aluminates or ferrites, are present in cooled specimens. Orthosilicates of (CaO + MgO) are the most common in such specimens, since in nearly all cases, except premelt slags, the molecular ratio of (CaO + MgO) to SiO2 is more than 2 to r. When sufficient lime is available it combines with the silica to form dicalcium silicate (2CaO•SiO2), which contains little, if any, MgO, FeO or MnO in solid solution whereas the latter oxides combine to form the oxide solid solution known as periclase. If the lime present is insufficient to form dicalcium silicate (2CaO•SiO2) it combines with MgO to form either merwinite (3CaO•MgO.2SiO2) or monticellite (CaO-MgO•SiO2); these minerals take little if any FeO or MnO into solid solution and the remaining MgO, FeO and MnO combine as periclase. This generalization seems to be valid for basic slags and furnace bottoms, since minerals such as CaO-MnO•SiO2 and CaO-FeO-SiO2 are found only in slags in which the lime-silica ratio is less than 2 and are not observed in specimens from furnace bottoms. The identification of crystalline constituents in such materials, especially of fine crystals in the groundmass, is difficult under the petrographic microscope. They are often masked by their neighbors because of their small size in relation to the thickness of the thin section and because of the presence of opaque or colored constituents. The indices of retraction and the optical sign of the mineral are sometimes difficult to determine because of the small size or because of twinning or of inclusions within the crystal. Moreover, the positive identification of merwinite (3CaO•MgO.2SiO2) from its optical properties is usually difficult in the presence of dicalcium silicate (2CaO•SiO2). CaO, MgO, 3CaO•SiO2 and 2CaO•SiO2 in open-hearth slags have been identified for a number of years in the U.S. Steel Corporation Laboratory by the usual

Jan 1, 1947

By A Garvie, D Kentwell, J Chapman

"Most new mining projects require an initial assessment of the locations and volumes of potential acid forming (PAF) waste that is likely to be moved and dumped in surface waste stockpiles. This requires sampling of the waste rock zones and submitting the samples for a series of tests. Key to the outcome of the waste characterisation process is obtaining sufficient samples that are representative of the various rock types both in number and spatial distribution.Various regulatory bodies throughout Australia and the rest of the world are currently struggling with how to define minimum amounts of sampling to achieve realistic estimates without imposing excessive costs and time constraints on a project.This paper addresses two aspects of the process: what constitutes a æsufficientÆ number of samples how to use those samples in determining volumes of likely PAF material.Geostatistical methods of characterising orebodies with large numbers of samples are routinely used in the mining industry by geologists and geostatisticians to estimate and classify Mineral Resources. In theory exactly the same methods can be used to estimate PAF waste locations and volumes.In practice the number and spatial distribution of dedicated PAF waste samples at feasibility stage is typically so small that it is almost impossible to estimate the spatial distribution of PAF material with any degree of confidence at all. Consequently, the common approach is to characterise a few samples from a lithological unit and then assume that they represent the unit as a whole. This approach, however, can be fraught with risk.This paper describes some of the findings of SRKÆs evaluation of several coal projects with respect to PAF waste evaluation and highlights some common misconceptions held by people working in this area that do not have a knowledge of statistics or geostatistics.CITATION:Kentwell, D, Garvie, A and Chapman, J, 2012. Adequacy of sampling and volume estimation for premining potential acid forming waste evaluation using statistical and geostatistical methods, in Proceedings Life-of-Mine 2012, pp 79-88 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Jul 10, 2012

By E. L. Forner, G. M. Miller, J. Scheepers, A. J. du Toit

"The sizing, designing, and costing of copper electrowinning circuits requires an in-depth understanding of the fundamental relationships between circuit parameters and the practical operation requirements. The aim of this investigation was to optimize total copper electrowinning project cost by mapping the operating limits of key mechanical equipment. The model was compiled by mapping various cellhouse layouts in terms of number of cathodes per cell, crane productivity, stripping machine productivity, and rectifier–transformer (rectiformer) sizing using data tables for sensitivity analysis. These parameters were then collated and evaluated on a cost by size basis. The model provides an optimum band of operation for cellhouse productivity and project capital cost for a typical range of production throughputs, from 10 kt/a to 200 kt/a cathode copper. The information may be used as a high-level selection guide to assist with identifying a costeffective copper electrowinning circuit design for a specific production rate. The data was validated and compared with existing copper electrowinning cellhouses around the world that typically install no more than 84 cathodes per cell. IntroductionThe sizing, designing, and costing of copper electrowinning (EW) circuits require an indepth understanding of the fundamental parameters as well as the practical requirements to optimize cellhouse productivity and capital cost. Although a significant amount of work has been done designing new copper electrowinning circuits, an in-depth evaluation of world operating data reveals that the number of cathodes per cell, which affects cellhouse layout and productivity, is not consistent for a specific production rate (Anderson et al., 2009; Robinson et al., 2003, 2013). Based on this premise, Kafumbila (2017) suggested that there are unanswered questions, such as ‘why are the numbers of cathodes per cell different for copper production rates of 20 kt/a and 40 kt/a?’In this paper, data tables are employed to map the operating limits and costs of key Cu EW equipment. An overall Cu EW project cost map is then compiled by collating optimum cellhouse layout (number of cathodes per cell), optimum crane productivity, optimum"

Nov 1, 2018

By R Herbert, M E. Malmstr÷, S U. Salmon

The study focuses on sulfide oxidation processes in unweathered pyrite-rich mine tailings from a soil-covered impoundment in northern Sweden. To simulate the oxygen-limited conditions in water saturated tailings two long-term column experiments were performed. Results are presented for the first 11 months of the experiments at room temperature. The tailings used in the experiments were of two different grain sizes (one coarse grained, in the range 0.02 - 0.6 mm with a grain surface area of 1.86 m2 g-1, and one fine-grained, in the range 0.0015 - 0.06 mm with a grain surface area of 10.00 m2 g-1) and with slightly different mineralogical composition. The S:Fe molar ratio in the leachates (1.0 - 1.5) indicates either that pyrrhotite is the main iron sulfide undergoing oxidation in our experiments, or, alternatively that the S:Fe molar ratio in the leachate is determined by pyrite weathering in conjunction with other processes releasing iron or immobilising sulfate. However, speciation modelling of the leachates indicates that ferrihydrite was close to saturation, suggesting that a ferric oxyhydroxide may have dissolved/ precipitated during the experimental period, thereby affecting the S:Fe molar ratio. Pyrite oxidation rates obtained from the two column experiments during æsteady-stateÆ were 2.25 + 10-13 and 8.45 + 10-14 mol m-2 s-1 in the coarse and fine tailings, respectively. Pyrrhotite oxidation rates, as an alternative, were 2.31 + 10-12 and 1.24 + 10-11 mol m-2 s-1 in the coarse and fine tailings, respectively. Natural microbial activity was confirmed in both the tailings and the leachates; therefore, the obtained oxidation rates are not strictly abiotic. It is thus concluded, based on the experimental results, that tailing heterogeneity will result in zones with different oxidation rates, related to their physical and chemical properties.

Jan 1, 2003

By M. Dworzanowski

The beneficiation of fine iron ore will increase in importance in the future because most new iron ore resources will be in the form of lower grade ore deposits that will require liberation of iron ore minerals at finer sizes. Generally this fine iron ore will be beneficiated to produce a pelletizing concentrate with very strict chemical and physical specifications. In addition, because of the increasing demand for iron ore there are now more opportunities to produce by-product iron ore from mining operations producing other commodities. In the past the associated iron ore minerals would report to final tailings but now there is potential value to be realised from by-product revenue. These by-product iron ore opportunities are almost all centred on producing pelletizing concentrate. Currently pelletizing concentrates are produced mainly by various combinations of flotation and magnetic separation. The selection of the beneficiation route will depend on ore mineralogy and considerations around plant capacity and final concentrate quality. The main economic iron minerals are magnetic, haematite being paramagnetic and magnetite being ferromagnetic. This, therefore, means that magnetic separation can be applied, in principle, to all fine iron-ore beneficiation plants. While flotation has a considerable capacity advantage over magnetic separation, the real advantage of magnetic separation over flotation in fine iron-ore beneficiation is that treatment of -10 µm iron ore is possible-in flotation, the feed is deslimed at 10 µm and the -10 µm stream is considered to be final tailings, even though there is often a significant amount of contained iron ore. This paper describes a study around the recovery of fine magnetite in the form of a pelletizing concentrate. The study is based on an evaluation of an iron ore by-product opportunity from an iron oxide copper-gold (IOCG) deposit. Experiments were conducted to quantify the differences in magnetic separation performance with decrease in particle size treated. A mineralogical evaluation of all the test work products was undertaken to facilitate the interpretation of the test work results. These results were then used to propose an economically viable flowsheet for maximizing fine magnetite recovery using magnetic separation.

Jan 1, 2012

By Kendall E. Born

Production of crude oil in Tennessee during 1936 approximated 20,000 bbl., about the same as in 1935. Accurate figures are available only for the Glenmary field in southwestern Scott County and the Boone Camp, Seabolt, and Coon Hollow pools in north central Morgan County. Small amounts of oil were produced in the Poplar Cove region of eastern Fentress County, in Tinsleys Bottom along the line between Clay and Jackson Counties, and in the Lock Branch pool of northern Jackson County. The renewed interest in these three pools, which were abandoned for several years, reflects the effect of rising prices for crude oil in Tennessee. Developments in these fields were begun late in 1936 and therefore have had little cffect on the production for the year. A nurnber of small scattered wells in abandoned fields in Clay County were pumped intermittently during the year, but no production figures are available on this production. The acidizing of a number of wells in Scott and Morgan counties reported last1 year has been responsible for an increase of nearly 4000 bbl. over 1935 in this region. Results have shown, however, that the Glenmary pay (Glenmary and Coon Hollow pools) at about the top of the St. Louis limestone, responds more favorably to acid treatment than does the Boone Camp (Boone Camp and Seabolt pools) horizon in the Fort Payne formation of lower Mississippian age. This difference is probably due to the siliceous and argillaceous content of the Boone Camp pay. The only natural gas marketed off the lease in Tennessee during 1936 was in Morgan County, where approximately 10,000,000 cu. ft. were furnished the towns of Sunbright and Burrville and the immediate vicinity. The gas occurs with the oil in the Boone Camp field and small amounts were put on the line from the near-by Coon Hollow and Seabolt pools. There are 11 gas wells in the area. Development Although the presence of petroleum in Tennessee was noted more than one hundred years ago, this state has never been an important

Jan 1, 1937

By Howard A. Perko, M. Mae Benvenga, Heather H. Trantham

Displacement of soil and groundwater during helical pile installation can produce excess pore water pressures (PWP) in fine-grained soils. Pore water pressure reduces effective stress in the soil immediately adjacent to the helical pile shaft and near the helical piles. Previous studies have shown generation of PWP may affect the capacity to torque ratios of the helical bearing elements. Large diameter helical piles that generate much of their torque and capacity from shaft adhesion are affected by PWP and therefore exhibit significant pile "freeze" after installation. Computer modeling is used herein to evaluate PWP immediately adjacent to helical pile shafts during installation in various soil types. The models show the degree and distance from the shaft that is influenced by PWP during installation and the amount of time required for the PWP to dissipate. Pile freeze has been measured on several project sites by re‐torque measurements. These re-torque data are compared with computer modeling and correlations between saturated hydraulic conductivity and dissipation time are presented and discussed. INTRODUCTION Helical piles are full-displacement piles, meaning installation does not produce drill spoil. Soil is displaced laterally as the pile progresses into the ground. This displacement of soil causes an increase in PWP, which reduces adhesion between the pile and the soil. For helical piles with small-diameter shafts, adhesion contributes little to the overall capacity and torque of the pile, so PWP changes are not typically considered in determining pile capacity. In modern construction, the use of larger diameter helical piles has become very common. For large-diameter helical piles, changes in PWP immediately adjacent the shaft can be quite large during installation. Increased pore water pressure and reduced adhesion can have a temporary effect on pile capacity and installation torque.

Jan 1, 2018