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By Raymond Mancha

THE purpose of the Coal Division's Committee on Ventilation is to cover one principal aspect of mine ventilation thoroughly each year, instead of attempting to touch upon several different subjects. The Committee for 1943 consists of four members besides the Chairman. Members, selected because of both knowledge of the current topic of mine ventilation, and diversity of occupation, are: Carel Robinson, consulting engineer with an operating background; T. G. Fear, chief engineer for the Hanna Coal Co., an operator of varied experience in mine ventilation; E. H. Denny, chief of the coal mine inspection division of the U. S. Bureau of Mines, obviously well qualified; and C. M. Smith, editor of Mechanization with a background of mine ventilation study as a member of the mining department of the University of Illinois, at present retained as a ventilation consultant by the Climax. Molybdenum Co. of Climax, Colo.

Jan 1, 1944

By Mark J. Klein

An internal-friction profile induced by nitrogen in Cr-35 at. pet Re was studied as a function of nitrogen concentration and heat treatment. From these studies, the solubility of nitrogen in this alloy was deduced. The equilibrium solubility of nitrogen in chromium does not appear to be substantially changed by the addition of 35 at. pet Re to chromium. However the precipitation kinetics of nitrogen from solution are significantly decreased. IT has been found that rhenium has a beneficial effect on the low-temperature ductility of Group VI-A metals. As part of a study to investigate the mechanism of this increased ductility, it was of interest to compare the concentration of interstitials retained in solution in one of these ductile bee alloys with the concentration retained in solution in its base metal. In this regard, a study of the solubility of nitrogen in ductile Cr-35 at. pet Re was selected for this phase of the investigation because the solubility of nitrogen in the base metal, chromium, has been determined over a fairly large temperature span.1-3 In addition, nitrogen is known to have an embrittling effect on chromium,4 but does not appear to have a comparable embrittling effect on Cr-35 at. pet Re.5 The experimental method selected for this study was the measurement of internal friction. This technique allows interstitial-concentration measurements to be made in bee metals that are sensitive to small changes in the concentration of a particular interstitial, even when other interstitials are present. When subjected to a cyclic stress, interstitial atoms in solid solution give rise to an internal-friction peak whose origin is the stress-induced ordering of interstitials into preferred lat- tice sites. These internal-friction peaks signify a dissipation of elastic energy which is greatest when the period of oscillation is comparable with the relaxation time for the attainment of an equilibrium interstitial distribution. For dilute interstitial binary alloys, the height of the internal-friction peak is proportional to the concentration of interstitial atoms in solid solutions. snoek8 has shown that the internal friction, Q-1, may be expressed by the equation where A is the relaxation strength, ? is the angular frequency, and 7 is the relaxation time. The relaxation strength, A, is proportional to the concentration of interstitials taking part in the relaxation if no interaction occurs between solute atoms. Thus values of peak height, which can be determined as a function of temperature, give a measure of the relative concentration of interstitial atoms in solution at various temperatures. If equilibrium has been attained, the peak heights will be proportional to the interstitial solubilities. The constant that relates A to the interstitial concentration can be determined experimentally from peak-height measurements as a function of concentration for specimens of constant crystallographic orientation. When this has been done, Q-1 measurements can be used to determine solubilities according to the equation C - KQ-1 where C is the soluble interstitial concentration and K is a constant that can be experimentally determined. It is possible, however, that lattice imperfections may bind interstitials to certain lattice sites. Internal friction does not measure these interstitial~, but does measure interstitials which are free to move in the normal lattice sites when subjected to an applied oscillating stress. On alloying the pure metal with a substitutional

Jan 1, 1965

By Martin Herrenknecht

After the successful breakthrough at the end of 2006 of both TBMs into the multifunctional site Faido (MFS), in the middle of 2007 the two tunnel boring machines resumed the 12 km long section between Faido and Sedrun. In the roughly a 10 month interval both approximately 465 m long tunnel boring machines were partly dismantled, pushed through the 2.5 km long MFS, rebuilt for the new larger diameter of 9.5 m and reassembled to be ready for operation. In the rebuilding phase, improvements were made to the equipment, especially as a result of experience gained from the previous 14 km long drive in the section Bodio and taking into account the latest information regarding the upcoming 14 km section Faido. Both TBM drives are currently in the rock formations of the Lucomagno gneiss, which stretch over a section of 3.5 km from the MFS Faido to the predicted Piora Syncline. This section is divided into two fold axes of the Chièra Synform, where the Lucomagno gneiss pass from a sub-horizontal into vertical bedding. The drives, with current rock overburdens exceeding 1,500 m and, as known from the excavation phase of the MFS, in part highly disturbed rock formations, are characterized by the locally intense rock squeezing conditions with large convergences in the vicinity of the driving TBM as well as backwards due to the interaction of the two drives. High expenditure for the support measures, reduced driving performances together with extensive extra work associated with deadlines and increased costs are the result. In the paper the previous experience with the TBM drives in the section Faido and the challenges still awaiting us are presented and discussed.

By William P. Prof. Blake

WHEN we consider the efforts made in Europe to promote the physical and moral well-being of the working classes, the question is suggested whether in this country, where, theoretically, every man is peculiarly the arbiter of his own destiny, we may not be too prone to expect every man to take care of himself, and neglect to make those provisions for the welfare of the employed, demanded alike by enlightened economy and humanity. In the older countries, where the disproportion between capital and labor is greater, and the working classes are more dependent, their welfare largely occupies the attention of employers. The subject is involved in the problem of the just relations of capital and labor, and we are rapidly approaching the time, if we have not already reached it, when a generous paternal interest in the welfare of the employed should be more generally manifested. It is a subject which is of special importance to mine-owners and engineers in this country, especially to those located in the coal regions. My own attention has been particularly directed to it by a visit made to the Hassard collieries, a few miles from Liege, Belgium, under the direction of M. Andrimont. This celebrated engineer has established a comfortable home for the miners near the mouth of the shaft of the mine. It has been highly successful and beneficent in its results, and may to a great degree be regarded as a, model for such undertakings. It is known as "Hotel Louise," this being the name of Madame d'Andrimont, who laid the corner-stone of the building April 4th, 1871. The structure is of brick, upon three sides of a square, and

Jan 1, 1875

By William P. Blake

When we consider the efforts made in Europe to promote the physical and moral well-being of the working classes, the question is suggested whether in this country, where, theoretically, every man is peculiarly the arbiter of his own destiny, we may not be too prone to expect every man to take care of himself, and neglect to make those provisions for the welfare of the employed, demanded alike by enlightened economy and humanity. In the older countries, where the disproportion between capital and labor is greater, and the working classes are more dependent, their welfare largely occupies the attention of employers. The subject is involved in the problem of the just relations of capital and labor, and we are rapidly approaching the time, if we have not already reached it, when a generous paternal interest in the welfare of the employed should be more generally manifested. It is a subject which is of special importance to mine-owners and engineers in this country, especially to those located in the coal regions. My own attention has been particularly directed to it by a visit made to the Hassard collieries, a few miles from Liège, Belgium, under the direction of M. Andrimont. This celebrated engineer has established a comfortable home for the miners near the mouth of the shaft of the mine. It has been highly successful and beneficent in its results, and may to a great degree be regarded as a model for such undertakings. It is known as ((Hotel Louise," this being the name of Madame d' Andrimont, who laid the corner-stone of the building April 4th, 1871. The structure is of brick, upon three sides of a square, and

By A. G. Mayton

Bureau of Mines research has addressed improved operator protection for thin-seam shuttle cars. Because of working height restrictions in thin-seam mines (1.22 m or 48 in), MSHA regulations require that-canopy protection on shuttle cars be provided only in mines 1.07 m (42 in) and greater; however, variances are given to mines 1.22 m (48 in) and below. This paper reviews past Bureau efforts to develop protective structures for thin-seam shuttle car operators. The paper also discusses recent research leading to a novel method of protecting shuttle car operators, in mines as low as 1.02 m (40 in), through the use of a cross-car, end-mounted operator compartment.

Jan 1, 1989

By Hal M. Scrugham

UNITED States Steel Co.'s Tennessee Coal & Iron Div. Wenonah mines present definite materials handling problems arising from the natural features of the operation. Trackless equipment went a long way toward supplying the answers-but at the same time gave birth to several new posers. Machines-trackless or otherwise-require maintenance and Wenonah's experience may do much to add to the body of information already available on this type of equipment. Let's look at the mines themselves. Ore is of sedimentary origin, extending over an area of several square miles. A thickness from 8 to 14 ft is mined. Bed dip varies from the horizontal to 20 pct in local rolls. Practice is to mine across the dip at 14 pct or less. A parting forms a smooth footwall in some of the mines while in others the footwall must be blasted smooth. Ore weighs 215 lb per cu ft in place and is extremely abrasive.

Jan 6, 1953

By Jörg Buchmayer, Menno Eisenga, Erik Muijsenberg

"In the past decade, advanced multiple input/multiple output (MIMO) process control systems have found their way into high temperature melting processes. Today a growing number of high temperature melters have been equipped with a supervisory control system. Daily regulation of fossil fuel firing and electric energy supply to stabilize temperatures is no longer in the hands of the operator, but fully taken over automatically by the ES III™ MPC controller, which provides consistent process control, 24 hours per day, focused to operate the entire glass production process in the most efficient way. The presentation will show practical results and benefits achieved in the high temperature glass and cement industry.IntroductionThe Expert System, either version ESII™ or ESIII™, provides supervisory multi-variable model based predictive control in time and space This definition is not very understandable to people who are not familiar with advanced process control, thus let's try to explain it word by word.The word supervisory means that the Expert System implementation preserves the primary control level: all devices (PLCs, internal switches) as well as up to date control mechanisms (PID loops, availability to change inputs manually). ES III™ can even use primary control level elements as part of the advanced process control.The next word, multi-variable, means that multiple inputs can be handled at the same time to affect multiple outputs. This property is very important for supervisory control of the glass melting and conditioning processes. For example, in a float furnace the total amount of gas is only one of the inputs that affect the crown temperatures. The next one is batch feed rate. And batch composition (the next one) is maybe even more important. An ambient temperature also correlates with crown temperatures. So it can be concluded that crown temperatures are affected not only by one variable ""total gas"", but by many more. On the other hand, there are usually several crown temperatures with different importance for process control. And we have not discussed yet the effects of glass level, canal temperatures, oxy-boosting, etc. All of them affect (or are affected by) process control too. Overall, the process control is a complex problem where multiple inputs and outputs play strongly together at various levels of importance."

Jan 1, 2012

By William C. Brice

Minnesota is involved in planning controversies related to taconite and potential copper-nickel mining. Mine facility planning includes the Reserve dining on-land tailings disposal issue and the potential for a new copper-nickel mining district. Both provide a unique opportunity for innovative planning in the attempt to be responsive to public and private interests. Concerns that emanate as a result of mineral resource activities include environmental protection, land use competition, land exchanges, highway and utility extensions, and legal constraints on public or private lands. The purpose of this newly-developed planning approach is to anticipate such issues and provide a rational information base for dealing with them. The result will be a framework plan for guiding public planning, and an impact assessment for reviewing the implications of industrial project proposals. The approach uses a computer-stored resource inventory of natural and cultural information. Geographic data is mapped and entered into a computer storage and retrieval system. This enables systematic analysis of mineral resources along with environmental and land use considerations. Computer mapping describes the relationship of each activity and allows identification of potential conflicts; it also shows geographical extent in the form of statistical compilations. Resource data is being collected and compiled using a standard metric grid (Universal Transverse Mercator). Individual cells are 100 m. squares and represent areas of about 2.5 acres. The study area contains about 145,000 cells. Data inventories are being compiled in 25 natural and cultural resource categories. Geologic variables include Bedrock Geology, Taconite Reserves and Potential Resources, Depth to the Duluth Complex Contact and two soil inventories. Topographic and hydrologic variables include elevation, slope, slope orientation, surface hydrology, and watersheds. There are also 6 biological data variables and 7 land use inventories.

Jan 1, 1977

By J Tibbett, F T. Suorineni, B Hebblewhite

Block caving is an important mining method for the future economic exploitation of large, low-grade, steeply dipping orebodies. While block caving is not a new method, there are still many unknowns surrounding the mechanics driving the process, particularly as we are forced into deeper, higher-stressed and stronger ore deposits. The caving industry is desperate to provide some explanation behind the myths of caving geomechanics to better predict and manage current caves and caves of the future. Large amounts of data are collected to help understand caving, but it is not fully utilised and current approaches for analysing the data are capacity limited. The application of virtual reality and scientific visualisation (VRSV) technology to visualise and analyse block caving is a critical future component in the assessment toolbox. VRSV enables large, complex, multidimensional data sets to be analysed and the power of human visual problem solving processes to be utilised. Block caving is a complex system and needs to be analysed as a system, rather than looking at individual factors one at a time. A software module has been developed at UNSW Australia for use in the advanced visualisation interactive environment for analysis of the block cave mining system (BCMS). This fully immersive, 3D virtual assessment tool shows exciting potential and is used to analyse the BCMS with a close linkage to time (ie the chronological occurrence of data). This tool will enable a true investigation into the cause and effect relations within the BCMS. Current research is investigating Newcrest Mining Limited’s Ridgeway Deeps operation and is aiming to turn some of the cause/effect relationships into increased geomechanics understanding to provide improvements to ground control management. This paper outlines the methods of assessment used to analyse BCMS geomechanics with VRSV and shows the potential of the software module for BCMS analysis.CITATION:Tibbett, J, Suorineni, F T and Hebblewhite, B, 2014. The application of virtual reality technology and scientific visualisation to the understanding of block cave mining systems, in Proceedings AusRock 2014: Third Australasian Ground Control in Mining Conference , pp 195–200 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Nov 5, 2014

By Terry McNulty

"Previous papers (McNulty 1998 and 2004) have dealt with the causes of successful and less successful achievement of design production rate by new processing plants in the minerals industry. Examination of many case histories has allowed the construction of curves or profiles that represent projects with similar characteristics that equate to differing degrees of care exercised during the project development phase. Simplistically, decreasing care is reflected by increasing risk and a heightened likelihood of poor technical and/or financial performance.This contribution provides an update, including recent case histories, and presents a modified Series 1A curve that includes the best 23 case histories, out of a total of 81 examined, or 28%. This is done to show that some very carefully developed and executed projects can ramp-up quickly and that owners of new projects should avoid being too pessimistic in projecting early cash flow if they are certain that they have done their homework. The role of metallurgical process development in the reduction of project risk is discussed and several financial analyses are presented that express the potential monetary value of a well-designed and professionally executed metallurgical program."

Jan 1, 2014

By Robert L. Russell, Henry W. Zimmerman

The Bunker Hill mine in the Coeur d'Alene mining district at Kellogg, Idaho, has been a major producer of Pb-Ag-Zn ores since its discovery in 1887. The mine has produced over 29 million tons of ore from some 20 to 25 veins and ore zones and now covers an area approximately 1 mi long by 0.5 mi wide. The active section of the mine extends from 2500 ft above sea level to 1600 ft below sea level. Ore production is presently at the rate of about 1700 tpd. A 2-mi adit, the Kellogg tunnel, at the 2500 elevation provides access to the main shaft area. Ore is hoisted to the adit level through a 5000-ft. 50º-inclined shaft extending to the lowermost haulage level 1200 ft below sea level. Primary shaft service for men and materials is supplied by three major internal inclined shafts equipped with double-drum hoists. Present production requires ten levels to serve for main line track haulage. These range up to 5000 ft in length and are either 200 or 400 vertical ft apart. Also, many intermediate levels exist throughout the mine.

Jan 1, 1971

By Duane L. Abata

This work, conducted under Bureau of Mines contract, deals with the development of a computer graphics software package that will: 1. display mine ventilation schematics and other representative Illustrations for a real-time data acquisition system under development by the Bureau, and, 2. utilize the Bureau-owned Minefire and Ventilation Code for display of ventilation on and contamination predictions. The software package has been written try operate on a 64K, Z-80 based microprocessor-computer. The project has been divided into two phases. The first phase dealt with the development of the graphics software The sec rind phase dealt with the retrofit of the Minefire and Ventilation Code to the Z-80 microprocessor-computer.

Jan 1, 1984

By A. N. Mitinsky

(San Francisco Meeting, September, 1915) THE theory of elasticity, the science of the strength of materials, and all our calculations regarding engineering structures are based on Hooke's law, that in loaded bodies the deformations are, proportional to the load producing them. Without this law it would be impossible to design intelligently engineering structures such as bridges, frames, axles, etc. This being the case, the proportional limit,1 that is, the point at which deformation ceases to be proportional to load, is the most important factor in engineering design. Further, the working fiber stress should be fixed in reference to the proportional limit instead of, as is usual, in reference to the ultimate strength. The incorrect use of the ultimate strength instead of the proportional limit in setting the working fiber stress is probably clue to two reasons: (1) it is a more delicate operation to measure the proportional limit; (2) it is usually -assumed, though incorrectly, that the proportional limit is determined by the ultimate -strength. In Germany the point at which permanent set first appears is often taken instead of the proportional limit. The two points will coincide if Gerstner's law, that elastic deformations are proportional to the loads producing them both before and after permanent set, is true; and the limit of proportionality and the elastic limit or point of permanent set will both 'be represented on a stress-strain diagram, by the point at which the line ceases to be a straight line and becomes curved-or changes its inclination. It is to be further noted that the difference in definition between proportional limit and elastic limit introduces a difference in methods of determination in the testing laboratory. The German method of determining. the elastic limit by alternately loading and unloading

Jan 8, 1915

By Gustavo Furigo

A Metalurgia do pó surgiu como uma tecnologia incipiente no início do século passado, e desde então é objeto de inúmeros estudos acadêmicos e industriais, utilizada de forma crescente na indústria metal-mecânica desde a década de 1960. No caso particular de corpos a base de ferro sinterizado e suas ligas um tratamento termoquímico de Oxidação a Vapor, também denominado “Ferróx”, tem sido objeto de pesquisa e estudos por ser uma alternativa muito atrativa do ponto de vista técnico e econômico, melhorando as propriedades tribológicas e promovendo a vedação da porosidade interconectante. Este trabalho tem por objetivo estudar comportamento do tratamento de Oxidação a Vapor em peças de média densidade com composição básica de Ferro, Cobre e Grafite, sinterizadas em condições industriais com diferentes temperaturas. Determinar o comportamento da permeabilidade em função dos parâmetros de processo (temperatura de sinterização, atmosfera e tempo de tratamento de ferrox) e através da Lei de D’Arcy, calcular o coeficiente de permeabilidade (k) dos componentes sinterizados em função dos parâmetros de processo.

Aug 7, 2018

By N. Tiner

In an article on magnesium and its alloys, Gann and Winston! stated that manganese has a limited solubility in the liquid state. W. Schmidt2 showed a diagram according to Joseph Ruhrmann indicating that the solubility of manganese in liquid magnesium falls from about 2.65 per cent at 790°C. to about 0.5 per cent at 675°C. The curve was extrapolated to show zero solubility at the melting point of pure magnesium (Fig. I). This work suggested that at the lowest manganese contents it was not possible to detect either a eutectic or the formation of a solid solution, so that manganese was stated to be present in the structure as large individual crystals. Two years after the presentation of, these results, Gann3 brought evidence to show that some manganese is capable of dissolving to form a solid solution, any excess of manganese present then assuming chiefly the form of small blue-gray particles scattered throughout the primary magnesium crystals, occasionally in clusters but seldom at the boundaries. He presented micrographs of cast alloys containing 0.1, 0.4 and 1.0 per cent manganese that show a small amount of coring around the individual particles due to solid solution, and indicate that the location of the manganese particles is closely associated with the original dendritic structure of the primary crystallization. He also pointed out that the amount of manganese that can be dissolved in magnesium depends on the amount of other alloying elements present, the effect of the second alloying element being to decrease the amount of manganese retained in the alloy. E. Schmid and G. Siebe14 have determined the solid solubility of manganese and its variation with temperature by means of precision X-ray diffraction measurements. They found that the solubility is 3.4 per cent at 645°C. and decreases to practically zero at 200°C. It is apparent that the X-ray diffraction measurements of Schmid and Siebel are not in agreement with the results of Ruhrmann as presented by Schmidt. This disagreement, and also the lack of data on magnesium-aluminum-manganese and magnesium-zinc-manganese systems, led the author to the present investigation, to determine accurately the liquid solubility of manganese and its variation with temperature. Experimental Method The experimental method for making solubility determinations consists of saturating the molten magnesium or the alloys with manganese at various temperatures and analyzing the dip samples taken from these melts. Melting is carried out in a cylindrical steel pot heated by an electric resistance furnace. The pot had a metallic outside coating to protect the steel against oxidation, and a graphite inside lining to prevent the contamination of the melt by prolonged contact with iron. The inside diameter of the pot was 4 in. and the depth 12 inches.

Jan 1, 1945

By Armando Rivera, Ángel Cueva

El proyecto Mirador, ubicado en la provincia de Zamora Chinchipe en Ecuador, es un sistema mineralizado del estilo pórfido – cuprífero, tipo cobre – oro. Constituido por una zona superior de óxidos, adyacente a un área transicional de óxido –sulfuro dentro de una zona mineralizada con sulfuro hipógeno (calcopirita– pirita), tiene potencial para generar drenaje ácido de roca (DAR), lo que crea preocupación ambiental respecto de los recursos de agua superficial y subterránea. En este artículo se describen diferentes etapas de muestreos de los núcleos de perforación con variación en profundidades y litologías, el análisis de los factores que influyen en la transformación de residuos sulfurosos, y la realización de pruebas estáticas estándares y cinéticas.

Feb 28, 2019

By S. K. Sharma

The present study attempts to critically review the pillar-design as required by Coal Mines Regulations of India vis-a-vis latest rockmechanics formulae, Equivalent material modelling was the approach adopted for testing the safety and stability of the pillar sizes predicted by various formulae. Two parameters, considered here for calculating pillar sizes was the stresses acting over the pillars and the strength of the pillars. Stresses acting on the pillars were calculated by the tributary area method. Based on the studies of Coates and Hustrulid, the stress obtained was reduced by 40 percent. For calculating the strength of the pillars, three formulae, namely Holland and Gaddy, Salamon and Munro and Central Mining Research Station, India, were used. The pillar widths were then determined by equating the product of recommended factor of safety and pillar stress with the pillar strength.

Jan 1, 1992

By P. V. Martin

SHORTLY after the middle of the nineteenth century, the invention of the regenerative open-hearth furnace and the development of the Bes-semer process stimulated a, rate of steel production whose magnitude created an unprecedented demand for pig iron. Revolutionary improvements in furnace design, auxiliary equipment, and operating technique enabled the blast furnace to keep abreast of the constantly increasing requirements of the steel mill. The development of improved blowing equipment, more adequate facilities for material handling, and particularly the general use of anthracite and coke to replace the physically weaker charcoal, led to a rapid expansion in both the height and volume of furnaces. Beyond a doubt,, however, the greatest single factor in blast-furnace improvement at this time was the use of the higher blast temperatures made available by the replacement of the recuperative iron pipe stoves by the regenerative Cowper brick stove. The increased blast tempera-ture not only resulted in greater output but also reduced fuel consumption far more than could be explained by the additional heat content of the blast. The progress of iron manufacturing was thus largely mechanical and thermal. Little attention was given tile chemistry of the process until the publication of the investigations of Sir Lowthian Bell.1 Bell's pains-taking experiments and investigations gave to the blast-furnace man his first real scientific conception of blast-furnace chemistry. Bell's recog-nition of the dual function of the carbon, the technical importance of reversible reactions and chemical equilibria, and his conception of the degree of oxidation of the carbon as shown by the analysis of the outgoing gases as a criterion of furnace efficiency, laid the foundation upon which has since been erected the structure of blast-furnace theory.

Jan 1, 1939

By S. Y. Ezz

The quality and extent of fluidization of fine iron ore beds with gases were investigated. Factors affecting the rate of reduction with H, and the sintering of the partially reduced material were studied. Trials to retard sintering by covering the particles' surface with nonsintering materials were successful. THE gaseous reduction of iron ores is a gas-solid reaction. Hence the fluidization technique seems ideally suited to it. However, a serious drawback

Jan 1, 1961