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By Barbara Fotta, Lynn Rethi

Within the Mine Safety and Health Administration's (MSHA's) classification of metallnonmetal (MAM) mining, the number of independent contractor' employees has increased significantly in recent years. In 1985 independent contractor employee hours reported to MSHA accounted for 4.5% of all M/NM mining employee hours (excluding office workers); by 1994 that proportion had doubled to 9.0%. As a result, these workers now account for an increasingly significant proportion of fatal and nonfatal mining accidents. According to MSHA's statistics, annually computed fatality incidence rates (the number of fatalities per 200,000 employee hours) for independent contractors working in M/NM mining are consistently higher than those for operator employees. Over the five-year period from 1990 through 1994, 53 independent contractor employees were fatally injured while working on M/NM mine property (See Table 1). More than one third of these fatalities (36%) were due to accidents involving powered haulage; 21% were machinery accidents; and 11% percent were falling material accidents. Combined, these three accident classifications accounted for 68% of all independent contractor fatalities occurring on M/NM mine property during these years. Clearly, current efforts to increase the safety of the mining workforce must also address the safety of the independent contractor employee. This report is a preliminary attempt to identify trends in the employment and safety of independent contractor workers by identifying which segments of M/NM mining are experiencing the greatest increases in the number of independent contractor employees and by examining changes in the rates and types of accidents in which these employees are involved. The employment and accident data used in this report were obtained from the MSHA database. [ ]

By Robert F. Hauck

This chapter discusses a new technology for computer control in open-pit mine operations: the real time automatic dispatching of manually driven trucks to shovels. The monitoring of truck activity is accomplished by detection of local radio signals. Computer-operated directives are communicated to drivers by remote controlled digital display units inside the truck cab. The production objective is to maximize tonnage in a cost effective manner. The problem is formulated in the appendix and the solution method is briefly described. Side conditions such as maintaining delivered ore grade aims, balancing waste to ore volumes to keep within stripping ratio tolerances, and meeting production rate requirements temporarily established for certain shovels are also discussed. Experience with a developed event- to-event simulator applied to analyses of several North American mining operations using this technique is summarized. Complete systems employing this technology are now under- going installation at mine sites in Canada and the United States.

Jan 1, 1979

By C. M. F. Vieira

Crushed fired brick waste, known as grog, screened at two different particle size, 840 (20 mesh) and 180 µm (80 mesh), was used in mixtures with clayey body to make typical red ceramics for bricks. The effect of the grog addition up to 20 wt.% on the properties of bricks fired at 700oC was evaluated. The results indicated that both the particle size and the amount of grog addition changed the fired properties of the clayey body. Additions above 5 wt.% of grog, with a coarser particle size, decreased the mechanical strength of both the dry body and the fired ceramic pieces. By contrast, grog with a finer particle size may be used up to 10% wt. without deteriorate the properties and corresponding microstructure of the clayey body.

Jan 1, 2009

By Thomas. L. O.

Apart from a few sketches and incomplete maps, mainly topographical, and one or two detailed maps of placer-creeks, there is little information on the topography and geology of most of the country adjacent to the sections of the Alaska Highway in the Liard River area, particularly that part east of Kechika river. In 1943, the Geological Survey of Canada made a recon-naissance from Fort Nelson clown the river of that name to the Liard, thence up the latter to Hell Gate, and also up Beaver river for a distance of fifty miles. The whole of the area covered was found to be underlain by sedimentary rocks, not a single igneous dyke being seen. The British Columbia Department of Mines began reconnaissances near the highway both in and north of the drainage basin of Prophet and Muskwa rivers with a view to finding structures favourable for the accumulation of oil. In Liard River valley near the mouth of Smith river and at intervals from there clown to Devil' s Portage occur warm springs whose character and origin are not definitely' known, since they have not been investigated (21, p. 38A). Similar springs are said to occur at several localities over a broad belt extending from Muskwa river across the Liard to the Nahanni River country (26, p. 11). On Liard river below the mouth of Dease river, stratified sands, gravels, and clays of Pleistocene (?) age are constantly met with and in one or two places are underlain by sandy clays. The distribution of the latter, however, is very limited in the section cut by the river west of the Rocky mountains. The only range of these mountains that reaches the Liard is the high limestone ridge which approaches the mouth of Vents river from the southeast and then almost vanishes a few miles to the northwest of it (27, pp. 43-45). In general, the ranges of the Rockies in the area under consideration have been but little explored, but they are undoubtedly very largely sedimentary and, with the exception of some volcanics and intrusives on their western flanks, are probably almost entirely so. Unlike the high, deeply incised ranges in southern British Columbia, they dwindle in elevation north of Terminus mountain to low-wooded ridges separated by wide swampy valleys, and practically lose their identity between it and the Liard. The foothills, which, along the Liard, have a width of 38 miles (from near the mouth of Trout river to Hell Gate) are composed of a great series of alternating shales and sandstones, with some limestones, all folded closely together, which resemble those found in the foothills farther south (27, pp. 50, 19-20).

Jan 1, 1944

By J. P. Coughlin

Gypsum plaster is calcium sulfate hemihydrate (CaS04-1/2H2O). There are two varieties, commonly designated as a and ß. The hydration setting) of this plaster involves the chemical reaction: CaS04?1/2H20(c) + 3/2H20(l) = CaSO4?2H20(c); that is, the hemihydrate combines with water to form the dihydrate. Many substances, when present as impurities, either in the hemihydrate or the water have influenced the rate of the hydration reaction. The objective of the Bureau of Mines work described in this report was to investigate the accelerating or retarding effects of small amounts of dissolved substances and to attempt to classify these effects upon a chemical basis. To eliminate competing effects, the work was conducted separately on the two varieties of hemihydrate; both were in highly pure form. (Commercial plasters usually are a mixture of the hemihydrates, with other substances present as impurities.) As the hydration reaction of each variety of hemihydrate evolves heat in amounts known from previous work, 5,6/ the authors decided to use calorimetric methods to follow the extent of the hydration reaction as a function of time. Two calorimetric methods were employed. One was designed to study the hydration reaction with a large water to plaster ratio and the other with a small water to plaster ratio (to simulate commercial practice in utilizing plaster).

Jan 1, 1959

By R. C. Dalzell, A. E. Wells

In 1866, Thomas Graham1 called attention to the volume of gases, three times the volume of the sample, evolved from a meteoric iron heated in an evacuated porcelain tube. From that time to this the occurrence and significance of gases in metals have been the subject of investigation by many workers, among whom Sieverts,2 Iwasé3 and 0. W. Ellis4 stand preeminent. Sieverts and Iwasé concerned themselves with the solubility of a number of gases in metals in the liquid and solid states. They determined the absorption coefficients of these gases, and in all cases found a sharp change in solubility at the melting point of the metals. Ellis analyzed the gases evolved by solidifying copper and those occluded by the solidified metal. Lobley and Jepson5 endeavored to determine the effects of hydrogen, carbon monoxide and nitrogen on the porosity of copper that was allowed to solidify in the presence of each gas after 30 min. exposure to it in the

Jan 1, 1930

By Walter Miller

Any annual review of engineering progress in petroleum refining must of necessity include many features mentioned in earlier reviews. Advances do not spring mushroom fashion to wide acceptance overnight, but rather resemble rolling snowballs, gathering size and velocity as they progress. The new ideas of one year develop through the course of scattered adoption and testing during following years, to be ultimately discarded or to become an integral part of refinery engineering and operation. Polymerization and Cracking As an illustration, the publicity given to the polymerization and cracking of petroleum gases during the year has given many the impression that this is a new art. But patent and technical literature have disclosed active work on the problem dating back a decade or more and a unit capable of making 100 bbl. a day of polymer gasoline was constructed as early as 1930. Important strides have been made during 1935 looking to the more general commercialization of available processes, and some four important groups are furthering this work. In addition to the production of liquid products for inclusion as a constituent of commercial motor fuel, polymerization has also been a factor leading to the installation of a plant at the Houston refinery of The Shell Petroleum Corporation for manufacturing isooctane for aviation use, by making available dibutylene for catalytic hydrogenation Polymerization is not confined to unsaturated hydrocarbon gases as a source of raw material, and has been extended to include a preliminary decomposition of normal saturated gases under suitable heat and pressure conditions into the unsaturated types, which can then be used as raw material for the polymerization process. Thus there is opened up the possibility of eventually using large quantities of natural gas in the manufacture of high-grade motor fuels, although the early commercial growth will be largely on cracking still gases for economic reasons. Such utilization will result in a somewhat lowered drain on crude-oil reserves and a partial elimination of the

Jan 1, 1936

By Walter Miller

Any annual review of engineering progress in petroleum refining must of necessity include many features mentioned in earlier reviews. Advances do not spring mushroom fashion to wide acceptance overnight, but rather resemble rolling snowballs, gathering size and velocity as they progress. The new ideas of one year develop through the course of scattered adoption and testing during following years, to be ultimately discarded or to become an integral part of refinery engineering and operation. Polymerization and Cracking As an illustration, the publicity given to the polymerization and cracking of petroleum gases during the year has given many the impression that this is a new art. But patent and technical literature have disclosed active work on the problem dating back a decade or more and a unit capable of making 100 bbl. a day of polymer gasoline was constructed as early as 1930. Important strides have been made during 1935 looking to the more general commercialization of available processes, and some four important groups are furthering this work. In addition to the production of liquid products for inclusion as a constituent of commercial motor fuel, polymerization has also been a factor leading to the installation of a plant at the Houston refinery of The Shell Petroleum Corporation for manufacturing isooctane for aviation use, by making available dibutylene for catalytic hydrogenation Polymerization is not confined to unsaturated hydrocarbon gases as a source of raw material, and has been extended to include a preliminary decomposition of normal saturated gases under suitable heat and pressure conditions into the unsaturated types, which can then be used as raw material for the polymerization process. Thus there is opened up the possibility of eventually using large quantities of natural gas in the manufacture of high-grade motor fuels, although the early commercial growth will be largely on cracking still gases for economic reasons. Such utilization will result in a somewhat lowered drain on crude-oil reserves and a partial elimination of the

Jan 1, 1936

By S. Culp, P. Metcalfe

Web technologies and the Internet have revolutionized the computer industry. The Web browser technologies have also moved to portable devices such as Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and mobile phones. This paper looks at how to implement a Web Server solution and addresses some of the inherent advantages in the technology. It will also look at some examples of how plant productivity can be managed with a Web Server approach.

Jan 1, 2002

By Eduardo Gimenes Jabes, Thiago Pires Nagasima, João Ricardo Filipini da Silveira, João Batista Ferreira Neto, Marcelo de Aquino Martorano

Foi implementado um modelo matemático para simular a solidificação de ligas do sistema Nd-Fe-B no processo de lingotamento de tiras. O modelo foi baseado na aplicação da equação de condução de calor unidimensional através da espessura da tira e da parede do rolo refrigerado da máquina de lingotamento. A resolução numérica dessas equações permitiu o cálculo do perfil de fração de sólido através da espessura da tira e dos perfis de temperatura através da tira e da parede do rolo. A temperatura de um ponto da superfície do rolo oscila em ciclos formados pelo contato com o metal líquido (vazamento) e pelo destacamento de um pedaço da tira. A temperatura média do rolo aumenta continuamente, diminuindo a taxa de resfriamento nas tiras. Mesmo no início do processo, os pedaços de tiras que se destacam ainda não estão completamente sólidos.

Oct 1, 2019

By James C. Fowler

The use of ground-probing radar as a reflection mapping tool has expanded greatly in the last few years. This tool can now be used to produce near surface information which is very useful to geotechnical engineers. Using the lightweight field equipment now available, it is possible to use the radar within mines and tunnels to obtain information which may impact the safety and production of these operations.

Jan 1, 1979

By Dale Bartholomae, David Harrison, Edward J. Walter

Methods that involve the use of signature blast holes in order to identify the particular frequency characteristics of a geographical area are widely available. Information acquired can be used to determine optimum blast hole timings to produce the desired constructive and destructive inference. However, these types of analyses can be both complicated and expensive. This study will investigate the use and practicality of signature hole and/or shift and sum analysis software and their application to small diameter construction utility blasting operations in Pennsylvania and faster moving projects in general. A determination will then be made as to whether this technology can be utilized by today’s blaster, from both a functional and a cost effective basis. Single hole blasts will be detonated on various smaller construction projects and will be monitored with an array of seismographs. The collected data will be analyzed in order to determine the optimum timing between holes to produce the preferred frequency content while keeping in mind the explosives user’s current inventory of blasting supplies.

Jan 1, 2005

By G. A. Zeito

Detailed visua1 examination of outcrops was used to ob-tain data on the lateral extent of shale breaks. Thirty vertical exposures belonging to maritie, deltaic and channel depositiorral environrrrents were exatmind, surveyed and photographed. The dimensions of the outcrops ranged from 356- to 8,240-ft long and 25- to 265-ft thick. Shale breaks were found to extend laterally for significant distances. and in some sands terminates by joining other break v much more frequently than by disappearance. Consequently with regard to flaw, a gross sand consisted of both continuous and discontinuous subunits. The degree of continuity of shale breaks as well as the occurrence and spatial distribution of discontinuities were different for the three depositional environments. Statistical eva1uations were performed to determine the confidence level with which estimates derived from outcrops can be applied to reservoir sands. Results of these evaluations revealed that: (I) the lateral continuity of shale breaks in marine. sands is si~nificatit, and the estimates of lateral extent can he applied to reservoir sands with a high degree of confidence (80 to 99 per cent of the shale breaks continued more than 500 ft, with a confidence of 86 per cent); and (2) the tendency for adjacent shale breaks to converge upon each other over small distances in deltaic and channel sands is highly significant (62 to 70 per cent of the shale breaks converged in less than 250 ft, with a confidence of 50 per cent), hut the probable magnitude of the resulting sand discontinuities cannot yet he predicted with adequate confidence. INTRODUCTION Almost all of the efforts devoted to characterization of the variable nature of reservoir sands have been focussed on permeability variations. Among the widely used concepts that have emerged from these efforts are those of stratified permeabilities, random permeabilities, and communicating and noncommunicating layers of different permeabilities. This study is concerned with the presence of interbedded shales and silt laminations. These features are impermeable or only slightly permeable to flow. Therefore, knowledge of the extent to which they continue laterally and the manner in which they terminate within the bodies of gross sands is important for proper description of reservoir flow. Initial field observations made on outcrops revealed that shale breaks and the relatively thinner silt laminae have impressive lateral continuity. They appeared to divide sand sections into separate individual sand layers. Although most of the layers were continuous across the total lengths of the outcrops, some were discontinuous because the- bounding shale breaks converged. Furthermore, the discontinuous layers appeared more prevalent in channel and deltaic sands than in marine sands. Based on these initial findings, a detailed investigation was carried out to determine, quantitatively: (1) the degree of continuity of shale breaks in marine. deltaic and channel sands; and (2) the frequency and spatial distribution of discontinuities in the three environments. PROCEDURE The procedure used to obtain field data from outcrops included visual examination, surveying and photographing each outcrop. The photographs were examined carefully and important outcrop features were traced, measured and recorded. The selection of outcrops for this study was made on the basis that each outcrop should be exposed clearly to permit detailed visual examination of vertical lithology. and it should also be sufficiently long (over 200 ft) to provide useful data on the lateral continuity of lithology. Identification of the depositional environment for each outcrop was made on the basis of bedding characteristics, vertical sequence of lithology and the presence of indicative sedimentary features. Whenever possible, hand specimens of associated shales were collected to determine depositional origin. Almost one-half of the outcrops used in this study required environmental identification; the remainder had already been identified by previous investigators. Several photographs of each outcrop were usually required to cover the entire length of the outcrop. These photographs were taken from one station or several, depending on the terrain, size of the outcrop and distance to the outcrop. A Hasselblad camera, with a standard 80-mm lens and a 250-mm telephoto lens, was used. The telephoto lens permitted photographing outcrops as far as two miles away. Slow-speed films were used. either Panatomic-X or Plus-X. The final operation conducted in the field was that of surveying the outcrops. The distance of an outcrop from a point of observation was determined by a triangulation method using the plane table. The measured distance was then combined with the angle of view of the camera lens to establish a scale to be used on the photographs. Films were processed using standard processing techniques and 4.5X enlargements made. The enlargements of each outcrop were butted together to form a single panorama. Slides were also prepared on several outcrops; these were used whenever greater magnification (wall projection) was required to bring out maximum lithologic detail. The shale breaks and bedding planes in each outcrop were traced on transparent acetate film superimposed on

Jan 1, 1966

By Rudolf E. Grauer

[ ]

Jan 1, 1981

By J P. van Dijk, M Munro

Discrete vein modelling presents an innovative geology driven 3D modelling method for quantification of vein hosted mineral deposits, with far reaching potential for critical mineral supply and low impact resource extraction. By integrating key geological drivers with advanced discrete fracture network modelling, the DMX protocol (launched in 2019) converges to a more realistic representation of complex vein systems in three-dimensional space. The approach insights greater geologic reasoning in distributing mineral grades where vein boundaries are already defined. This presents a viable alternative to existing modelling and estimation methods and has important implications for mineral resource estimation and reporting. Further implications are discussed, where the enhanced understanding of complex orebody characteristics can potentially be used in optimising mining and mineral processing, supporting more sustainable and efficient mining practices.

Sep 1, 2024

By R. Taggart, R. H. Ericksen, D. H. Polonis

MarTENSITIC a has been observed to form spontaneously from the retained ß phase during the preparation of thin foil specimens of metastable Ti-Cr alloys containing from 6.9 to 20 wt pet Cr. Similar spontaneous martensite reactions have been reported in thin foils of 0 brass' and other alloys.2 4 The absence of retained austenite in iron-based alloys has also been attributed to spontaneous decomposition during thinning.5 The present work indicates that a unique situation occurs during which the spontaneous transformation takes place when the transitional ? phase is present in the as-quenched or partially aged ß phase. Alloys containing 6.9, 7.0, 8.0, 12.0, and 20.0 wt pet Cr were prepared by the levitation melting of "io-chrome" chromium and iodide titanium. The 0.5-in.-diam ingots were vacuum-annealed at 1000oC, and wafers 0.020 in. thick were then cut from the ingots. These wafers were wrapped in molybdenum foil, encapsulated in Vycor under a reduced pressure of purified helium, and then held for 30 min at 1000°C. The specimens were quenched in water to retain the metastable high-temperature ß phase. The quenched alloys were thinned by mechanical grinding to about 0.005 in. thick, then electropolished in a solution of 300 ml methyl alcohol, 175 ml n-butyl alcohol, and 30 ml perchloric acid at a temperature of -40°C. Needle specimens 0.005 to 0.010 in. diam were taken from each ingot and heat-treated with the foil specimens. X-ray diffraction patterns indicated the structure of the 6.9, 7.0, and 8 wt pet alloys to be a

Jan 1, 1968

By K. Hashiba, Y. Z. Liang, K. Fukui, M. Koizumi

"Efficiency and penetration rate during percussive rock drilling significantly affect the speed of tunneling and excavation. Many researchers and engineers have continuously engaged in the advancement of rock drilling performance. Development and modification of the rock drills based on test data are timeconsuming and costly. Hence it is essential to make effective use of numerical simulation. However, most of the numerical models proposed in previous studies were too simple in comparison with the actual percussive rock drilling in which many factors are involved. The objective of our research project is to construct a new realistic numerical model of continuous percussive drilling, which is based on the previous Okubo-Nishimatsu’s model. In this study, the parts of the previous model involved in stress wave propagation and attenuation were modified. The two models were prepared for HD712 hydraulic rock drill mounted on crawler drills and HD210 hydraulic rock drill mounted on drilling jumbos. Stress wave propagation was computed with the discretized one-dimensional wave equation. The calculated results were compared to the stress waves measured on a rod during percussive drilling. In both models for HD712 and HD210, the measured stress waves can be reproduced with the one-dimensional model of the same acoustic impedance as the actual piston, shank rod and rod combined with the CI+spring model as a rod joint. The calculated results indicate that the spring constant in the model of a rod joint needs to be set appropriately depending on drilling conditions. INTRODUCTIONEfficiency and penetration rate during percussive rock drilling significantly affect the speed of tunneling and excavation. Many researchers and engineers have continuously engaged in the advancement of rock drilling performance. Components related to the percussive drilling are a drill body, a piston, a shank rod, rods, rod joints, a bit and rock. The piston in the drill body is reciprocated by hydraulic pressure and collides with the shank rod a few thousand times per minute. Stress waves generated by the collision propagate and attenuate in the rods and rod joints, and then reach the bit. The bit penetrates and crushes rock. During percussive drilling, the components mutually affect each other and self-induced oscillation occurs. The number of blows and the rate of penetration are determined by the practical drilling conditions such as hydraulic pressure, thrust force, number of rods and mechanical properties of rock. Development and modification of the rock drills based on test data are time-consuming and costly. Hence it is essential to make effective use of numerical simulation. However, most of the numerical models proposed in previous studies were too simple in comparison with the actual percussive rock drilling in which many factors are involved."

Jan 1, 2015

By Rodrigo Monzon Figueredo

A qualificação dos aços utilizados na construção de dutos para serviço ácido geralmente se faz através de testes laboratoriais em meios corrosivos normatizados, sendo os mais utilizados as soluções descritas nas normas NACE TM0284 e TM0177. Neste trabalho, o processo corrosivo do aço API 5L X52MS foi estudado por meio de curvas de polarização potenciodinâmica do material exposto às soluções 284-B, 177-A e 177-B. As taxas de corrosão desse tipo de aço foram determinadas em cada meio, concluindo-se que a severidade do meio de teste se reduz com o incremento do pH, o qual tem impacto direto sobre a solubilidade dos produtos de corrosão e também sobre a difusão de hidrogênio atômico para o interior do material.

Oct 30, 2017

By Albert E. Ketler

The AirBoss*200 is a unique ambient airflow sensor with important improvements in accuracy, especially in the critical low end, 0-61 m/min (0-200 fpm) where MSHA regulations apply. All solid state, its design is rugged, and there are no moving parts or delicate filaments. An on-board microprocessor calculates air velocity, linearizes and corrects for temperature, while driving voltage and current loop analog outputs to .3 meters/minute (1 ft/min) resolution. Recent developments also cover both positive and negative flow directions. A hand held computer is available to readout data and to adjust stored range selection, alarm set points, calibration data and the speed of response. Installation in hazardous areas is covered by MSHA Classes G, H and L.

Jan 1, 1993

By K. Ohga

Japan has produced 14-16 million tons of coal per year in the past several years. About half of the production comes from eight coal mines in the Ishikari coal field, Hokkaido. Most of the gassy coal mines are in this field and the average mining depth of these coal mines has already attained about 700 m from the surface. Therefore, most of the coal mines have suffered from occurrences of coal and gas outbursts. To prevent outbursts and to reduce ventilation air, gas drainage has been carried out at all of these coal mines and these have had successful results. However, the methods of gas drainage differ from mine to mine. In this report, an outline of the main methods of gas drainage are described.

Jan 1, 1987