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By J. C. Motz

Introduction The variations in crushing plant design seen during the past 30 years provide a valuable source of information and experience from which one can select the optimum arrangement for a specific requirement. The purpose of this paper is to examine some specific equipment configurations as they relate to operating efficiency, plant availability and final product size in the form of mill feed. Due to the varied ore properties, physical space limitations, size of ore body and financial resources, there is no single crushing or grinding flowsheet that is best. Since energy costs have risen dramatically during the recent past, it became obvious that significant savings are possible by selecting equipment and a circuit which offers low power requirements balanced with low wear metal and installed equipment costs. Relatively clear and measurable are the metal and maintenance costs and the ever increasing cost of energy. Metal costs in the form of crusher liners have not quite doubled in the last 20 years, while power costs have increased by a factor of four or five, depending on the region considered. Estimates made only a few years ago on the increased cost of energy are obsolete in view of the recent unstable conditions. Since power is therefore becoming the largest cost area, it behooves us to investigate potential cost saving methods in the form of lowering the KWH/Ton of crude. Crushing To reduce run-of-mine to mill feed requires reduction in a series of stages. The physical size and power requirements of a crusher capable of reducing hard rock vary depending on the application. Extended experience in most crushing plants show that a minus 19MM (3/4 in.) rod mill feed can be and is being produced in three stages of crushing. In the majority of cases, the last crushing stage is closed circuited using anywhere from 19MM (3/4 in.) to 14MM (9/16 in.) slotted openings on the sizing deck. In some copper concentrators, the mill feed is all passing 13MM (1/2 in.) using three stages of crushing and 14MM (9/16 in.) square openings on the closed circuit screens. It was felt by some that crushing to this fine size is only possible if the ore is friable and is relatively soft in comparison to the harder ores. Our results show that some of the copper ores are as hard as taconite and are crush-

Jan 1, 1982

By C. P. Proctor

WESTERN Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio, and Illinois are carrying out experiments wherein much more slate and other impurities are loaded with the coal in the mine and hauled to the surface preparation plant for removal. In general everything is sent to the cleaning plant although there may be some gobbing in the mine. No conclusions have been announced as to the effect of such a mining system on clean coal costs. Such factors as ability of the surface plant to handle the impurities, land and facilities for disposing of the impurities, and the transportation facilities underground should be considered.

Jan 1, 1942

By Ye Jun

Until now, more than 200 sites of sea-floor hydrothermal activities are known on the midocean ridge but few of them are documented on South Mid-Atlantic Ridge (SMAR). This on some extent restricts our directly understanding of the hydrothermal mechanism on SMAR. In 2011, During the Cruise 22 of R/V Dayangyihao, a masive sulfide field was discovered in the center part of the first-order ridge segment that bounded between Cardno Fracture Zone and Saint Helena Fracture Zone, near 15.16°S/13.35°W, which give us an opportunity to recognize the mechanism of hydrothermal systems on SMAR directly. This newly discovered hydrothermal field, which informally called SMAR 15°S, is situated in a SE-NW offset depression of an axial neovolcanic ridge, with water depth of about 2793m. In the water column around this field, strong turbidity and temperature anomalies were detected. Ten meters high venting chimneys, hydrothermal mounds as well as a large amount of hydrothermal vent shrimps were also observed and recorded by ROV and Deep tow camera on the ocean floor. The samples we collected from this field include sulfide chimney fragments, massive sulfides and basaltic rocks. In this study, we are focusing on the mineralogy and sulfur isotope geochemistry of sulfide samples for preliminarily uncovering the geological characteristics and hydrothermal processes of this hydrothermal field.

Sep 14, 2011

By Darwin Soler

This chapter will outline the operating procedures at Freeport Kaolin Co.5 kaolin mining operations in Georgia, with emphasis on explaining new techniques recently introduced to reclaim mined-out areas for reforestation. Kaolin is found in the central Georgia area (See Fig. 1) in lenticular, sedimentary deposits of high purity. The beds are Cretaceous in age and vary from 4 to 60 ft in thickness, under a cover of sedimentary overburden ranging from 5 to 150 ft. The kaolin beds contain the mineral kaolinite (a hydrous aluminum silicate) and have a particle-size distribution ranging from about 20µ to the submicron level and averaging about 60% below 2µ. The only contaminants in the deposits are coarse mica, quartz particles, and minor amounts of iron and titanium oxides. These kaolin deposits vary widely in quality from deposit to deposit and also vary within individual deposits. Some of the controlling quality specifications which are determined during exploration are viscosity in water suspension, optical brightness index as measured by reflectance, amenability to bleaching, and particle-size distribution. For this reason, only a small portion of the total kaolin reserves in the Georgia belt are suitable for wet processing for the present markets being served. Kaolin clays are selectively mined by different mechanical methods and are beneficiated by both wet and dry processing to produce a number of products used as fillers and coatings in the paper industry; fillers or additives in the paint, plastic, and rubber industries; and as basic raw materials for the ceramic industry. The State of Georgia is the largest kaolin producer in the United States, with 3,206,454 tons produced in 1966, according to U.S. Bureau of Mines statistics. Freeport Kaolin Co’s processing plant is located in Gordon, Ga., about 20 miles east of Macon, Ga.

Jan 1, 1969

By C. Kolm, E. P. Warekois, S. A. Kulin

MUCH insight has been gained into the nature of the cold-worked state of metals in recent years through the use of modern X-ray techniques. These methods have revealed the existence of stacking faults together with regions of high internal strain and have provided means of measuring the atomic perturbations in plastically deformed metals. In view of the recent increased interest in the solid state, it is desirable to extend these techniques to the study of lattice imperfections introduced into semiconductors during plastic deformation. It is of particular interest to compare the state of imperfection sustained by metallic bonding with that sustained by the covalent bonding found in semiconductors. A knowledge of the imperfections which can exist in semiconductors is important from both a theoretical and a practical point of view since they can greatly influence many of the physical properties. In order to determine the possible existence of stacking faults in covalently bonded structures, precise measurements were made of the diffracted peak positions of plastically deformed germanium, gallium antimonide, and indium antimonide. These measurements were based on the theoretical treatment of Paterson1 and are similar to those employed by Warren and warekois2 in their studies of deformed a brass. In addition, diffraction peak profiles were measured on the annealed and plastically deformed materials in order to obtain information concerning the distribution of internal strains through the use of the Fourier methods developed by Warren and Averbach.3 EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES AND TECHNIQUES Because of the room-temperature brittleness of the semiconductors studied, it was necessary to plastically deform the materials at elevated temperatures. The brittle-ductile transition temperature ranges of GaSb and InSb are sufficiently low to permit hot-filing operations. Therefore, high-purity, polycrystalline GaSb and InSb were filed in an argon atmosphere at 400' and 300°C, respec-

Jan 1, 1959

By J. D. Doherty

That America's great coal deposits eventually will be our principal source of liquid as well as solid fuels is generally accepted. Moreover, the day when synthetic oil from coal will begin to supplement our petroleum supplies does not appear to be far off. The American petroleum industry has not spared effort or expenditure in its attempt to keep pace with the demand for oil, and recent production has exceeded expectations. However, the rapidly rising demand for liquid fuels plus the increasing difficulty of finding and developing the new oil needed even to maintain present production rates make it highly unlikely that oil from domestic wells can fully meet future oil requirements. Therefore, it appears that one or more of the following courses must be followed: 1. Curtail oil consumption. 2. Incr ase imports. 3. Develop new sources such as synthetic liquid fuels. All three courses may well be needed, as it is doubtful that any one of the three alternatives alone can satisfactorily solve the problem indicated by the prevailing trend in demand for oil. Curtailment of oil consumption is not a constructive policy, except where oil is being wasted or coal can be readily substituted as in stationary steam plants. Reduced oil supplies for most uses will curb our economic advancement and, in addition to inconveniencing consumers, will have a pronounced adverse effect on American industry. The oil-burner-manufacturing industry already has been dealt a hard blow. Shipments in the first 5 months of 1948 decreased 70 pct from those in the same period in 1947.1 The effect of a similar cut in the automobile industry can be imagined. A severe prolonged shortage of gasoline could seriously disturb our present economic well-being. It might be pointed out also that even the prospect of a shortage or lack of assurance for the future can discourage buyers of equipment, as occurred in the case of oil burners. An increase in our imports of oil seems to be a necessary expedient for the immediate future. Its advantages are that it will require a minimum of manpower and steel in a time of critical shortages and will conserve domestic reserves. Any major dependence upon foreign sources for our oil supplies should be avoided, however. Other nations are increasing their oil consumption more rapidly percentagewise than the United States and eventually will compete with us for the not unlimited world supplies. In peacetime, foreign countries might restrict ship- ments of oil to this country or impose exhorbitant prices. In the event of war, there is serious danger that such sources would be cut off, and American-developed oil fields overseas might even be used against us. Although synthetic fuels cannot relieve any oil shortage that might develop within the next year or two, an immediate start toward a substantial synthetics industry to supplement petroleum not only could help relieve shortages several years hence but also would help establish the much needed "know-how" for large-scale production. By assuring ample future supplies, such a start would permit sound planning by industries dependent upon oil and maintain or restore the confidence of prospective customers for oil-con-suming equipment. If it is agreed that domestic production of crude oil cannot be expected to meet future domestic demands, that oil rationing in general is undesirable. and that too great dependence on foreign oil should be avoided—and the weight of the evidence supports such conclusions—it is inescapable that commercial synthetic fuel production should be developed to supplement domestic petroleum supplies, which, of course, will furnish the bulk of our requirements for yean to come. Sources of Synthetic Oil The three principal sources of synthetic oil are natural gas, oil shale, and coal. A commercial plant using natural gas is under construction, and expansion of this industry is expected.

Jan 1, 1950

By P. A. Meyer

The Tenmile Range is a north trending zone of high relief within the central Colorado porphyry-mineral belt, located between Leadville and Breckenridge. (Figure 1, the Index Map of the area surveyed.) The Climax mineralized zone is located at the southern end of the range on the northwest side of the Continental Divide. This portion of the total area surveyed will be discussed in detail today. A fixed wing aeromagnetic survey was flown over this range and mineralized zone in the fall of 1957. The survey was run as an experiment to see if a useful geophysical tool could be applied in the exploration for similar type deposits. The purpose of this paper is to describe the results of this survey and the approaches used to aid in the interpretation of the total intensity data.

Jan 1, 1968

By George B. Harrington

This paper is a brief description of the design and equipment of a new coal mine in southern Illinois, which has many features not common practice in shaft coal mining and which is laid out and equipped for such unusually large capacity that it promises soon to become one of the largest mining operations of its kind. Shaft sinking for the mine, New Orient, was commenced in May, 1921, by the Chicago, Wilmington & Franklin Coal Co. In October, 1924, the plant was practically completed and was producing over 6000 tons of coal per day. There is good prospect that within a few years, when the mine is fully developed and manned, the output will attain a daily rate of 12,000 tons. The coal seam at New Orient lies approximately horizontal, about 500 ft. below the surface, and may be said to run from 9 to 12 ft. in thickness. The tendency in Franklin County has been toward large mining units (5000 to 6000 tons per day) with great care being given to protection against fire and explosion hazards, and usually with quite elaborate surface plants permitting careful preparation of the coal into graded sizes comparable with those made in the anthracite region. The field is unionized, with uniform conditions of wages for various classes of work, hours, etc., and the Illinois mining laws are quite specific with regard to fireproofing and safety measures. These conditions make it difficult for any hut well-equipped and well-operated mines to meet the competition of the numerous fine properties of which this county can justly be proud. The coal company's property was already developed on the western side by the Orient mine—a much visited and written about operation (with which many of you are possibly familiar through the Department of Mines' film "The Story of Coal") which until recently held the 8-hr, production record with 8218 tons and usually ran quite consistently with production of slightly over 6000 tons per day. Experience at Orient wat naturally one of the greatest influences in determining the location and character of the New Orient.

Jan 1, 1925

By Bruce A. Kennedy

The long awaited new Mining Engineering Handbook is taking shape under the leadership of A. B. Cummins, Chairman of the Editorial Advisory Board for the SME Mining Engineering Handbook, and Ivan Given, Editor-in-Chief. The last Mining Engineers' Handbook, the Peele edition, published by John Wiley and Sons, was last revised in 1941. This book was and still is a virtual mine of information although a good deal of its content, especially the cost tables, is becoming rather antiquated. The new one-volume work will contain approximately 1600 pages and be divided into 36 sections. A brief summary of the sections follows: The Place and Contribution of Mining, Mining Costs: Mining Geology-Minerals and Mineral Deposits; Minerals Discovery-Prospecting and Exploration Methods and Equipment; Site Exploration and Selection; Minerals-Mining Design; Soil and Rock Mechanics; Design of Excavations; Opening and Development: Underground Mining Systems and Equipment; Roof and Ground Control; Groundwater and Groundwater Control: Open-Pit and Strip-Mining Systems and Equipment: Underwater and Ocean Mining; Fragmentation-Cutting, Drilling, Blasting; Underground Haulage: Hoists and Hoisting Systems; Surface Haulage, Hoisting. Lowering Pumping and Drainage; Ventilation: Mine Surveying; Ore and Coal Processing; Mill Design; Industrial Minerals-Specifications and Markets: Power; Maintenance plant and Equipment; Supply Service; Health and Safety; Reclamation and Surface Restoration: Administration and Management; Operations Optimization (Systems Engineering) : Mint, Costs and Control: Mine Examination. Valuation. Reports; Engineering Terms: and Consulting Engineering.

Jan 1, 1970

The undeniable fact of life in the next 25 years will be the increasing difficulty of the physical conditions of Australian orebodies facing future miners. We are all familiar with names such as the 3000 orebody at Mt Isa, Hilton, Century, Macarthur River, Cannington, and Ernest Henry. These projects represent a significant. proportion of the planned underground mine development in Australia. Moreover, many of these new orebodies are an order of magnitude more difficult to mine and process than their predecessors. Extraction will be from deeper and potentially more hazardous working environments. Occupational health and safety considerations will place unprecedented demands upon mine operators and technology providers of the future.

Jan 1, 1994

By Philippe Henry

"Hydrometal provides an adequate technology to reintroduce otherwise lost metal units into the industrial cycle, thereby saving resources and energy, while keeping the environment cleaner. Two case studies at an integrated hydrometallurgical recycling facility (Hydrométal) in Belgium are discussed: (I) Residual low quality acid and caustic are used in the processing of zinc industry cements to produce copper, nickel, cobalt and zinc concentrates by several consecutive selective leach - precipitation processes.(II) Copper anode slimes are treated and their precious metal contents are recovered. Depending on the composition of the slimes, separate or combined concentrates of copper, bismuth, tellurium/selenium and silver/precious metals can be produced."

Jan 1, 2008

By Paul B. Barton

Unconventional mineral deposits are those that differ significantly from productive deposits in mineralogy, grade, or geologic setting. Thus, the initial representatives of each deposit type are, by definition, “unconventional” until they are exploited. The “unconventional” status changes to "conventional" because of economic shifts (e.g., bulk silver ores), because of technological innovations (e.g., froth flotation), or simply through the recognition of, and production from, novel mineral concentrations. Heretofore the discovery of new deposit types has been almost entirely accidental, but the long- established concept of the geochemical cycle provides a nearly untouched opportunity and challenge for the application of geochemistry in predicting novel, potentially economic, mineral concentrations.

Jan 1, 1983

By E. B. Kroeger, Y. P. Chugh

The goal of this project is to develop, demonstrate, and document the beneficial use applications of a ponded F-fly ash as a road subbase material for the 2.1-mile Meredosia Industry Access Truck Route in Meredosia, Illinois. Approximately 60,000 to 70,000 cubic yards of ponded fly ash are proposed for use on this project without negative environmental impacts to surface water or groundwater. The County Highway Truck Route will consist of a 24-foot wide road built on a 0 to 7-foot thick compacted F-fly ash subbase. Laboratory testing indicates this fly ash will serve adequately as a road subbase, conforming to IDOT standard specifications. The economic considerations of using the Meredosia F-fly ash will also be developed so that a detailed cost-benefit analysis can be prepared for this project and for future projects. This project represents a two-year cooperative development and demonstration effort among the Office of Coal Development and Marketing (OCDM) of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs (IDCCA), Southern Illinois University (SIU), Morgan County Highway Department (MCHD), Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), AmerenCIPS, and the Morgan County Regional Planning Commission. It is anticipated that monitoring activities will continue for a period of three (3) years after the completion of this project. The MCHD and IDOT will oversee all construction activities and long-term performance evaluation studies. Successful demonstration of large-volume beneficial use applications of F-fly ash at this site will significantly reduce management costs for power plants burning Illinois Coal. Furthermore, it will encourage similar utilization strategies at other sites in the State of Illinois.

Jan 1, 2002

By H. J. Liang

In this study, zeta potential and contact angle measurements of pyrite before and after interacting with Thiobacillus ferrooxidans are carried out to investigate the changes in its surface properties. The results show that, after pyrite interacting with Thiobacillus ferrooxidans and its metabolite, the surface electricity of pyrite changes obviously, resulting in a notable shifting of isoelectric point to lower pH value, but the contact angle varies little. Bacterial protein plays the most important role in the interaction. This work is helpful to disclose the mechanisms of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans de-pressing pyrite flotability.

Jan 1, 2014

The Australian Mineral Industry's growth in the last two decades is directly related to the skill and experience of its consultants in mining, metallurgy, geology, finance, management, marketing, and engineering. The role of mining consultants needs to be re-examined, so that the quality of the service they deliver will continue to be adequate for the 1990's. One means of this evaluation is by examining Case Studies in the strategies and difficulties of developing contract and entrepreneurial research.

Jan 1, 1986

By Leslie Taylor, R. Reed Skagga, William Gault

The ultimate aim of our overall task, of which the effort described in this paper is a part, is to be able to model the impulsive output of buried charges and the response of targets of interest. It is not practical or cost-effective to determine the response of all targets of interest to buried charges of all sizes by testing them. In order to have confidence in our models, however, they must be validated by a modest number of tests. A critical element in modeling the response of a target is the ability to model the loading function. The load a buried charge applies to a target above it when the charge detonates can be characterized in terms of the vertical impulse. The vertical impulse is a function of the size of the charge, its depth of burial, and the properties of the soil in which it is buried. The primary objective of the effort described in this paper is to determine the load a known charge places on a non-responding target so the data can be used to validate our models.

Jan 1, 2005

By Samuel G. Lasky

In a recent discussion of the mineral resource position of the United States, published in the September 1946 issue of Mining and Metallurgy, I expressed my conviction that ore deposits of major magnitude remain to be found in this country and that they can be found without undue cost or risk. I stated with equally strong conviction, however, that if the search for such deposits is to be notably successful there must be, among other things, a reorientation of philosophy and mental habits on the part of many who would be connected with the search. I would now like to enlarge upon that statement. For such a purpose. we may consider that the search for concealed deposits involves four steps: (I) the selection of areas for further study; (2) the geologic study of those areas in order to verify their general favorableness and in order to choose specific patches worthy of being tested; (3) the decision whether exploration of the patches chosen should actually be undertaken; and (4) the exploration itself. The first two steps and the last rest upon the judgment and skill of geologists. The third step—the decision whether exploration should be undertaken—rests upon management. In my opinion, the philosophies or principles that have guided these steps in the past are now inadequate. Philosophy of Appraisal If concealed deposits are to be looked for, how are the places of their possible concealment to be recognized? Every known mineralized area still in the prospect stage has already been repeatedly examined and condemned. As for those deposits concealed under later rocks, there may be not even the clue of a near-by outcrop for engineer or geologist to consider. flow then, are we to know where to look? Geologic Probability In the early days of our mining industry, ore deposits were found mainly by "following the ore." Later, as such opportunities decreased, and as geologic concepts became accepted, deposits were found more and more through use of the notion of geologic probability. Many instances can be cited wherein a courageous operator ignored the implications of the unsuccessful efforts of predecessors and, solely by "following the ore," converted a discredited prospect into a good mine. Similar experience doubtless will occur in the future, but "following the ore" will no longer in itself find new deposits in the amount needed. Nor can enough new ore be expected from further use of the notion of geologic probability, for, as mentioned above, our known prospects have already been ex-

Jan 1, 1949

By Samuel G. Lasky

In a recent discussion of the mineral resource position of the United States, published in the September 1946 issue of Mining and Metallurgy, I expressed my conviction that ore deposits of major magnitude remain to be found in this country and that they can be found without undue cost or risk. I stated with equally strong conviction, however, that if the search for such deposits is to be notably successful there must be, among other things, a reorientation of philosophy and mental habits on the part of many who would be connected with the search. I would now like to enlarge upon that statement. For such a purpose. we may consider that the search for concealed deposits involves four steps: (I) the selection of areas for further study; (2) the geologic study of those areas in order to verify their general favorableness and in order to choose specific patches worthy of being tested; (3) the decision whether exploration of the patches chosen should actually be undertaken; and (4) the exploration itself. The first two steps and the last rest upon the judgment and skill of geologists. The third step—the decision whether exploration should be undertaken—rests upon management. In my opinion, the philosophies or principles that have guided these steps in the past are now inadequate. Philosophy of Appraisal If concealed deposits are to be looked for, how are the places of their possible concealment to be recognized? Every known mineralized area still in the prospect stage has already been repeatedly examined and condemned. As for those deposits concealed under later rocks, there may be not even the clue of a near-by outcrop for engineer or geologist to consider. flow then, are we to know where to look? Geologic Probability In the early days of our mining industry, ore deposits were found mainly by "following the ore." Later, as such opportunities decreased, and as geologic concepts became accepted, deposits were found more and more through use of the notion of geologic probability. Many instances can be cited wherein a courageous operator ignored the implications of the unsuccessful efforts of predecessors and, solely by "following the ore," converted a discredited prospect into a good mine. Similar experience doubtless will occur in the future, but "following the ore" will no longer in itself find new deposits in the amount needed. Nor can enough new ore be expected from further use of the notion of geologic probability, for, as mentioned above, our known prospects have already been ex-

Jan 1, 1949

By Horace V. Winchell

The laws here referred to are those which define the status of the prospector for mineral deposits in the soil or beneath it, establish his methods of procedure, protect him in his possession while searching for the subterranean treasures, and give him assurance of title when all required conditions have been fulfilled and valuable minerals discovered. Regulations for the operation of mines and the safety and health of mine employees are likewise subjects of Federal and State legislation, but are not within the scope of the present program. Various features of our present laws will be discussed in detail by able students of the subject, and specific remedies will be proposed for the most glaring defects. It is my purpose to present in this paper a summary review of the reasons why revision is needed and demanded by the great majority of those in daily contact with the industry. Reason Number One The first objection to the continuance of the present law is that it was not planned by its framers and the Congress which passed it to apply to many of the kinds of mineral deposits, nor to the mining conditions, which are controlled by it to-day. In 1866, under the title, "An Act granting the right of way to ditch and canal owners over the public lands, and for other purposes," was surreptitiously smuggled into existence our first mining law (14 Stats. at Large, Chap. 262, p. 251). This law provided that "whenever any person or association of persons claim a vein or lode of quartz or other rock in place, bearing gold, silver, cinnabar or copper, having previously occupied and improved the same according to the local customs or rules of miners in the district where the same is situated," etc., a patent might be granted an certain conditions. This was evidently an Act intended to validate claims already initiated, and to accord Federal recognition to mining locations made in

Jan 1, 1915