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By René Winand

The paper gives a synthesis of research work performed in the department during the last ten years and dealing with cobalt , copper and manganese electrodeposition in chloride aqueous solutions. Special emphasis is given to electrocrystallization. For copper, properties of the electrolyte such as solubility limits, electrical conductivity and complex ions stability are discussed in connection with leaching, purification of the electrolyte, and metal recovery. When possible, kinetic parameters and probable electrode mechanisms are given. Problems that are still to be solved are also listed.

Jan 1, 1985

By P Toor

Due to the high energy consumption of milling, it is desirable to improve the efficiency of this process. One alternative to reduce energy and material consumption while optimising production yield in mill operation is through balanced design and selection of liners. Over-design of liners leads to increased life but at a cost to grinding performance, a relationship which to date has not been studied closely. This paper provides a description of this process of liner life cycle optimization and presents initial results from the first of two life cycles being studied for a 32 foot (ft) SAG mill. The use of commercially proven high resolution laser scanning based liner shape information provided by the MillMapper® software correlated with well controlled site surveys at various points in the liner life was used as the basis for comparison. The survey data was modelled in JKSimMet to provide direct comparisons of mill performance. This potentially provides a methodology for the design of liners that maintain a favourable shape for the majority of liner life, yielding desirable production parameters such as lower specific energy consumption and higher throughput, while at the same time maintaining practical liner life cycles.

Aug 8, 2011

By Pratt Rogers, Aaron Young

Digital transformation (DT) is the process by which entities adapt themselves to modern technology. As digital technology becomes more prevalent (automation, cameras, sensors, touchscreens, artificial intelligence, etc.), there will be increased pressure on companies to leverage it for additional gains. For many companies in the mining industry, this will involve overcoming a steep learning curve. Furthermore, as the long-term success of the mining industry is dependent on a labor force with new skills (data management, analytics, digital literacy, etc.), new curriculum will need to be appended to the mining engineering discipline. This paper considers the mining industry’s need for DT. Then, it presents a three-part review of the foundational components of the DT process–ubiquitous data, connectivity, and decision making. Finally, it provides a discussion on the future of DT in mining as well as a research direction, which identifies the need of academia to provide support for mining companies in the form of both research and the education of digitally literate, dynamically capable mining engineers into the coming decades.

By Cody Burcher-Jones

The recovery of rare earth elements (REEs) through heap leach/in situ techniques from so-called ion adsorption clays (IACs) is attractive due to their inherent simplicity. However, the underlying mechanisms of these processes are poorly understood. In this study, the deportment of REEs in a typical IAC material has been investigated and was found to concentrate in the phyllo-layers of the clays, especially hallyosite, and was readily desorbed by various ion-exchange reagents indicating various potential routes to liberate them. Here we are reporting the use of seawater (0.5 M NaCl), spiked with various amounts of (NH4)2SO4, and found better extraction using a reagent mixture than NaCl on its own. Further, the leaching of REEs from a bed of clay material was investigated over time to understand the rate of transport through the stagnant material. Results indicate that REE release is likely to be controlled by diffusion through the clay material, while desorption in agitated systems is rapid. A degree of fractionation between different REEs can be observed during diffusion. Nonetheless, the successful operation of in situ leach operations for this type of material would depend primarily on how easily solution cocktails can be made to flow through the bed material.

By David G. Dixon

A mathematical model is derived in dimensionless form which simulates the effluent concentration response of reagents from spent heaps under both fresh and recycled water rinsing. The model is based on dispersion from isochoric pathways distributed in length and cross-section, oriented normal to convection channels in ideal plug flow. The effects of heap height, rinsate flow, and initial reagent concentration are examined. It is shown that the rinsing cycle undergoes a distinct shift between fast and slow rinsing at a certain time depending on the amount of stagnant solution in the heap, and the distribution of dispersion pathways. Results of preliminary column rinsing tests on both agglomerated and unagglomerated ores are presented which partially validate the model.

Jan 1, 1994

By R. Minnitt, C. Morgan, D. Fourie

The problems associated with outliers and their adverse effects on resource estimation in deep level South African gold mines are presented, and solutions suggested in available literature are reviewed. Traditional Witwatersrand type outlier capping uses the 99th percentile grade as the upper limit, a somewhat blunt approach. The occurrence of high and low grade areas in mining operations and the estimation of resources using geostatistical techniques require that the assumption of stationarity be upheld. Honouring the stationarity of data requires that mining areas be subdivided into appropriately sized and spaced domains. In order to overcome high-grade conditionally biased block estimates, the overly strong influence of extreme grades is mitigated by using naturally occurring grade sub-domains, by identifying outliers within the grade sub-domains, allocating relevant capping limits, and weighting them in a post-estimation process to. Rather than applying a capping value across a domain it applies a maximum cap based on the extreme value and its range of influence; the method also ensures that relevant capping occurs even in lower grade sub-domains. The proposed method for capping outliers recognises that metal contained in high grade chip samples should not be over-capped, and based on the grade of surrounding samples. The post-processing method of capping outliers does not interfere with the kriging equations. The method is simple, elegant, and can be easily applied. An advantage is that the output from the kriging process is not overwritten, allowing for comparison between original kriging results and post-processing results.

Sep 1, 2021

By KNona Liddell

Many metal recovery processes Involve heterogeneous reactions In porous media accompanied by fluid flow and mass transfer. Modeling such systems Is difficult because of the number of rate processes Involved and is complicated even further by effects due to the structure of the porous medium. Data on even bulk properties of the medium are often severely limited or unavailable. For many such systems, a cell model may provide, an attractive alternative to models based on transport ,mechanisms in a differential volume. A cell model requires less input data and is computationally efficient. Identical residence time distributions can be obtained with models of both types, and both allow conversion and concentration profiles and histories to be calculated. The formulation and properties of cell models for metals recovery are described in detail.

Jan 1, 1996

By Yan Beygelzimer, Alexander Spuskanyuk, Victor Varyukhin

"A cellular model of the plastic deformation of polycrystalline aggregate is proposed and comprehensively described. Representative volume element (RVE) of a solid body, that is being deformed, is described as a population of interconnected units that, in turn, can consist of lower scale level units. Sliding along the various allowed sliding systems deforms simple units, which do not have an internal structure. For consideration of stress distribution within the limits of components, the approach of self-consistent field is used. Rotation of units and moment stresses connected with it are taken into account. Results of computer experiments are analyzed.1. IntroductionMicromechanical models of polycrystals are a link between the research of plastic deformation on micro and macro levels. Computer simulation of inelastic strain of polycrystals has found a great deal of interest as well. Despite the fact that this approach does not allow to obtain macroscopic constitutive relationships that are used in deformed solid body mechanics, it clarifies essential features of the phenomena in many aspects. First of all, it concerns effects stipulated by interdependence of micro-level and macro level of plastic deformation processes. Also, with the computing mechanics, instead of constitutive relationships, the adequate computer models can be used. Broad possibilities for computer simulation of various processes are opened by cellular automata approach. By means of numerical experiments, the cellular automata allows to study the macro behavior of the whole ensemble of cells depending on the local microscopic laws that define evolution of each cell and its interaction with the closest environment.We propose a mathematical model of a polycrystalline aggregate (the cellular model) based on a self-consistent scheme and on the interaction law similar to the one by Berveiller and Zaoui [1]. Our original solution is the self-similar structure of cellular automata that allows modeling of the fractal nature of real materials (Figure 1). The goals of this work are to present the major structures and relations of cellular model of polycrystal and to test this model for its adequacy as for describing known effects and dependencies. Identification of the model and its application for studying of concrete polycrystals are put aside for the future research."

Jan 1, 2001

By Wei Gao, Qing-cai Liu, Cun-fang Lu, Jian Yang, Hinmi Zheng

"The mode of occurrence of sulfur and mercury in 57 Chinese bituminous coals have been examined using X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Zeeman atomic absorption mercury spectrometer. Mercury levels in coal are related to the geographic location of the coals and types of the coals. A synthesis of result indicated that most likely occurrence modes of mercury in high-sulfur and high-mercury coals are in solid solution in pyrite. Our study from 57 coal samples showed that most values of mercury concentration in coal varied from 100 to 1000 ng/g with an average of approximately 500ng/g, and mathematical model about correlation between mercury and sulfur was gained by mathematical statistics. This is apparent that mercury and sulfur vary concomitantly from coal data (table 3) , the high correlation between them in all coals at confidence of 95% ( a=0.05 ) .1. INTRODUCTIONThere contained about one trillion ton abundant coal resources in China. As a leading level of proven coal reserves in the world, the coals mainly distributed in north China and northwest China, especially in Shanxi, Guizhou, Shanxi provinces and Inner-Mongolia autonomous region. At the same time, China has the largest production and consumption of coal, and has the output of coal nearly accounted for 37 percent of the world's production. Coal-fired power plants are the major source of energy generation in China, and the proportion of coal combustion is up to 75 percent in the total energy configuration. Therefore, the mercury pollution caused by coal-fired has become a topic of wide-spread discussions since 1990. The contamination of mercury of human activities accounted for 10 to 30 percent [1], and the mercury emissions of coal-fired flue gas has made the greatest contribution to the pollution of atmosphere[2] In the past 30 years, the global increasing concentration of mercury pollutant in atmosphere maybe result from coal combustion[2]. The mercury emissions caused by coal-burning has become the main reason of China's mercury pollution, and the characteristics of mercury pollution is closely related to China's energy configuration, additionally, the features of mercury pollution have changed from the point pollution in 1970's to diffused pollution today[3]. Mercury can be found in various types of coals, and it is evaporated into gas phase during the combustion process."

Jan 1, 2011

By Y. Fukunaka, M. Niinae, E. Kusaka, T. Kuzuya, R. Ishii

"Samarium oxalattr particles was precipitated in oxalic acid aqueous solution from samarium-loaded D2EHPA solution emulsified with a conventional impeller. The calculated fractional precipitation of samarium oxalate was reasonably compared with the value determined by chemical analysis. Morphological variation of oxalate precipitate particles was then examined with H2C2O4 concentration in aqueous solution, Sm(III) and D2EHPA concentrations in organic phase. The needle-like precipitate was identified as Sm2(C2O4)3 10H2O by XRD. Precipitates obtained at higher H2C2O4· or Sm(III) concentration greatly decreased the length of major axis of precipitate, while those at higher D2EHPA concentration increased it. The oxalate was further precipitated under ultrasonic irradiation. However, the morphological variation caused by theses processing variables was not so evident under ultrasonic irradiation as in an impeller or shaking mixer.IntroductionThe materials processing of the rare earth elements must be reviewed from the scope of industrial ecology, since they have the potential applications of magnetic materials as well as secondary battery in developing programs of the electric vehicle. The technological trend to develop the electric vehicle may greatly influence the concept of materials processing, since the global· environmental problem must accommodate with the sustainable development for mankind. The recycle design must be a key issue in the materials science and engineering.Solvent extraction provides a unique separation technology -in this sense. Doyle (1)(2) reported the integrating solvent extraction with processing of advanced ceramic materials, whose chemical composition and microstructure must be precisely controlled. In her paper, the higher productivity inherent to the present process superior to hydrolyzing metal alkoxides was emphasized. Oxalic acid has been used as precipitant for rare earth purification process, since rare earth oxalate has a very small solubility in water and can be easily decomposed to oxide. It is thus suitable for precipitation stripping agent in cationic exchange type extracting system (i.e. D2EHPA, VA-10, PC-88A and so on)."

Jan 1, 2000

By Tanai Marin

Modelling of pyrometallurgical processes can become extremely challenging when the process involves complex chemical reactions, phase change, multiphase flows, heat and mass transfer and fluid flow. Traditionally modelling involving complex thermodynamic equilibrium and thermochemistry are treated separately from problems in which transport phenomena are dominant, such as CFD and heat transfer studies. The separation is also necessary due to the lack of modelling tools that can effectively couple both solution thermodynamic and transport phenomena or even multiphysics problems. However, there are, quite often, problems in high temperature process metallurgy in which it is not possible to simplify this two modelling approaches. Typical cases of this are for example, the modelling of slag freezing on furnace walls (electric or flash furnaces) to create a protective layer in front of the refractories hot wall, the formation of build up from the matte or metal phases at the hearth of the furnace, calcine smelting from charging piles into slag phase, etc. The problem is even more challenging in nonferrous pyrometallurgy as most, if not all, of the condense phases are highly non ideal solutions involving several components and exhibiting complex crystallization paths and miscibility gaps, such as the Fe-Ni-Cu-S matte, FeO-Fe2O3-SiO2, FeO-MgO-SiO2 slags, etc. In this paper, an approach to model coupled problems involving multiphysics and solution thermodynamic is presented. The approach consists in developing in-house a library containing the Gibbs energy minimization routines and using the local equilibrium concept for process modelling from a multiphysics commercial software (COMSOL). Simple test cases, such as building a non-ideal binary phase diagram on a CFD package is presented, the limitations and of other classic approaches such as equilibrium or Scheil cooling are discussed and compared to this model.

Jan 1, 2015

By J. P. McKinney

A mathematical model is presented for the electrokinetic dewatering of suspensions of phosphatic clays. The modeling approach couples a boundary-element model for solution of Laplace?s equation to a recently developed constitutive equation that relates the change in solids content with applied electric field and time. The observation that the electric field controls both the maximum solids content achievable and the time required to reach that value is shown to severely constrain the application of electrokinetic dewatering strategies to an entire clay settling area. The approach, however, may be feasible for implementation as part of a continuous plant process.

Jan 1, 2011

By F. Sanchez, A. Mejias, C. Frias, G. Diaz

"Crude zinc oxides are the major source of secondary zinc and are produced from fuming processes like Waelz kilns. The impurities of crude zinc oxides make difficult their processing in primary zinc refineries due to mainly high chloride tenor. Washing with sodium carbonate is a costly operation and chloride removal efficiency is not good enough, so further purification steps are required. The crude zinc oxides are easily treated using ZINCEX™ technology based on leaching, solvent extraction, and electrowinning. The ZINCEX™ process is commercially available and is designed to be a perfect barrier for metallic impurities and halogens, allowing selective zinc extraction in mixed chloride and sulfate leaching solutions. Other valuable components as lead and silver can be efficiently recovered from the leaching residue using PLINT technology in chloride media. Silver is recovered as silver cement and lead is precipitated as pure lead oxide or carbonate, which can be smelted at low temperature.IntroductionZinc is a fully recyclable metal and at present approximately 70% of the zinc produced worldwide comes from primary zinc while 30% originates from secondary materials. Nowadays, the zinc recycling rate is continuously increasing mainly through galvanized steel scrap processing, and crude zinc oxides are the major source of secondary zinc [1]. Secondary zinc oxides are obtained from fuming processes like W aelz Kiln, Rotary Hearth Furnace or Primus Furnace. Waelz is the dominant technology accounting for 80% of total crude zinc oxides production worldwide. In the Waelz process, steel dust is mixed with solid fuel reductant (coke breeze) and pelletized. It is then fed to the kiln and heated to a reaction temperature of l ,200°C. In such conditions, zinc, lead, and other non-ferrous metals are vaporized into the flue gas together with chlorides and alkaline metals. Mixed oxides are drawn from the kiln with the process gases and separated to produce typical crude zinc oxides [2]."

Jan 1, 2011

By Racquel Nottingham, Freddy Lopez, Ole Gadermann

The ongoing urban development is a global phenomenon, placing has high demands on urban infrastructure (housing, public services, transportation, telecommunications, etc.). Micropiling is one of the most successfully implemented deep foundation technologies in urban interventions, and in densely populated and built-up areas. The use of micropiles enabled the implementation of several solutions within short time frames, with minimal disturbance to the daily activities of the population. Since urban interventions usually represent a very important investment and have an economic impact, special attention should be paid to the serviceability of the urban infrastructure in the middle and long term. For the foundations, the design loadbearing capacity of the used structural elements needs to be guaranteed during the planned life time of the structures. In the case of micropiles, it must be ensured that the steel load bearing elements are effectively protected against corrosion. This paper presents the structural design of permanent self-drilling micropiles, subject to tension due to uplift loads. For the case study, different micropile systems - available worldwide - will also be evaluated. For the afore mentioned micropile systems, the design considerations regarding the durability of the reinforcement, based on their corrosion protection approaches, will be presented in this paper.

By L Rattmann, T Katz, J B. Pateiro-Fernßndez

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is expected to become one of the main technological instruments for mid-term reduction of CO2 emissions into the earthÆs atmosphere. Besides the reduction of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere, the implementation of CCS would have various negative consequences, which are û if at all û only poorly covered in the current socio-political discussion. Taking into account all aspects of CCS, the outcome of a comprehensive and conclusive assessment of CCS against the background of the sustainable development concept is uncertain. When assessing the overall impact of CCS in a holistic approach, a variety of aspects with effects on sustainable development are affected. Besides economic issues, various other effects of implementing CCS should be taken into consideration. These include for example additional costs for CCS facilities and processes and a decrease in powerplant efficiency due to high energy requirements of capture processes, and various ecological and societal aspects, such as higher demand for combustible, resulting in faster depletion of reserves and higher land and water use and the provision of jobs along CCS technology chain. This paper presents an approach for a structured sustainability assessment of CCS based on the multi attribute decision-making (MADM) method analytical hierarchy process (AHP). The functioning of the presented methodology is exemplified at the case study of a German coal fired powerplant.

Jan 1, 2009

By Dr. Jack M. Gillette

A system of models which simulate surface coal mining operations has been developed for use in mine planning and economic evaluations. Micromodels simulate individual mine operations for equipment selection and mine planning. Macromodels simulate all operations in the complete mine for economic evaluation of reserves. A cash flow analysis model makes a complete discounted cash flow analysis to deter-mine a required coal sales price or return on investment for evaluation of any mining project.

Jan 1, 1978

By Lawrence Melis

Fission Uranium Corp.’s Triple R Uranium Deposit at its Patterson Lake South Project is located in northwest Saskatchewan in Canada’s Athabasca Basin. As part of pre-feasibility studies for the project a detailed metallurgical test program was completed to provide process design criteria. The testwork program encompassed preparation and analysis of test composites, comminution testing, uranium acid leaching, liquid-solid separation, solvent extraction of uranium, precipitation of uranium yellowcake products, tailings and effluent treatment, tailings physical and chemical characterization, and environmental testing of prepared tailings, as well as investigations of gold and silver recovery from the mineralization. The paper provides mineralogical information, testwork methodologies and test results which were used to arrive at process design criteria and the selection of the process flowsheet for the project.

Jan 1, 2020

By John D. Spencer

Air and water pollution and land reclamation relating to coal mining and utilization continued to be featured in research and technologic work on coal by the Bureau of Mines in 1967. Details of the environmental studies are given in this report, along with accounts of other research relating to the mining and utilization of coal. Other studies that were continued during 1967 included health and safety, mine explosives, coal preparation and transportation, coal utilization processes, chemistry and properties of coal, inspection and analysis, and inter-national activities. Publications issued in 1967 are cited throughout the report and in appendix C. Bureau of Mines research centers and laboratories are listed in appendix A, and organizations contributing to or cooperating in the work, in appendix B.

Jan 1, 1968

By Ximeng Zhu

The electrochemical behavior of mineral and coal pyrites in stirred and quiescent alkaline boratelsulfate solutions @H 7.9-10.5) have been investigated using cyclic voltammetry. Significant differences in the electrochemical response of these pyrites were observed. At the mineral pyrite surface, three anodic peaks at about -0.8 V, -0.1 V and +0.5 V (SCE) have been detected along with their corresponding reduction peaks. The first two peaks correspond to FeIFeOI) and FeOI)lFe(III) oxidation. The third peak is present for quiescent conditions but disappears as a distinct peak when the electrolyte is stirred. In the upper voltage region +0.30V (SCE), the current increases markedly during stirring and the reactions correspond to the oxidation of pyrite with the formation FeOII) oxides plus elemental sulfur. Also there is evidence that Fe oxy-ions form. Coal pyrites, under rapid sweep conditions display only the first two anodic peaks, the associated reduction peaks and an additional reduction peak corresponding to one or more of the high voltage oxidation products. After prolonged exposure to high potentials, coal pyrite displays reactions similar to those of mineral pyrite but at much higher current densities demonstrating the much higher reactivity of the coal pyrite. The reactivity sequence was Upper Freeport coal pyrite > Pittsburgh coal pyrite > mineral pyrite.

Jan 1, 1991

"A long-term mine production schedule optimization based on stochastic integer programming is presented that manages the risk due to geological variability and uncertainty while jointly considering mine profitability, truck fleet requirements and waste management. The evolution of the pit is controlled so that space within the mined-out pit is continuously provided to allow for tailings and waste rock to be replaced, thus minimizing the project’s environmental footprint. The method is applied at a taconite iron ore deposit and has a project net present value that is 16.9 percent higher than that of a conventional schedule and has a higher chance of meeting production forecasts. The stochastic schedule reduces equipment requirements by delaying waste mining and by mining selectively in order to meet plant ore feed requirements without stockpiling material, resulting in 23.7 and 26.2 percent lower mining capital and operating costs, respectively. IntroductionThe LabMag iron ore deposit is part of the Millennium Iron Range, a 210-km (130-mile) belt of taconite in northern Quebec and Labrador, Canada. LabMag has significant economic potential. It contains more than 3.3 Gt (3.6 billion st) of proven reserves at an average total iron content of 29.8 percent and is very low in impurities. However, on a project basis of 23 Mt/a (25 million stpy) of product, the required capital expenditure is estimated at more than $5 billion (SNC-Lavalin, 2014), which necessitates careful evaluation of all sources of risk. Resource estimation is one of the main sources of risk in a mining project as knowledge of the orebody is primarily based on drilling, which is often sparse because it is expensive. If the expected ore tonnages and qualities are not obtained when mining, the project cash flows are directly affected. The expected quantities and qualities of ore and waste are defined by the mine production schedule, which specifies the sequence of extraction and is dependent on the resource estimation. The goal of mine production scheduling is thus to maximize the expected profit, while also meeting all production targets and constraints, by creating an extraction schedule that is robust in the face of geological risk and has the highest chance possible of actually being realized."

Jan 10, 2017