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By E. W. Henderson

Oil and gas development in Utah in 1936 added nothing of importance to the commercial possibilities of the state and consisted principally of efforts to reach objectives in wildcat wells started prior to 1936. Leasing activity on structures having oil and gas possibilities in beds of Pennsylvanian age or older followed announcement by the Standard Oil Company of California that a test of beds of Mississippian age would be made on the San Rafael structure. DRilling Clay Basin, Dagget County.—The Mountain Fuel Supply Co. completed a third well, sec. 16, T. 3 N., R. 24 E., on a flank of this structure. Total developed open flow of the field is approximately 50 million cubic feet and sufficient reserve has been established to warrant construction in 1937 of a pipe line connecting with the Salt Lake City-Ogden line. San Rafael, Emery County.—The Standard Oil Company of California started a wildcat test in sec. 22, T. 23 S., R. 11 E. Circulation was lost in a water-filled cavity, in dolomitic limestone, below 2185 ft. and the hole conditioned as a water supply for drilling a second test in sec. 27, T. 23 S., R. 11 E. The Carter Oil Co. in 1921 drilled a well in sec. 24, T. 23 S., R. 11 E., which was abandoned at a depth of 3035 ft. after testing at least a part of the Pennsylvanian section. Czsco, Grand County.—Drilling operations at the Utah Sout.hern Oil Company's test in sec. 33, T. 22 S., R. 22 E., continued throughout the year. Information obtained by means of a seismographic survey of the area indicated that beds of Pennsylvanian age would be found at approximately 2500 ft. The bottom of the hole at 6300 ft. is believed to be in beds of Pennsylvanian age but positive determination has not been made froin the drill cuttings. Green River, Grand County.—Test of Glen Ruby et al., sec. 34, T. 21 S., R. 16 E., was abandoned at 2627 ft. as a dry hole after drilling into Permian Kaibab limestone. Shows of oil and gas were reported and a flow of carbon dioxide gas under low pressure encountered.

Jan 1, 1937

By R. S. Rosso

A program to investigate the effects of hardened washers on the uniformity of roof bolt tension and the resulting ground control in an underground mine was carried out. The complete roof bolt installation and roof bolt loads, mine convergence, and bed separation were monitored for a period of five months. The results show no evidence to support or refute the theory that mechanical roof bolts offer better support when they are installed with a high uniformity of tension. Also shown is the fact that if the bolts are installed with a maximum deviation from the mean torque of ±15% the addition of hardened washers significantly improved the uniformity of the installed tensions in the roof bolts.

Jan 1, 1977

By M. Matthias

A study, part of a doctoral dissertation (Matthias, 1991), was conducted during 1987 and 1988 to establish the means by which professionals assess and maintain their competence during the various stages of their careers. The study elicited responses from fifty-nine subjects representing engineering, pharmacy and medicine (twenty subjects from engineering, nineteen from pharmacy and twenty from medicine) on their perception and assessment of continuing competence. The findings revealed a wide variation of how professionals perceived their continuing competence and the means they adopted to keep current. The implications of the study are significant for adult education practice and theory building. The author strongly believes that now, more than ever, engineers must take ownership of their careers and professional development activities. While management and supervision have a key role to play, it is the engineer, who is ultimately responsible for the scope, planning and implementation of her/ his professional development needs. An example from one high technology company will illustrate these points.

Jan 1, 1999

By LEWIS F. THOMAS

MINING geologists and mining engineer, rarely give due thought to the geography of mining deposits. They realize, it is true that what may be ore in one place would be only worthless rock in another because f the in accessibility of a smelter r a market; and they may consider the lack of a supply of labor, or water, or power to carry on operations. But they do not think (of these things in terms of geography. Geography may be defined as the science of relationships between earth and man, so geographers are vitally interested in the how and why of mining as it is carried on at different place, having entirely different environment-. Such environments are geographic complexes or composites of natural and cultural elements, which are listed and briefly discussed in the following paragraphs.

Jan 1, 1941

By Irwin H. Cornell

BRIEFLY stated, the history of the St. Joseph Lead Co. is the story of how a group of men, working for ten years as officers without salaries and stockholders without dividends, developed a small mine in Missouri into what became a large and prosperous corporation. Their courage and faith in the scattered surface deposits of lead coupled with the management's engineering vision and sound financial judgment should prove an inspiration to present-day mining operators and investors. In 1717, John Law's company, known as "The Company of the West," was formed in France and letters patent were granted, for a period of 25 years by Louis XV, for exploration in the Mississippi River Valley. One of the underlying purposes of the expedition, headed by Mr. Renault and Mr. La Motte, a French metallurgist, was development of the lead mines in the area now known as Southeast Missouri.

Jan 1, 1947

By H. C. Miller

The removal of the mud sheaths that are deposited against the faces of productive oil sands during rotary drilling is one of the important problems confronting operators, especially in semidepleted fields where formation pressures are low. Unless the mud sheaths behind the perforated oil strings and, liners are removed and the sands exposed, oil cannot enter the wells. Consequently much oil that otherwise eight be produced from low-pressure sands is trapped and never recovered. Various types of perforation washers, down swabs, and agitators are used at present for breaking down the mud sheaths and. removing the disintegrated clay particles from wells after the perforated pipes have been inserted. Mechanical methods for removing mud sheaths are quite satisfactory, but prompted by tie request of certain operators in the California oil fields Bureau of Mines engineers have conducted a series of laboratory tests with the view of developing a chemical method for removing mud sheaths in oil wells that will be applicable to field conditions.

Jan 1, 1934

The Carol concentrator of the Iron Ore Company of Canada was completed in 1962 and through expansions .has become one of the largest iron ore beneficiation plants in the world with a new feed capacity of 147,000 It (149,350 mt) per day. The Carol ore contains specular hematite and magnetite having a bulk density of 166 lb/cu ft (2660 kg/m3) It is crushed to 7 in. (178 mm) for feeding to autogenous mills for subsequent concentration by Humphrey’s s spirals. Mine ore is loaded into 150 It (152 mt) trucks by 10 cu yd (7.65 m3) shovels and then, at a transfer station, is loaded into side-dump rail cars of 100 It (101.6 mt) capacity. Each train is composed of twenty cars and operates completely automatically as it hauls the ore to the primary crushing station, dumps its loads, and returns to the loading station, a 11.5 mile (18.5 km) round trip. The primary crushing station is composed of two 60 in. by 89 in. gyratories installed in 1962 and 1972. Neither crusher has a grizzly ahead of it. Rail cars are dumped into 300 It (305 mt) pockets which contain splitters for spider protection. What few oversize boulders which do not go through the crushers are drilled and blasted. Liners in the dump pocket and the crushed ore pokcet under the crusher are manganese steel. Both crushers are direct driven by 700 hp (5 15 kw) motors, and the hardness of the ore causes them to pull almost their full power. Crushed ore drops into a 160 It (163 mt) pocket equipped with radioactive level control units for low-intermediate, and high level indications. The low level unit stops and starts the apron feeder, the intermediate unit controls the feeder speed, and a high-level reading stops the car dumping. Apron feeders are 72 in. (1. 82 m) wide and are variable speed from 12 to 52 fpm (3. 7 to 15. 8 mpm). They discharge to 60 in. (1.52 m) wide takeaway belts. Crushing capacity, nominal and maximum for each crusher, is 4, 000 ltph (4. 064 mtph) and 4,600 ltph (4,674 mtph). The crusher eccentric is removed by a conventional cart which travels on removable rails. Mainshaft removal and maintenance is done by 65 and 75/10 ton cranes. Mainshaft replacement requires eight hours, a usual time, but concave replacement requires only sixteen hours, a result of a fine maintenance organization. Mantle relining is done at grade next to a repair track. Zinc is used for backing both mantles and concaves. Both the electrical rooms and the dust collectors are located below grade,

Jan 1, 1978

By T. W. Turk

In May 1984, Davy McKee Corporation was awarded a contract for engineering design, procurement assistance, project management and startup services for two gold recovery plants? in the People's, Republic of China (PRC). The basic design of these two projects was to be accomplished by a combined effort of the Chinese and Davy McKee Corporation (DMC). The, design goals were to provide a state-of-the art plant while maintaining Chinese standards and design practices whenever possible. Chinese-manufactured equipment was to be used as much as possible. This paper discusses the project organization and procedures developed to accomplish the design goals, the process selection and design, and the selection and procurement of equipment outside of the PRC. Design development for grinding, leaching and carbon adsorption, and gold recovery are discussed in detail. The major goal of process selection and design was to provide common criteria for both plants. Equipment .sizing and selection was identical for carbon-in-leach adsorption, gold recovery, acid washing, and carboo regeneration for both plants. Of special importance is the design of the wastewater treatment system. Due to the cl0se proximity of a major population area, slurry discharging from these mines must be treated to meet drinking water standards. The process development and design of this system is also discussed in detail.

Jan 1, 1989

By Oliver Bowles

In its geologic sense the term marble is applied to rocks consisting of crystallized grains of calcite or dolomite or a mixture of the two. Although limestone has the same chemical composition as marble it differs in that the component particles of calcium or magnesium car- bonates are granular and noncrystalline. In marble the crystals may be intimately intergrown, whereas limestone is an aggregation of unrelated particles cemented together into a solid mass. In its commercial sense the term marble has a much wider applica- tion. As susceptibility to polish is one of its chief commercial assets, all calcareous rocks capable of polish are classed as marbles. Lime- stones that show little crystalline structure may, if they take a good polish, be classed as marbles. Furthermore, serpentine rocks, even if they contain little calcium or magnesium carbonate, are classed as marbles, as they are commercial substitutes of true marbles.

Jan 1, 1916

By S Juras

The terms measured resources and proven reserves denote the highest level of estimation confidence in all of the major classification schemes. But what do they really bring to today’s project or mine with respect to production planning and expectations? Initial reserve declaration does not need measured resources, just indicated resources. Economic viability of a project is assessed on total reserves with nary a bonus for the amount of proven reserves. Production plans are based on grade and tonnage goals that may only coincidently correspond to proven reserves. So are the measured and proven categories still relevant? Historically, and almost exclusively in underground mines, companies only allowed mining in areas of proven reserves. Some companies still follow that philosophy. But many others will mine a mixture of probable and proven reserves without hesitation. Also what of the undeveloped project in a new district – what is to be made of their declared measured resources and proven reserves? Measured resources are commonly set either by some type of proximity to data scheme or a matter of ‘feel’ based on the qualified person’s experience. The parameters for reserve conversion focus on the project as a whole and then a portion becomes classified as proven reserves almost solely based on whether the resource category is measured. So should the mining industry continue to use these categories of resource and reserve classification? This paper will present arguments about making these categories once again more relevant. A more disciplined usage of these categories may re-introduce their relevancy in public disclosures of resources and reserves. As well a more consistent usage in operations may lead to increased confidence in managing production targets and costs.

Aug 22, 2011

By Robert S. Sanford

In April 1948, the Bureau of Mines was requested to evaluate the graphite deposit' known as the Benjamin Franklin and Just mines in Chester County, Pa. After preliminary investigation, it was recommended that the Bureau core-drill, trench, and sample the deposit and make beneficiation tests on the ore. During the first and second World Wars, flake graphite was in short supply, and a number of deposits in the United States were exploited. In 1942, the Defense Plant Corporation, through its lessee, the Benjamin Franklin Graphite Co., purchased 70.263 acres of graphite-bearing land and built a complete mining and milling plant with a capacity of 300 tons of crude ore per 24-hour day at a cost of $426,250 (Plancor No. 1254).

Jan 1, 1949

By Steven B. Van Kouteren

Added value is a term loosely used in the industry, but what exactly does it mean? What does it take to make a value-added product and more importantly how does a company maintain the value added to its products? Most people agree that value-added means the value of a mineral minus the cost to produce it. But what is misleading is that producing value added products does not necessarily guarantee the profitability of the products. In some cases firms that make "value-added" products are not very profitable. It is not only important to understand how to make a value-added product but also how competitive forces in the market can erode the value added. Therefore, when we look at value-added opportunities, we must understand how to obtain the value added and more importantly how to maintain the value. There are four major factors that limit a company's ability to add value to its products. This paper will examine these factors and will use the ground calcium carbonate and mica industries as examples.

Jan 1, 1990

By W. Clark Ashby

Productivity is a fascinating concept. Like motherhood or apple pie, we know it as a good thing. Just what it means is not so clear. To a coal miner we assume it means tons of coal hauled from the mine. To the company president it means profit after capital, labor, and other costs have also been reckoned. To the government economist it means output in a balance of payments. What does it mean to the biologist, and can reclamation really be productive? In this paper we discuss productivity from a biological viewpoint, give some yield data for various types of reclamation plantings, and discuss how our demand for or acceptance of differing kinds of productivity is tied up in bigger questions of land use, environmental stability, and resource allocation.

Jan 1, 1981

By Peter Price

Introduction The Horne mine, the property of Noranda Mines, Limited, has in the last six years become one of Canada's leading gold and copper producers. Since the smelter was blown-in during December, 1927, up to the end of 1933, it has produced approximately 1,200,000 oz. of gold and 35O,OOO,OOO lb. of copper. The property is situated within an area occupied entirely by pre-Cambrian rocks and characterized by the complexity of rock types and structures common in such terrain. But apart from this the mine also presents other features of unusual interest in the size, number, and variety of the ore-bodies, the mineralogical associations, and the rather exceptional values both in gold and copper. It is not surprising, therefore, that a study of the geology of the mine should bring to light many interesting problems. The present paper summarizes, as concisely as possible, the results of such a study. Actually, it is a much abridged version of a more comprehensive and detailed paper completed by the writer a year ago (1), but embodying certain corrections and additional data made possible as a result of further development at the mine and of field work carried out during the summer of 1933. Owing to limitations of space, the paper is, in the main, a presentation of conclusions arrived at in the course of the study. Much of the supporting evidence cited in the thesis referred to has, of necessity, been omitted here.

Jan 1, 1934

By B. W. Vallat

The Newport mine, located at Ironwood, gogebic county, Mich., on the Gogebic iron-range, is owned and operated by the Newport Mining Co., for the mining of iron-ore. I. GEOLOGY. The general geology of the gogebic range has been determined and recorded at different times by well-known geologists,' and their work will be referred to briefly in connection with the local conditions in the mine. The strike of the formation across this property is about 15" north of east. The general dip is 68" to the north. At the base of the formation on the aouth lies the granite. Looking north, at right angles to the strike of the formation, we have the foot-wall of quartz-slates and quartzite about 400 ft. wide; the iron-formation about 800 ft. wide, and the hanging-mall of black slates. The iron-formation is composed of banded jasper and quartzite together with iron oxide and concentrations of iron-ore. In character the ore iu a soft red hematite, with occasional masses of hard blue "steel ore." The formation is crossed in many places by diorite dikes, which cut through at various angles, the larger or main dikes dipping into the foot-wall in a SE. direction at angles varying from 15" to 30°, while numerous small dikes occur which strike through the formation in a vertical plane and at approximately right angles to the main dikes. There are various theories concerning these dikes, especially as to the time of their origin with relation to the ore-deposition. The commonly-accepted theory is that the dikes were there first, but there are some who contend that they were formed

Jan 1, 1912

By Larry Diaz

A single stage ball mill-cyclone circuit was extensively tested for its reactions to step changes in three controllable variables: feed rate, water to cyclones, and water to the ball mill. A series of carefully designed tests are to be carried out in order to determine relationships between the various ball mill and cyclone parameters. Cyclone overflow particle size distribution is to be continuously monitored during the tests using an ultrasonic device. Other circuit variables that are to be measured and recorded are feed rate, ball mill mass flow, cyclone feed and overflow densities, cyclone feed sump level, water flows, etc. Once the circuit performance is defined, two types of grinding circuit control systems will be evaluated: (a) mass flow-based; (b) particle size- based. Results obtained by each approach in terms of feed rate and cyclone overflow size distributions are discussed. The high sensitivity of continuous particle size measurements to grinding circuit disturbances is emphasized.

Jan 1, 1971

By Michael MacMillan

AI is already changing how mining companies are seen, judged, and trusted. This paper discusses “reputation engineering,” a structured way to build trust in a world where AI systems summarize and evaluate everything a company says publicly. Using mining examples, emerging AI search trends, and real communication work, the paper explains why the next 12–18 months are a crucial window for action. It also provides a practical framework to help mining companies improve their visibility, accuracy, and consistency across both human and machine channels.

Feb 22, 2026

By D J. Thobaven

Project financing challenges caused by declining commodity prices have heightened the need to improve project metrics such as minimising capital payback and maximising net present value (NPV). Khnaiguiyah Mining Company (KMC) recognised the need to improve early cash flows at their Khnaiguiyah zinc-copper project after initial studies showed the project could not provide the desired financial outcomes necessary to compete for investment dollars in the current market.A significant improvement to the project cash flow in early years was realised through simultaneous optimisation of cut-off grade, mining sequence and strategic stockpiling. This improvement was achieved by accelerating mining in the pits, stockpiling lower value material and feeding higher value material directly to the plant. The schedule required higher mining and stockpile capacities than the sequential mine plan although minimal change occurred in the definition of ore and waste as measured by tonnes and grade. The practicality of the strategic schedule was demonstrated by implementation in the production plan with excellent conformance.CITATION:Thobaven, D J, 2014. An application of simultaneous optimisation – improving the payback period of a zinc-copper open cut project, in Proceedings Orebody Modelling and Strategic Mine Planning Symposium 2014 , pp 137–144 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Nov 24, 2014

By John R. Goode

"This paper reviews options for the separation of a mixture of rare earth elements (REE) into its component elements. Earlier separations used selective chemistry such as double salt precipitation and reductive/oxidative processes – methods that still have a place in the industry. Fractional crystallization was developed for more complete separations of adjacent REE. The latter method was replaced by ion exchange (IX), which was in turn replaced by solvent extraction (SX). Two main SX chemistries are in use, solvation and cation exchangers, with several variants (mixed solvents, ionic liquids, etc.) now under investigation. SX plant configurations have evolved including advanced techniques like “hyperlinking”, novel saponification methods, and alternative stripping techniques. The classic mixer-settler is the most commonly employed device although centrifugal contactors have been pilot-tested. Non-dispersive SX options including microfluidic devices and membrane-assisted SX techniques are being developed and could revolutionize the SX option. Other REE separation techniques now being studied include Molecular Recognition Technology (MRT), Free Flow Electrophoresis (FFE), newer IX systems, and electrolytic processes. Additionally, the classical crystallization and selective precipitation methods and newer bacteria-mediated processes, chloride volatilization, high performance liquid chromatography, and magnetic separation systems have been studied. This paper reviews the options and concludes that conventional SX is the technology of choice but viable alternatives could be demonstrated and acceptable within a couple of years.INTRODUCTIONThe chemical properties of the individual REE are very similar which is why REE minerals and ore deposits almost invariably contain a mixture of all fifteen REE, i.e., La to Lu plus Y. That said, the distribution of REE in a given deposit is frequently dominated by the light REE (LREE, i.e., La to Nd). Examples include the Bayan Obo, Mianning, Lynas Mt. Weld, and Molycorp Mountain Pass deposits where heavy REE (HREE – Sm to Lu and Y) typically account for well under 5% of the REE content. The LREE operations produce some HREE but the main sources of these important elements are the ionic clay deposits of Southern China. Importantly, all of the REE recovery operations referenced above, except for cerianite-bearing ionic clay deposits, initially produce a mixed REE precipitate or calcine with a REE distribution similar to that in the ore (Goode, 2016). However, the consumers of the REE, the manufacturers of magnets, phosphors, catalysts, optical glass, etc., require separated products with purities generally ranging from 99% to as high as 99.9999% depending on the element in question and the end use. Hence there is a need to separate the individual REE one from the other. This paper is intended to review the options."

Jan 1, 2016

By Lui Orna

El presente trabajo señala las técnicas de planificación de caminos para robots móviles basados en la aplicación de diversas señales de control a los modelos cinemáticos del vehículo considerado en minería para mejorar la reducción del mineral en mina subterránea. Asimismo, estos robots móviles dotan de algunas características inteligentes a un tradicional cargador frontal u otros equipos, transformándolos en un vehículo guiado, capaz de moverse en medio de túneles y pasillos a oscuras. Como ejemplo de ello, fue desarrollar un prototipo a escala: un pequeño vehículo de laboratorio, llamado GeBoot donde se introdujo algoritmo de Red Neuronal con lógica difusa para las formas de guiado espacial, logrando optimizar dicha proceso. De otro lado, se revisan los métodos existentes para la estimación de la posición de robots móviles y vehículos autónomos.

Sep 19, 2006