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By Daniel T. Hegyan, Thomas B. Zugates

Continuous vacuum disk filters are increasingly being used to filter refuse from the fine-coal washing circuits as it becomes important to close the water circuits and eliminate sludge holding ponds. This paper discusses our past experience filtering refuse, effects of solids concentration in the filter feed, use of polymer flocculation aids, effect of flocculation devices, and effects of particle size and ash content on the filtration rate. Detailed tests were performed on existing installations utilizing coal refuse filters to determine optimum flocculant dosage, solids concentration, and disk rotation speed to form a dischargeable cake. Information was also obtained showing effect of flocculant addition on the moisture of the filter cake.

Jan 1, 1977

By Wojciech Klecan, John H. Raymer

Baseline quantities of difficult ground and support types were estimated for the Chattahoochee Tunnel using the Rock Mass Rating system. RMR classifies the ground into five categories, ranging from “very good” to “very poor,” based on five main parameters: intact rock strength, RQD, joint spacing, joint condition, and groundwater inflow. For the Chattahoochee Tunnel, these parameters were independently measured in the cores and shown graphically on the boring logs. A 55 matrix was calculated to obtain the statistical distribution of RMR for the project. Three baseline ground types were defined based on the RMR. Geologic mapping inside the tunnel during construction has verified the accuracy of this method.

Jan 1, 2003

By R. A. Vik, C. B. Daellenbach, W. M. Mahan

The influence of reduction roasting and thermal shock on the grindability of a refractory low-grade Michigan iron ore was examined in bench-scale tests. The quantitative effects of the various treatments were evaluated at three sieve levels, 48, 100, and 400 mesh, with ball-mill-grindability and work-index parameters as response indicators. Data from the testing program were statistically analyzed to isolate the effects of cooling rate, roasting temperature, mesh level, and ore chemical condition. All four variables were found to have an important influence on the grindability of the treated ore. Ore chemical condition and roasting temperature had the most pronounced effects.

Jan 1, 1972

By J. C. Draper, R. J. Houston, R. E. Pepperman

Duquesne Light Co. and CAI Consultants, Inc. conducted a demonstration program to establish permanent vegetative cover directly on acidic, deep coal mine refuse. Several plots were treated with formulas varying in soil amendment application rates and plant speak. Periodic monitoring of refuse chemistry indicated when maintenance applications of seed and soil amendments were required. To establish drainage control, the site had to be regraded. The most successful experimental formula was used as the bank for the formula applied to regraded portions of the site. Specific treatment for acidic spots has been initiated. Results of the program indicate that adequate permanent vegetation has been established.

Jan 1, 1985

Extensive reserves of kaolin of the type suitable for use as a high quality paper coating exist on the Weipa Peninsula. In 1986 a commercial processing plant was constructed to produce 100 000 tonnes per annum of coating quality kaolin targetted principally for export. A number of processing difficulties have limited the production capability of the plant. The prime area being the pressure filtration operation with achieved cycle times being around 50-60% of design. The rate determining steps being press filling, press unloading and filter cloth washing. This paper details and summarises testwork and results from our attempts at decreasing the filtration cycle time.

Jan 1, 1989

Minter's excellent recent paper (1990) on the great paleoplacer gold deposits of the Witwatersrand and its subsequent discussion (Cheney, 1991) and reply (Minter, 1991) provide an informative, interesting and up-to-date review of the geology of these unique ores and some long enigmatic questions regarding their origin. Clearly summarized by Minter (1990) are the compelling sedimentologic and stratigraphic relationships indicating that the Central Rand Group conglomerates are ancient placers and documenting the fluvio-deltaic conditions of their transport and deposition. As Minter (1991) indicates, Cheney's discussion broadens Minter's 1990 coverage of the subject by considering higher and lower stratigraphic units and by adding detailed comments concerning recently published information about metamorphic and age relationships. Cheney's discussion and Minter's reply also readdress the old controversy of epigenetic hydrothermal vs. syndepositional placer origin for these deposits. This controversy has been resurrected by: • recent recognition of hydrothermally-altered granites (HAGS) in the older Archean basement rocks that lie unconformably beneath the Dominion Group rocks north and west of the Witwatersrand depository; • recognition of greenschist metamorphic assemblages in the Witwatersrand strata; and • the presence of interpreted epigenetic mineral assemblages and textures in some of the deposits. These relationships are briefly discussed by Cheney who suggests they may result from later, superimposed metamorphism and deformation and do not prove that the gold was introduced by epigenetic/metamorphogenic processes. In his paper, Minter (1990) cited the 1986 abstract of a subsequently published paper by Hutchinson and Viljoen (1988) who also considered many of these aspects and attempted to integrate them all in a broad genetic hypothesis. In addition, they emphasized the additional important problem of determining the source for the Witwatersrand gold. Although this issue was partially addressed by Reimer (1984), Mossman and Dyer (1985) and Reimer and Mossman (1990), the question has been generally under emphasized in earlier work and was, therefore, not stressed by Minter and Cheney. Reimer (1985) also emphasized the importance of weathering of the basin's Archean hinterland and its affects on Witwatersrand sedimentation.

Jan 1, 1992

By A. V. Tarasov

In order to improve the efficiency of hydrometallurgical processing of pyrrhotite concentrates, an integrated set of research has been carried out to investigate the use of sulfur dioxide in individual unit operations and as a leaching agent in the autoclave process as a substitute for oxygen. Treating iron-containing raw materials for production of nonferrous metals are based on the selective reaction of SO2 with iron sulfides and oxides. Iron is dissolved as sulfate, which can be treated in a separate circuit to produce iron-containing pigments or it can be disposed of after neutralization. Nonferrous and precious metals contained in pyrrhotite concentrate do not react with sulfur dioxide and remain virtually completely in the solid phase, i.e. high-grade sulfide concentrate to be treated by hydro- or pyrometallurgical methods. Elemental sulfur formed in the process of leaching is separated from the pulp in granulated form as a result of the use of special surfactants. The process of sulfide concentrate leaching with the use of sulfur dioxide is conducted at temperatures above the sulfur melting point (119°C) with distributed feeding of surfactant and under a partial pressure of sulfur dioxide of up to 0.3 to 0.5 MPa.

Jan 1, 2006

By Martha Caudill

When planning for the required amount of storage capacity at a proposed open-pit coal mine or determining when additional storage capacity should be added to an existing operation, the decision must be based on a breakeven- analysis relating the discounted cost of capital for storage capacity to the marginal costs incurred for additional crew call-outs on weekends and demurrage charges. The model developed in this paper uses simulation techniques applied to two coal mines in the Powder-River Basin to determine how much storage capacity is needed and when it is needed. The paper also generalizes the simulation model so that it can be applied to any type of open-pit mining operation. Two important results of the model are (1) all of the mines in the Powder River Basin have excessive amounts of storage capacity, and (2) management is provided with estimates of the total number of hours that crews will have to work on the weekends as annual tonnage increases, and the levels of demurrage costs incurred.

Jan 1, 1986

By Stanley B. Roboff

Throughout the world nuclear power re- actors are being designed and constructed as the energy source for stationary power plants. They are built to power submarines, surface ships, and long-range aircraft and to provide small package power plants that can be set up with relative ease in outlying areas. Regardless of type, most of these plants are designed to operate at the highest permissible temperatures and with the greatest possible burn-up of fuel. On paper it is now possible to design a nuclear power plant that will out-perform all existing types of power-generating plants, and at costs which are attractive. Such plants, however, are not now being built, nor will they ever be built, unless major engineering advances are made in the realm of reactor materials. The reason for this is straight- forward enough. Although it is known that huge quantities of energy can be generated in nuclear fuels within short periods of time, as yet there are no construction materials capable of withstanding the severe conditions that would exist within a power reactor operating with ultrahigh output.

Sep 1, 1956

By Marco Antônio Quintela

São apresentados e discutidos os resultados de estudos de pesquisa para o desenvolvimento de prática para reciclagem de sucata refratária na Usiminas. O processo contempla a obtenção de agregados a partir do beneficiamento, por meio de britagem e classificação granulométrica, de tijolos de carro torpedo e placa gaveta após utilização industrial. Os agregados reciclados são adicionados em concretos refratários de alto desempenho. Os resultados de testes laboratoriais indicaram que os agregados podem ser incorporados com sucesso a concretos para canal de corrida. Essa prática tem sido amplamente utilizada para otimizar a manutenção e melhorar o desempenho ambiental.

Aug 1, 2018

By Erik Westman, Enji Sun, Xu Ma, Ben Fahrman

"Shale gas has become an increasingly important clean energy, which has been explored worldwide in recent decades. Supercritical CO2 acts as fracturing fluid for shale gas production. The safety monitoring is essential to prevent any kinds of leakage from the reservoir as the supercritical CO2 physically stored hundred kilometres underground. Seismic tomography is an imaging technique that uses induced seismic waves to create three dimensional images of the subsurface. It is an effective monitoring method to evaluate the caprock integrity in the carbon dioxide sequestration storage (CCS). In this experimental research, a simulated uniaxial compressive load is applied on a granite sample to analyze the stress redistribution for long-term in-situ caprock integrity during CO2 injection. The induced seismic waves are recorded and seismic events are traced based on the Geiger algorithm. The frequency of seismic events correlates with the caprock failure evolution. The acquired seismic data is divided into four regimes based on the frequency of seismic events and the failure process to examine the failure evolution. Furthermore, the travel time and distance is plotted to analyze the variation of velocity. Finally, the double difference tomography (TomoDD) algorithm using arrival time is adopted to recalculate the locations of seismic events and velocity structure in each regime. The results indicate that the passive seismic system can map the caprock stress distribution and allow for imaging of the caprock integrity. TomoDD exhibits sound improvements to relocate seismic events both in relative and absolute locations as well as to characterize the local velocity structure. The study further reveals that seismic monitoring along with TomoDD could evaluate the caprock failure accurately in the CCS.Introduction To reduce the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere, CO2 capture and sequestration (CCS) has been suggested to as a means of continuing to use fossil fuel resources while offsetting their negative environmental impacts (Eiken et al 2011). A positive CCS project should retain 99% of the injected supercritical CO2 (pressure is greater than 7.38 MPa and temperature is above 31.04? and a density is of about 700 kg/m3) over at least 100 years (Davidson et al 2005). As large quantities of supercritical carbon dioxide are being injected into full scale storage projects, caprock stress is redistributing and the leakage could occur anywhere over a wide storage area (Hou et al 2012). Acoustic waves are emitted from the caprock, as it fractures due to the CO2 injection, which can be detected by passive seismic sensors (Shitashima et al 2013). Tomography techniques are advantageous for imaging the integrity of the caprock in the CCS projects. Velocity tomography uses waves to model entities based on the arrival time of waves (Westman et al 2001, Westman 2004, Luxbacher et al 2008). Seismic tomography is a data inference technique that exploits information contained in seismic records to constrain 2D or 3D models of the Earth's interior. It generally requires the solution of a large inverse problem to obtain a heterogeneous seismic model that is consistent with field observations (Kudryavtsev et al 2012)."

Jan 1, 2017

By Leon Dominian

The lack of Aryan roots for the names of metals commonly known among the Aryan settlers of Asia Minor, as well as the later colonizers of Europe, indicates that these races were generally ignorant of the use of metals until they came into contact with Semitic peoples. Practically all mining-terms in current use among the earliest Greeks resemble very strongly their distinctly Semitic equivalents, which can be traced all the way in a broad belt beginning in Lower Mesopotamia, and extending westwardly to the Syrian shores of the Mediterranean. The Greek word 'metallon," for instance, used indiscriminately to designate mine or ore, probably came from the earlier Semitic equivalent, " matal." Again, the Greek words " chry-sos " (gold) and " chalkos " (copper) seem to be descended from the Semitic forms " chrouts " and " chalak." It is a natural inference that primitive mining-methods were evolved by the dwellers in the mineralized areas of Asia Minor, from whom later Greek, Roman, and even North European miners obtained their first not.ions of the reduction of metallic ores, by

Jan 1, 1912

By C. W. George, Bruce Chalmers

The authors enumerate the factors which appear, from their observations and practical experience of failure of aircraft components in Great Britain, to be responsible for causing a metal or alloy to fail by stress corrosion. The essential conditions for promoting failure by stress corrosion are: (I) tensile stress at the surface of the component, (either residual or applied), and (2) an attacking medium that may be a solution or a liquid metal. Particular attacking agents are effective only on certain metals. In all instances of stress-corrosion failure experienced, cracking of an intercrystalline form has occurred and examples of such failure in aluminum alloy, steel and copper alloys are described and illustrated. The relation between microstructure and stress corrosion is mentioned and methods of investigating the susceptibility to stress-corrosion failure of metallic materials are described. The precautions to be taken in selecting materials for particular aircraft components and the importance of adequate protection against chemical attack are considered. The authors have given a factual survey of stress corrosion and have made no attempt to advance any scientific explanation of the phenomenon.

Jan 1, 1945

By Mark R. Rybak, James Delmonte, Travis Hartman

The City of Phoenix, Arizona designed a 7.2 km (4.5 mi) long water transmission main from the South Mountain Reservoir to the Ahwatukee Foothills Reservoir to address the growing demand for drinking water in the southeast valley. The pipeline design called for a bored tunnel in a very environmentally sensitive area. The Reach3B contract included an 2.44 m (8 ft) diameter TBM excavated tunnel, 1,847 m(6,060 ft) in length. The geotechnical investigation revealed that the tunnel would likely pass through zones of loose to moderately cemented soils (caliche). The primary tunnel support would consist of rock bolts, circular steel ribs, hard wood lagging, and mine straps. A TBM that could handle the ground conditions and allow for efficient ground support installation was required. This paper describes the construction of a small diameter rock tunnel in challenging ground conditions.

Jan 1, 2003

By J. C. McCarthy, J. B. Stone

At Fresnillo a series of veins that has yielded very large quantities of silver and other metals has been developed over a length of 6500 ft. and to a depth of over 3000 ft. In the course of this work striking changes in the mineralogy and metal content of the principal veins have been disclosed and are well illustrated by assay data and ore reserve calculations. This paper describes those changes and suggests their bearing on theories of ore deposition. Location The Fresnillo mines and the adjacent city of Fresnillo are in the central part of the state of Zacatecas, 35 miles northwest of the capitol city of Zacatecas, once a great silver-mining center whose total production is said to place it fourth in. the world. Another famous old silver district, Sombre-rete, lies northwest of Fresnillo. Fresnillo is connected by a 5-mile branch with Fresnillo On on the Mexican National Railways line from Juarez to Mexico City. Lying near the southwestern edge of the central plateau of Mexico, Fresnillo is Surrounded by a semi-arid rolling plain from which rise widely scattered low hills. One of these is Proano hill, an inconspicuous elevation rising barely 300 ft. above the plain, but in and around Proano hill are the Fresnillo mines, and it is marked now by a great gash cut by glory-hole mining. According to an account written in 1834 by Francisco Garcia, then Governor of the state of Zacatecas, Fresnillo was discovered in 1554, and a presidio was established there in 1568 to protect travelers on the road between zacatecas and sombreretea Little is known of the earliest mining at Fresnillo, which seemingly began soon after its discovery, but by piecing together various accounts, it appears that mines there were working in 1717 and were notably active in 1751 under an administrator named Murguia, who left detailed notes describing them. In I757, however, the mines became inactive because of dificulties with creditors and no doubt also because of increasing water troubles, and they remained abandoned until 1830. In 1830 the mines at Fresnillo became the property of the State of Zacatecas because the interest of Governor Garcia had been aroused by the long disregarded notes of Murguia. Under Garcia's energetic leadership the mines were reopened, and silver production began in 1832 in spite of serious difliculties, including abnormal rains and an epidemic of cholera. In 1835 English capital was sought to allow installation of steam-driven is pumps at the two principal shafts and to build the great hacienda de beneficio (the present Proano hacienda). The company formed in 1835 (Cia. Zacatecano-Mexicana) operated successfully until 1872, when its career was brought to an end by the political and economic disturbances

Jan 1, 1949

By J. C. McCarthy, J. B. Stone

At Fresnillo a series of veins that has yielded very large quantities of silver and other metals has been developed over a length of 6500 ft. and to a depth of over 3000 ft. In the course of this work striking changes in the mineralogy and metal content of the principal veins have been disclosed and are well illustrated by assay data and ore reserve calculations. This paper describes those changes and suggests their bearing on theories of ore deposition. Location The Fresnillo mines and the adjacent city of Fresnillo are in the central part of the state of Zacatecas, 35 miles northwest of the capitol city of Zacatecas, once a great silver-mining center whose total production is said to place it fourth in. the world. Another famous old silver district, Sombre-rete, lies northwest of Fresnillo. Fresnillo is connected by a 5-mile branch with Fresnillo On on the Mexican National Railways line from Juarez to Mexico City. Lying near the southwestern edge of the central plateau of Mexico, Fresnillo is Surrounded by a semi-arid rolling plain from which rise widely scattered low hills. One of these is Proano hill, an inconspicuous elevation rising barely 300 ft. above the plain, but in and around Proano hill are the Fresnillo mines, and it is marked now by a great gash cut by glory-hole mining. According to an account written in 1834 by Francisco Garcia, then Governor of the state of Zacatecas, Fresnillo was discovered in 1554, and a presidio was established there in 1568 to protect travelers on the road between zacatecas and sombreretea Little is known of the earliest mining at Fresnillo, which seemingly began soon after its discovery, but by piecing together various accounts, it appears that mines there were working in 1717 and were notably active in 1751 under an administrator named Murguia, who left detailed notes describing them. In I757, however, the mines became inactive because of dificulties with creditors and no doubt also because of increasing water troubles, and they remained abandoned until 1830. In 1830 the mines at Fresnillo became the property of the State of Zacatecas because the interest of Governor Garcia had been aroused by the long disregarded notes of Murguia. Under Garcia's energetic leadership the mines were reopened, and silver production began in 1832 in spite of serious difliculties, including abnormal rains and an epidemic of cholera. In 1835 English capital was sought to allow installation of steam-driven is pumps at the two principal shafts and to build the great hacienda de beneficio (the present Proano hacienda). The company formed in 1835 (Cia. Zacatecano-Mexicana) operated successfully until 1872, when its career was brought to an end by the political and economic disturbances

Jan 1, 1949

By Vinay Kumar, Jae-Chun Lee, Rakesh Kumar, Manis Kumar Jha, Archana Kumari, Pankaj Choubey

Present work is a part of developing novel recycling technique for waste printed circuit boards (PCBs) i.e. the liberation of metals from PCBs by organic swelling followed by the treatment of resin to remove/ recover hazardous soldering materials. In order to recover the hazardous metallic constituent lead from the liberated resin, initially the leaching studies were made using fresh solder containing 63.9% Pb and remaining tin. Experimental results obtained in different conditions viz. time, temperature and acidity showed -97.20% of lead dissolution with 6M HNO3 at solid to liquid (S:L) ratio 1:10 (g/mL) and temperature 90°C in 75 minutes. The result of the studies validated with crushed PCBs shows that almost total lead and tin was leached out with 6M HNO3 and 6M HC1 respectively at S:L ratio 1:10 (g/mL) and temperature 90°C within 50 minutes. The results will be useful for the treatment and safe disposal of PCBs resin.

Jan 1, 2011

By Rowena C. Duckworth

The Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) is the largest international geoscience project in the world, and the state-of-the-art drill ship, the JOIDES Resolution, is permanently at sea. Each year there are six scientific cruises (legs) which each last approximately two months. These legs are designed by geoscientists from the nineteen countries that subscribe to ODP. Australia and Canada presently share ODP membership under the banner of the AUSCAN Consortium. The benefits of Australia's involvement in ODP include internationalisation of Australian geoscience, advanced graduate training, and unique scientific investigations of the ocean floors in the Australasian region. In addition, visits to Australian ports by the ODP drill ship, the JOIDES Resolution, contribute up to $2 million per visit to the local economy. Amongst the many other aspects of ten years of scientific drilling, ODP has significantly contributed to our understanding of hydrothermal processes on the seafloor. To date, three hydrothermal sites have been drilled to date by the ODP, Snakepit (MAR), Middle Valley (Juan de Fuca Ridge) and TAG (MAR). Two more hydrothermal sites are scheduled for 1996.

Jan 1, 1995

By K. C. Ko, M. K. McCarter

Experimentation with seismic velocity measurements at Kennecott Copper Corp.'s Bingham mine disclosed that some recognized slide areas are characterized by low velocity profiles. A new traverse technique employed during the investigation allows rapid and precise measurements of a quantity referred to as "apparent velocity." This value is a weighted average of the actual velocity in the overbreak zone near the surface and in the intact rock at depth. The low points on the velocity profile are apparently the result of lower actual velocities and deeper overbreak in less competent material within the slide zones. Experience verifies the usefulness and practicality of the technique in delineating adverse areas prior to detectable failure. The technique may be employed as a rapid and economic means of slope stability surveillance in large open pit mines.

Jan 1, 1973

By Oliver Bowles

The term "stone" in its broader sense includes not only the well-known limestone, marble, granite, sandstone, and slate but also precious and semi precious stones and many minerals and rocks not included in the principal groups. Stones have long been used for structural and ornamental purposes. To be so used, they must be cut to various shapes and sizes, and some must be polished to bring out their inherent attractiveness.

Jan 1, 1958