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In general the iron ore industry has been slow to adopt the Whittle Pit optimising software in the evaluation of iron ore deposits. The reasons for this are two-fold:the iron ore industry has developed techniques, usually bespoke software residing in the corporate offices of the respective iron ore companies, to establish their final pit limits; and the fact that the Whittle software doesnÆt easily lend itself to estimating a sales product of constant quality without maximising grade (metal content). The Whittle software is based on the work done by Lerch and Grossman (in the early 1970s), which proposed that graph theory be used to establish an optimal surface that maximises the revenue from a deposit. The maximised surface created in the pit optimiser is translated into a proposed optimal final pit shape that can be used by the mine design engineers as a target outline to lay out the final practical pit. By treating a geological and ore resources model that was created for an iron ore deposit as a subset of the recoverable resources estimation (RRE) type of geological models, the evaluation of an iron ore deposit and establishing the final pit is greatly simplified in the Whittle 4-X optimiser. Instead of trying to optimise the iron content of the deposit, the emphasis swings to maximising the extraction of a finished and saleable iron ore product. This is achieved by treating the finished saleable iron ore as an element in the multi-element Whittle optimiser. The quality of the finished sales product is represented, and the material that cannot be used in the blended product is also shown. Proposals for enhancing the functionality in the Whittle 4-X optimiser to make the evaluation of iron (and coal) deposits easier includes the creation of a new reporting function that will allow the user to specify which field(s) can be used as the divisor(s) for the reporting of the element grades in the model.

Jan 1, 2007

By Hans-Jürgen Schaller, Horst A. Brodowsky

Activity coefficients of boron in palladium were determined at concentrations up to PdB0.23 by reducing B2O3 between 870" and 1050°C in a controlled H2-H2stream and measuring the resulting weight gain. The deviations from ideal behavior closely resemble those of the system Pd-H and are interpreted in terms of three principles: 1) The solute atoms occupy octahedral interstitial positions. 2) They donate their valence electrons to the 4 d and 5s bands of palladium, raising its Fermi energy. 3) The lattice strain energy is lower for two nearesl -neighbor interstitial particles than for two farther separate ones. SOLID solutions of hydrogen in palladium are a useful subject for studying thermodynamic aspects of the formation of alloys and of nonstoichiometric systems.1-3 The activity of hydrogen is readily measurable to a high degree of accuracy,4'5 even at low temperatures where the deviations from ideal behavior are more pronounced, and its simple structure facilitates an interpretation of these deviations in terms of a detailed model. Two effects are discussed to account for the non-ideal properties:3 An "electronic" effect, connected with the rise of the Fermi energy, as electrons of the interstitial hydrogen atoms enter the electron gas of the metal, and an "elastic" effect, due to an interaction of the regions of strain around each interstitial atom. The electronic effect is based on the idea that the lowest energy levels of the dissolved hydrogen atoms are higher than the Fermi energy, so that the electron will not occupy a localized state but enter into the electron band of the metal.6 The elastic effect is based on the observation that dissolved hydrogen distorts and expands the palladium lattice. The hypothesis is put forward that the elastic strain energy is lower for two adjacent dilatational centers than for two separate ones; i.e., they attract each other. The resulting pair interaction can be used to calculate an elastic contribution to the thermodynamic excess functions by means of one of the statistical methods. This model permitted a detailed description of the solution properties of hydrogen in palladium3 and in palladium alloys.798 An extension of the approach to describe the excess functions of substitutional palladium alloys is possible.9 In order to further test and refine the model, an investigation of other interstitial alloys was started. Palladium dissolves considerable amounts of boron in homogeneous solid solution.10 The palladium lattice expands linearly up to nB = 0.23 (nB = B/Pd atomic ratio), the highest concentration studied." The expan- sion, extrapolated for 1 mole of interstitial per mole of palladium, is 17 pct of the lattice constant of pure palladium vs 5.7 pct in the case of hydrogen.12 The fact that the lattice expands rather than contracts is a strong indication that interstitial positions are occupied. According to neutron diffraction experiments, hydrogen occupies the octahedral sites of the fcc lattice.13 Unfortunately, this direct evidence is not available for the Pb-B system, mainly because of the high-reaction cross section of boron with thermal neutrons. However, by way of analogy and on the grounds of the rather close similarities between the two systems to be reported here, it seems safe to attribute octahedral positions to the dissolved boron, too. At higher boron contents, compounds of stoichiomet-ric compositions are reported such as Pd3B, which has the structure of cementite,14 so that a close structural relationship seems to exist with the system r Fe-C. In their study of hydrogen absorption in Pb-B alloys, Sieverts and Briining noted that alloys with an atomic ratio of about nB = 0.16 are no longer homogeneous15 This observation was confirmed in an extensive X-ray investigation.11,16 The phase boundaries of two miscibility gaps were established. One two-phase region was stable below a transition temperature of about 315°C and extended from nB = 0.015 to 0.178. The other one extended from nB = 0.021 to 0.114 slightly above the transition temperature and had an apex at nB = 0.065 and 410°C. All phases involved have the fcc structure of pure palladium with lattice expansions proportional to their boron contents. The occurrence of miscibility gaps, i.e., the coexistence of dilute and concentrated phases, points to an energy of attraction between the dissolved particles, in the Pb-B system as well as in the Pd-H system. The filling up of the electron bands seems to be analogous, too, in the two systems, as indicated by the hydrogen absorption capacit15,17,18 and by the suscepti bility of Pd-B alloys.l8 In both types of experiments, boron acts as an electron donor. A chemical method was used to measure the activity of boron in palladium. Boron trioxide was reduced in a moist hydrogen stream: B2O3 + 3H2 = 2B + 3H3O [l] At known activities or partial pressures of boron trioxide, hydrogen, and water, the activity of boron could be calculated from the law of mass action. The equilibrium concentration of boron corresponding to this activity was determined as the weight gain of the sample. EXPERIMENTAL The samples consisted of small pieces of foil of 0.1 mm thickness and about 100 mg weight. The palladium was supplied by DEGUSSA, Germany, and stated to be

Jan 1, 1970

By P. H. Royster

For a number of years the Bureau of Mines has been investigating certain problems relating to the blast furnace. In the course of these investigations it was desirable to measure, with the optical pyrometer, the temperatures occurring in the hearth of the furnace. Since no systematic measurements of these temperatures have been published a statement of the results may be of interest. The data given in this paper were obtained it thirty-two blast furnaces operated by seventeen companies; twenty of these furnaces were making iron, eight ferromanganese, and five spiegeleisen. The collection of this information was made possible by the cooperation of the American Manganese Co., Bethlehem Steel Corpn., Brier Hill Steel Co., Buffalo Union Furnace Co., Clinton Iron & Steel Co., Donner Steel Co., John B. Guernsey & Co., Jones & Laughlin Steel Co., E. E. Marshall, the McKinney Steel Co., National Tube Co., New Jersey Zinc Co., Republic Iron & Steel Co., Seaboard Steel & Manganese Corpn., Southeastern Iron Corpn., the Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co., and the Wharton Steel Co.

Jan 9, 1919

By Juarez Linhares

A mini sinterização processo JL patenteada sob o número PI-9202973-6, é caracterizada por soprar o ar pelo fundo da panela, dispensando o uso de grelhas, caixa de ignição além de proporcionar um baixo consumo de energia elétrica, o que se traduz em vantagens técnicas e econômicas ao processo de sinterização.

Aug 16, 2017

By G. T. Horne, P. J. Wray, S. Kinoshita

CONSIDERABLE evidence exists for a strengthening mechanism operative at intermediate temperatures in bee metals containing interstitial solute atoms. The strengthening is indicated by a maximum in the ultimate tensile strength1 as well as the fatigue

Jan 1, 1965

By Subrata Ray

A large no of power stations are being set up in Chandrapur area having coal deposits. Several industries are also coning up in this area. The subsurface is geologically formed under Gondwana system and consists of shale strata at depths ranging from 8 to 12 m. The stress deformation characteristics of shale exhibits wide variation because of it's geological origin. In view of this, a study was conducted on bored cast in-situ piles installed for a Switch yard project to evaluate load settlement characteristics of three test piles to understand the probable engineering behaviour of the material at the tip and the sides. An approach is developed to simulate the load settlement behaviour as observed in the field, theoretically. This is based on the concept of load transfer. The fit is obtained by varying the parameters, thus may be considered as iterative in nature. The theoretical curves closely matched the observed curves. The results of this study are presented in this paper.

Jan 1, 1996

By L. C. Lien

Tower crane layout (TCL) is a typical construction site layout (CSL) problem, which is suitable for a wide range of work assignments and site conditions. Tower crane is one of the key facilities for vertical and horizontal transportation of materials, especially for heavy prefabrication units such as steel beams, ready mixed concrete, prefabricated elements and large panel formwork such as machinery and equipment, and a wide variety of other building materials within a construction site. However, it is a difficult combinatorial optimization problem to determine the locations of tower cranes with materials quantity supply and demand for engineers. Swarm intelligence (SI) was very popular and widely used in many complex optimization problems which was collective behaviour of social systems such as honey bees (bee algorithm, BA) and birds (particle swarm optimization, PSO). This study applied a hybrid swarm algorithm namely particle bee algorithm (PBA) based on a particular intelligent behaviour of honey bee and bird swarms by integrates theirs advantages. This study compares the performance of PBA with BA and PSO for a proposed hypothetical construction engineering of TCL with materials quantity supply and demand problem. Results show that PBA performs better performance than the mentioned algorithms on a proposed hypothetical TCL problem.

Aug 1, 2013

By Gary E. Geiger

laboratory studies were performed to assess the calcium carbonate inhibition performance of phsophonates and polymeric dispersants at high hardness and high pH conditions. Based on the results of these studies, a new calcium carbonate treatment program was developed that shows excellent Inhibition characteristics and Is not sensitive to calcium hardness.

Jan 1, 1998

By P. Petropoulakis

Computer technology in the mining activities of our company has been applied in the last decade. In this presentation the experience gained by applying this computer technology in mining spescific applications are reported. Attention is given to the problems phased out and to the methodology used for software selection, centralized and decentralized development, data processing personnel and end users training and support. The paper concludes with a report of the first results obtained and a look at the future developments of the system.

Jan 1, 1989

By E. B. Olds

This paper describes the methods and costs of deepening the 3-compartment underground shaft in the Hooper Tunnel adit at the Bunker Hill & Sullivan Mining and Concentrating Company Crescent mine in the Coeur d'Alene mining region, 7 miles east of Kellogg, Shoshone County, Idaho. The work was done with the aid of a Defense Minerals Exploration Administration contract (No. Idm-E493, Docket No. DMEA-2764). Preparation for deepening the shaft was begun March 26, 1953, and sinking was completed May 27, 1954. The shaft, bottomed at 1,275.5 feet in 1939, was deepened to 3,276 feet, using mechanical mucking and intermediate pockets. A total of 50,349 man-hours was required to complete the work of sinking 2,000.5 feet, cutting 7 pump stations, and driving 2 pocket raises. The rate of advance was 7.1 feet of shaft per operating day, or 8.4 feet per day of actual sinking. The total direct cost for sinking was $205.20 per foot.

Jan 1, 1957

By Joshua Hoffman, Braden Lusk, Perry Kyle

With the advent of any new technology comes the necessity of fully understanding the mechanics of that technology. The Shock Tunnel is one such technology that provides a cost effective means of simulating large-scale explosions while requiring a fraction of the explosive and space. Although the technique is known and practiced, the dynamics and mechanics of this technology has yet to be fully understood. A relationship between the energy potential of a given explosive and the energy realized at a set of distances was determined. This data was then compared to the energies realized from the same explosive when utilized in conjunction with a shock tunnel. A relationship between potential and realized energy outputs from explosive based shock tunnels exists and the understanding of this relationship would allow all for predictions to be made to forecast a specific amount of explosive required to produce a desired energy output. This energy output should then be relatable to peak pressures produced via the shock tunnel. Two shock tunnels are currently accessible for this study, the first under the direction of the University of Kentucky, and a second under the direction of the Missouri University of Science and Technology. The two shock tunnels differ in dimensions but share common construction materials. Energy realized from a shock tunnel is hypothesized to be a function of the shock tunnel’s dimensions. This study explores how different geometries affect the shock tunnel’s performance; this exploration is broken down into three phases. Phase 1: Open arena testing in which theoretical energies produced by the detonation of small (<1.0 kg) charges are compared to actual experimental values. Phase 2: Shock Tunnel testing in which realized energies are experimentally recorded for the UK shock tunnel. Phase 3: Analysis of the data to lay down the ground work for producing a pressure-forecasting tool given shock tunnel dimensions and explosive characteristics with the possible detection of avenues for optimization of shock tunnels.

Jan 1, 2009

By Vander de Angeli

Em 2014 houve necessidade de substituição precoce de Caixas de refrigeração no Alto Forno devido a vazamentos provocados por defeitos de fundição ocasionando perda de produção. Após análise das falhas no componente, a oficina de fundição da ArcelorMittal Tubarão na busca contínua pela excelência na qualidade de seus produtos, propôs o desenvolvimento de um novo projeto de fundição visando atingimento de nível radiográfico = 3 nas caixas de refrigeração conforme critério de aceitação estabelecido na Norma ASTM E272. Para atingir o objetivo proposto foram inseridos no novo projeto itens para melhorar o processo de alimentação e solidificação do metal. Como resultado o novo projeto apresentou melhora significativa na qualidade do componente do sistema de insuflação de ar do Alto Forno atingindo níveis radiográficos que atendam as exigências da Norma.

Aug 16, 2017

An Ore Reserves and Exploration System has been under continuous development at Mount Isa Mines Limited since 1970. The task of re-engineering the system has now begun, and the first stage is operational. This paper describes how the application of data base concepts, and table driving techniques has resulted in a design in which the input documents, validation procedures and file data content are redefinable by parameters, thus allowing the system to be tailored to suit varying geological Environments.

Jan 1, 1977

By T. V. Falkie, Robert Stefanko

Much criticism has been directed at the Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969 from many sources, but few specific charges have been leveled, at least publicly. Yet, if the criticism is truly valid and can ever hope to become constructive, the issues must be approached head on. Therefore, the authors consider this an initial article and invite responses from others for contributions in subsequent issues. Dialogue is today&apos;s popular term and perhaps many of the problems associated with the implementation of the Act are the lack of communication between interested parties. There are two criticisms generally made concerning the philosophical approaches taken in the Act. The first is that there is an over-kill in some of the legislation, some provisions are not justified based on past accident history and economic considerations. Generally speaking in this category, no order of priority was considered consistent with safety and economy. The second category includes those situations where new provisions were imposed to improve safety in one area without adequately considering the consequences in another area, let alone the economics of the situation. While the authors do not always agree with the placement of items in these two categories by some industrial representatives, they will give specific examples that they believe may have a certain degree of validity.

Jan 1, 1971

By A. J. Bartlett

ISLAND Creek conditions are generally referred to as ideal; yet, as at all other properties, there are all known hazards of coal mining. The hardest of these hazards to combat is the human element. The basic thought in the minds of the management of these properties is to produce coal with the utmost safety, and it has impressed upon its supervisory force that it does not want a ton of coal unless it can be produced safely. This company has instituted a mine inspection department, which reports direct to the general manager, and all matters pertaining to safety come under the direction of this department. Through the medium of the inspection department, the management is kept in touch with the actual conditions existing in general at all mines. Inspections are made regularly and continuously; that is, at all times while the mines are in operation some sections of some mines are being examined. These inspections cover all active and inactive workings. Miners are con-tacted in their working places and other employees at their respective work. A thorough check is made to see that the state mining laws are complied with and that company safety rules are being observed. Night shifts receive the same attention as day shifts. All violations and dangerous practices are brought to the attention of the plant supervisory force with suggestions and recommendations; major hazards of emer-gency nature are taken up immediately with the management. Peri-odical inspections are also made of all tipples, preparation plants, dumping and hoisting equipment, to see that all machinery is properly guarded, and walkways and platforms properly fenced; conditions of equipment and mechanical defects are also reported. Reports of inspection are written in letter form and in such a manner as to give the management a picture-of the existing conditions at the time of inspection. Copies of inspection reports are forwarded; to the superintendents with the general manager&apos;s comments.

Jan 1, 1937

By K. L. Lamb

At the Sierrita mine, 40 km (25 miles) south of Tucson, Arizona, Duval Corporation is rapidly gaining operating experience with its new Portable Crushing and Conveying System, (PCCS). As of November 23, 1983, over 4.5 million tons (5.0 million st) of ore have passed through the system. Mining cost per ton for the months of July, August and September was 83% below the average for the first five months of 1983. Although all the cost reductions experienced cannot be attributed to the Portable Crusher, it was a major contributing factor. The Sierrita ore deposit has several natural topographic and geologic conditions which are not favorable to mining. It is not a sidehill deposit and therefore no low-level exit points exist to facilitate truck haulage. The ore is very hard. Quartz diorite, hardest of the three major rock types, averages 172-207 MPa (25-30 000 psi) unconfined compressive strength and may run as high as 345 MPa (50 000 psi). Blasting in this rock produces oversize material which runs approximately 20% 51 centimeters (20 inches). The ore is low grade, averaging slightly better than .30% contained copper and .035% contained molybdenum, with small amounts of silver. These conditions, plus high design production tonnages, make the Portable Crushing and Conveying System (PCCS) practical for Sierrita. Without crushing and conveying, truck haulage would be prohibitively expensive. A typical, October, 1983, ore haul from the bottom of the pit would involve a vertical lift of 260 meters (850 ft) and a horizontal distance of 3 860 meters (12 200 ft) were not in-pit crushing and conveying available. The corresponding cycle time would be nearly 32 minutes.

Jan 1, 1984

By Andrzej Luszczkiewicz, Magdalena Duchnowska, Jan Drzymala

A selected flotation system of beneficiation of the copper ore at KGHM Polska Miedz S.A. has been analyzed in the article. It was found that a proper assessment of upgrading must be based on two elements, that is the upgrading process selectivity and working point of the considered flotation unit, both determined, preferentially by means of the Fuerstenau recovery-recovery upgrading curve. The Cu recovery - non-Cu components recovery upgrading curve was selected for calculations because its background lines (no separation and ideal separation) are insensitive to changes in the grade of feed of the processed material. This approach allows a comparison of upgrading results for feeds having different grade, being upgraded in various flotation machines and under different physicochemical conditions. It was shown in the paper that the main criterion for comparison of two working in parallel systems is selectivity of upgrading. However, when two flotation machines, despite of the same selectivity, produce concentrate and tailing of different grades, it is necessary to analyze their working points using upgrading curves. The proper position of the working point depends on the criterion imposed on the process and is a result of not only basic parameters of the upgrading process such as feed, concentrate and tailing grades but also on economic parameters such as costs associated with the production of concentrates and the time needed for their production.

Jan 1, 2014

By C. G. Fink, G. L. Putnam

The dissolution of gold by cyanide solutions was studied by determining the time required for the solvents to dissolve gold leaf. Minute traces, even 0.5 ppm, of sulphide ion retard the dissolution of gold, and this behavior cannot be accounted for by the presently accepted hypotheses involving oxygen-depletion or thiocyanate formation. On the other hand, traces of the salts of lead, bismuth, mercury, and thallium considerably accelerate the dissolution. The beneficial effect of lead is dependent upon the pH and cyanide ion concentration of the solution.

Jan 9, 1950

By G Harbort, C Sola

The rapid development of geometallurgy in the mining industry has occurred in relatively recent times. Its importance as an independent discipline in the mineral processing world has been emphasised and recognised. To a large degree, this is the result of a growing understanding of the ore type being processed and their application to provide better metallurgical responses in different mineral processing techniques. The development has matured from early progress through to geological knowledge and into the realm of the metallurgist and mining engineer. Working together, they have developed a powerful framework that will interpret a body of mineralisation into measurable properties.The integration of geometallurgy and operations has become of increasingly important due to improvement in understanding of an orebody as a natural system formed by a number of processes and with a definite fabric of mineralisation within different geological domain. These have to be taken into account when creating techniques that will enable operations to extract the valuable components from a distinct type of ore. Incorporation of such knowledge at an early stage of development, such as the feasibility stage significantly reduces the project risk.This paper is written from the unique perspective of a process engineer embedded within a geological team. It discusses issues such cross discipline communications and misconceptions and details the numerous tricks, traps and treasures of geometallurgy encountered during defining of the Seminco and Taysan resources.CITATION:Sola, C and Harbort, G, 2012. Geometallurgy - Tricks, traps and treasures, in Proceedings 11th AusIMM Mill OperatorsÆ Conference, pp 187-196 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Oct 29, 2012

By Richard H. T. Garnett

The Chilean part of the archipelago of Tierra del Fuego, situated south of latitude 62o S, is within that country?s Región de Magallanes y Antártica, and separated from the remainder of Chile by the Magellan Strait. In recent geological history several phases of Quaternary age glaciers originating in the Andean and Dawinian Cordilleras eroded assumed primary gold deposits and entrained their related alluvial deposits. Piedmont glaciation extended to the east and south over m0st of the land and beyond the present-day coastline into extensive areas exposed during the resulting lowered relative sea level. During interglacials particulate gold incorporated unevenly in the widespread drift, till and moraines was fluvially released and concentrated into streams and flood gravels. Coastal erosion enriched various beaches with gold. From 1868 onwards Tierra del Fuego hosted a major gold rush whereby early, labour intensive, beach mining eventually developed into inland dredging. But continued mining activity was interrupted and then terminated by several external factors. Most miners, always seeking ?greener pastures?, joined the rush to the new discoveries in the Klondike (1896) and Nome, Alaska (1899). In 1904 the international boundary, established in 1881, became the subject of a major dispute not settled until 1984, The Panama canal?s opening in 1914 turned Tierra del Fuego, previously on the Pacific-Atlantic shipping route, into a remote backwater. World War II brought opposing foreign naval forces to the actual islands where most gold had been taken from the beaches. It also crippled the dredging industry which lost its coal supply and never recovered. Nevertheless, some small scale mining continues to this day.

Sep 14, 2011