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By C. Zografidis, K. Karalis, E. Devlin, S. Tabouris

"The main parameters affecting energy and electrode consumption in smelting reduction of Greek nickeliferous laterites in submerged arc electric furnaces (E/F) were investigated. Within this framework, the operational data of E/Fs, such as energy consumption indicators, electrode consumption indicators and chemical characteristics of Fe-Ni and slag, were correlated with the physicochemical characteristics of the calcine, produced by roasting reduction of laterite in rotary kilns (R/Ks), such as reduction degree, temperature, chemical composition and granulometry. The results obtained provide a significant input for further research on the modelling of the roasting reduction – smelting reduction process, which is a critical tool for energy optimization.IntroductionThe two main steps of pyrometallurgical treatment of greek nickeliferous laterites for ferronickel production include: i) drying, pre-heating and controlled pre–reduction of laterite ores with solid fuel reducing agents and fuel oil in rotary kilns (R/Ks) for the production of a calcine, and ii) smelting reduction of the calcine in open-bath submerged-arc electric furnaces (E/Fs) for the production of Fe-Ni alloy with 12-16% Ni [1].The energy absorbed from the endothermic reductive reactions of iron, nickel and cobalt oxides (Fe2O3, FeO, NiO and CoO) of the calcine with the remaining carbon in the E/Fs, corresponds to about 16% of the total energy output in the smelting reduction step [1]. This is indicative of the significance of the calcine’s reduction degree for the electric energy requirements in the E/Fs. Moreover, the chemical characteristics and the granulometry of the calcine constitute critical parameters for the energy requirements as well as the smooth operation of the E/Fs."

Jan 1, 2012

By Paul C. Jones

Summitville is an old mining district located south of Wolf Creek Pass in the southern San Juan Mountains of Colorado at an elevation higher than 3500 m (11,500 ft). The Summitville mine site is about 40 km (25 miles) southwest of Del Norte. The current mine, developed by Galactic Resources Ltd. and its subsidiaries in the mid-1980s, is on the north facing side of South Mountain. The area is drained by Cropsy Creek to the east and Wightman Fork to the north, both tributaries to the Alamosa River. Mining in the Summitville area began in 1870 when James Wightman discovered placer gold on what is now known as Wightman Fork of the Alamosa River. The first vein-type deposits were located in 1873 on South Mountain near the current Summitville Mine. Mining began in the district in 1875 and continued sporadically through 1942. Major mining episodes occurred from 1875 to 1894 and from 1926 to 1942. Total gold production from the mining district through 1949 totaled 7.5 t (240,000 oz). An additional 7.7 t (249,000 oz) were produced during Galactic's tenure. Natural degradation of the outcropping sulfide-rich veins in the area and the early mining activity, including development of the Reynolds, Dexter and Iowa drainage tunnels in the late 1890s, have polluted the streams draining the area with heavy metals and acidic water. Names of the various tributaries to Wightman Fork, such as Iron, Alum and Bitter Creek, testify to this natural pollution. This degradation has reduced, or killed, aquatic life in several area creeks, including Wightman Fork, for many years before recent mining activity.

Jan 1, 1993

By A. H. Lang

THE recent production of important quantities of high-grade muscovite at the Purdy mine, near Eau Claire, Ontario, bas brought that district into prominence and bas added another strategic mineral to the list of Canadian products. The discoveries are thirteen miles west of Mattawa and about two miles north of the Trans-Canada highway and the Canadian Pacific railway. HISTORY Clear mica of low power factor is in considerable demand in Canada and in the United States for war purposes such as radio and telephone condensers, aircraft spark-plugs, radio tubes, and transformers. Some muscovite (white mica) bas been produced in North Carolina and New Hampshire, but the United States trade bas depended largely on importations of muscovite from India and of phlogopite (amber mica) from Madagascar. For many years Canada bas been a substantial producer of phlogopite, but was unable to compete extensively in the United States with importations from abroad. Canadian production of muscovite bas been negligible as no important deposits were known. Ever since the construction of the Canadian Pacific railway, attempts have been made from time to time to mine the pegmatite dykes in and near the Eau Claire area, but, although some feldspar has been mined, no appreciable muscovite was produced. Lace in 1941, J. Purdy and H. MacDonald discovered a dyke containing large crystals of high-grade muscovite from which they are reported to have sold $700 worth of mica. They recorded claims 35974 and 35975 in December, 1941, and claim 36095 in May, 1942.

Jan 1, 1943

By Richard P. Rothwell

IN the pear 1881, I visited San Domingo, in the interest of French capitalists, to examine and report upon certain "concessions" of gold-bearing gravel and quartz veins, on the Isabella and Jaina rivers and their tributaries. This district is periodically reported to he extraordinarily rich, and there is oast around it the glamour of the mysterious shipments of gold, credited, in romance and in more or less romantic history, to Columbus and the Spaniards of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. Since considerable sums of money and several valuable lives have been lost in the unsuccessful search for its profitable mines, it seems desirable to place on record Borne of the information collected concerning the value of these famous gold fields, with the hope of facilitating the work of those who may hereafter be called on to investigate these claims, and of preventing the unnecessary waste of capital. It is needless to add that the capitalists for whom my investigations were made abandoned the enterprise they had in view,although no doubt similar schemes will be brought forward many times in the future, as they have been in the past, under the fervent advocacy of too sanguine enthusiasts. Since the time of the Spanish occupation of the Island of San Domingo, in 1497, when Columbus Found the natives wearing ornaments of gold, more or less of the precious metal has been obtained annually by washing the gold-bearing sands of several of its streams. It is said that during the Spanish domination, when the native Indians were held in the most abject servitude, a certain amount of gold was required of each one as the rault of his labor. Uuder this

Jan 1, 1882

By D. R. Forshey

Although the United States has the world's largest coal reserves, most of those reserves will require underground mining. Unless underground injury and fatality rates are reduced, the number of disabling injuries and accidental deaths will grow as coal production increases. The Bureau's Mining Research Program, designed to reduce the exposure of workers to hazards while improving productivity, is described. Major program thrusts are 1) re- moving the hazards or removing miners from the areas in which hazards exist, 2) developing ways to improve management decisions and mining skills so as to reduce the incidence of situations requiring human involvement in hazardous, emergency, or corrective tasks, and 3) improving, or at least maintaining, productivity so that both the tangible (dollar) and intangible (human) costs are reduced. In these ways, projected demands for coal can be met using resources without an increase in human suffering.

Jan 1, 1987

By L. B. Gittinger

Mr, Chairman, members- and guests of the AIMS, I greatly appreciate this opportunity to speak before you. I hope this is just the beginning of a long and mutually beneficial relationship. This winter I decided to join the other 36 Freeporters who belong to the AIME; and, I applied for membership in the Society of Mining Engineers. To queries as to my interests in the Society, I had this answer: our principal challenge -- more so today, than at any time in my nearly 25 years in the industry -- is discovery and development of new sources of raw materials. I want to join you in meeting this challenge.

Jan 1, 1966

By A B. Christie

Space-based synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data is becoming available over much of the world, includingNew Zealand. Radar imagery has a number of very advantageous features, including all-weather capability; it also has artifacts, such as layover, which require processing before these data may be used to best effect.   This paper gives an outline of SAR, details the image processing required, and discusses the use of the first New Zealand Japan Earth Resources-1 SAR data to aid geological mapping on the Coromandel Peninsula.

Jan 1, 1994

By René G. del Villar, Jules Thibault, René del Villar

"Some key control variables of industrial processes, associated with product quality, often cannot be measured directly or frequently enough to establish adequate control. In such cases, it is possible to use available measurements to provide a prediction for these process variables and use them in a control strategy, thereby giving rise to what is now commonly called a softsensor.In some industrial grinding circuits, the on-line particle size analyzer is shared between various sampling points. Therefore, for a given location, the actual measurement is only available every 10 to 20 minutes, a delay which is unacceptable for automatic control purposes. To alleviate this problem, a softsensor based on an artificial neural network has been investigated. First, the structure of the neural network and different schemes for the training process are analyzed. Then, the performance of the neural network softsensor is compared with other inferential methods such as ARMA models and Kalman filters.IntroductionGRAHM, French acronym of the Research Group on Computer Applications in the Mineral Industry at Laval University, began in 1990 a research project on Knowledge Based Automatic Control (KBAC). This project, sponsored by a consortium of eight mining companies and the federal and provincial governments, seeked to screen advanced (knowledge-based) methods for data processing (filtering, mass balancing, etc) and automatic control (model-based) for their use in the mineral processing operations and the transfer of the project results to the sponsor companies.In parallel to more academic research work, a number of case-studies have been undertaken with the cooperation of partner companies. Among such works, a very successful one has been the design and installation of a new control strategy for one of the Kidd Creek (Falconbridge Ltd.) grinding circuits. This project was related to the evaluation of a number of control strategies and the implementation of one of them, as selected by the plant management, in the concentrator.A total of sixteen control schemes were evaluated on one of the dynamic phenomenological simulators developed at GRAHM, a trademark of this research group [ l]. The calibration of the simulator models was done based on industrial data gathered by GRAHM and Kidd Creek personnel. Then, the simulator was used to test the performance of various PID-based control schemes, designed to achieve the control objectives set by the Kidd Creek personnel. The best scheme proposed called for controlling the cyclone overflow particle size by manipulating the water addition rate to the cyclone feed box and the circulating load by manipulating the circuit ore feed. The particle size analyzer (PSI-200) available for monitoring the product size, was unfortunately shared (multiplexed) among various streams of the plant, which meant a 14 min delay between two consecutive readings for any particular stream. This induced the plant personnel to choose an alternative control strategy, one which controlled the cyclone feed density instead of the cyclone overflow particle size."

Jan 1, 1996

By Tacio Ferreira

How state-of-the-art software, data analysis and communication applied to drilling and blasting techniques have have allowed quarries in the Midwest of the United States to improve results downstream

Feb 1, 2020

By George S. Rice

GROUND movement and subsidence is an important matter from several points of view and it is regrettable that more papers have not been written on this subject in the past year. Damage may be done to surface buildings or to the higher workings of a mine, and a study of the subject gives valuable in- formation on hanging-wall or roof control. The latter objective is strikingly shown in a recent paper presented by Jack Spaulding on Oct. 21, 1937, before the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy, of Great Britain, entitled "Theory and Practice of Ground Control in the Kolar Gold Field, India." All may not agree with some of his theories that were deduced from studies of the many violent rock bursts at depths of 5000 to 7000 ft., but the data obtained are of great value. His theories of symmetrical ring stresses and symmetrical domes which are pictured as perfect are rather hard to understand as such uniformity is un- likely in view of the irregularities in the formation due to folds and fractures of various kinds. All will agree in principle with this idea of domal effects, which have been observed in many countries, but they are generally irregular.

Jan 1, 1938

By Frank J. Purcell

“Down The Hole” (DTH) hammer drilling is often necessary to advance the casing during pile construction where the test bores have determined difficult drilling conditions with obstructions such as boulders, cobble and glacial till. The use of compressed air to operate DTH hammers in foundation drilling has been a contentious point in many regions of the world due to its potential to disturb the ground around the pile being constructed. There are many examples of damage to adjacent building foundations where compressed air exiting the pile being drilled disturbed the subsurface around the building’s existing piles. This paper looks at the use of compressed air in DTH hammer foundation drilling and the move towards controlling the exhausted air to avoid over drilling the pile, causing potential damage to nearby piles. Simulated models of air flow penetration into the soil of different configurations of drill bits are discussed to highlight design changes employed to better control the air during the drilling process. A case study of the construction of a water-tight pipe pile wall for a building’s underground parking structure is studied to demonstrate the potential of DTH hammer foundation drilling where the air is fully controlled.

Nov 1, 2022

By R Schmitt, Y Ghorbani, I McElroy, N J. Bolin, M Parian

Aitik is a large copper porphyry type deposit located in northern Sweden, currently exploited at an annual rate of approximately 45 Mt. The ore’s exceptionally low head grade of 0.25 per cent Cu and varying degrees of hardness across the entire deposit pose challenges to the two fully autogenous grinding lines, each of which comprises a primary autogenous mill in series with a pebble mill. The variability in ore grindability frequently leads to fluctuations in mill throughput. Within the framework of a geometallurgical approach, the present study investigated the relationships between ore grindability and modal mineralogy. For this purpose, drill core samples from different lithologies were subjected to Boliden AB’s in-house grindability tests. This fully autogenous laboratory-scale test generates a grindability index mainly related to abrasion breakage, which is a significant breakage mechanism within autogenous mills. The test results suggested divergent degrees of grindability within and across the selected rock types. A combination of scanning electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, and X-ray fluorescence analyses was performed for the grinding products and bulk mineral samples. The resulting mineralogical and elemental properties were subsequently correlated to the parameters from the grindability tests. It was shown that the main mineral phases, such as plagioclase, quartz, and micas, correlate well with the grindability indices. Similar correlations were found regarding the sample’s chemical composition, attributable to the main mineral phases. A further inverse correlation was established between the sample’s calculated average Mohs hardness and the grindability indices. Moreover, mineral liberation information provided by scanning electron microscopy was associated with the parameters mentioned earlier. The identified relationships between grindability, modal mineralogy, and element grades may help Boliden develop a predictive throughput model for Aitik based on the mine’s block model.

Aug 24, 2022

By D. Harrington

This circular presents part I of a review of the literature on effects of breathing dusts, with special reference to silicosis, largely in the minim; and allied industries. The literature on this subject is so extensive that no attempt has been made to include all published material but only to assemble some of the more outstanding data on several aspects of the subject. Parts II and III will deal with prevention and treatment of dust diseases and some of the economic and legal aspects of dust diseases in industry, with special reference to mining. Dust diseases arc much before the public at present, and there is good reason to believe that the information on the subject available to the layman is extremely meager; even those rated as experts usually have a more or less theoretical conception of the diseases, their causation, remedies, and prevention, rather than actual experience with them. Until recently little attention has been given to prevention, and the usual attitude of the engineer, upon whom the main reliance for prevention ultimately must devolve, has been to let "sleeping dogs lie" or, more definitely, to "let well enough alone." However, the "laissez faire" attitude no longer is tenable, and in the past few years numerous conditions have caused those engaged in industry, including mining, to bring the subject before the public with a view to ascertaining the facts upon which to formulate remedial measures, primarily preventive.

Jan 1, 1935

By Clarence Hicks

THE labor policy, of the Standard Oil Co. (New Jersey) is founded. first of all on paying at least the prevailing scale of wages in the community; on, the eight-hour day, with time and one-half for overtime; one day's rest in seven; sanitary and up-to-date working conditions; just treatment assured each employee; payment of accident benefits beyond the amount prescribed by the State compensation law; health supervision by a competent medical staff; payment of sickness benefits after one year's service; cooperation with employee in promoting thrift and better social and housing conditions; and assurance for a generous annuity at the age of 65, guaranteed for life after 20 years of service. Most of these features have been a part of the company's policy for many years, but it is only during the past two years that the cooperation of employees in determining these matters has been definitely assured through industrial representation. Industrial representation, in the Standard Oil Co., is a principle rather than a procedure. It is built upon the belief that personal association of those interested in any problem leads to a mutual understanding and a fair decision as to what is right. Fully believing in this, principle, representatives of employees and representatives of management evolved a simple plan, the basis of which is that it gives every individual employee representation at joint conferences on problems and fundamental principles affecting all those interested in the industry. It is based on cooperation, not antagonism; its operation makes perfectly clear both to management and to employees that their interests are identical, that mutual understanding and cooperation insure progress and success for all. Furthermore, experience has definitely shown that representatives of the employees are not only alert for the employees' interests but are as keen as the representatives of the management in determining and insisting upon fairness to the employer.

Jan 3, 1920

By D. E. Macdonald

"Approximately 2.0 million tonnes of phosphate rock is imported from the U.S. to Alberta annually and is used in the production of agricultural fertilizers. No phosphate rock is presently mined in Canada, although sources of igneous phosphate have been mined in the past. Sedimentary phosphate rock is found in nine geological units within the Cordilleran Foothills and Front Ranges region of Alberta. The Devonian-Mississippian Exshaw Formation, Permo-Pennsylvanian Rocky Mountain Supergroup, and the Jurassic Fernie Formation have the best potential f or future development. Most of the phosphate rock in Alberta is of low grade and lies within restricted land use areas. The best over-all resource potential lies in the Fernie basin area of southeastern British Columbia, in the Fernie Formation. The possibility of deep phosphate rock deposits in the plains region should be examined.Phosphate rock is mined in Idaho, Utah, Montana and Florida, and is shipped to Canadian fertilizer plants for processing. Raw phosphate rock is acidified, usually with sulphuric acid, by a wet process. Varying amounts of ammonia are added, and the fertilizer is pelletized. Future research, in western Canada, is needed in the beneficiating of low-grade ores and in the area of in situ mining. At the present time, phosphate rock sells for around US$50Itonne, and Alberta fertilizer companies probably pay in the range of C$7D-$85Itonne for U.S. phosphate rock delivered to the plant. Environmental concerns about phosphate rock processing are centred around gypsum tailing ponds, and radioactive wastes.U.S. supplies of phosphate rock are secure until the year 2000; however, by this time, the richer deposits in the U.S. may be exhausted. Alternate deposits, such as the ones in Alberta and British Columbia, might then be considered. Phosphate byproducts, such as uranium, vanadium, fluorine and rare earth elements, may help in making the processing of low-grade Canadian phosphates economically feasible."

Jan 1, 1988

By O. P. Garg

"The Iron Ore Company of Canada (IOC) operations in Labrador and Quebec, in Canada, is among the largest openpit mining complexes on a world wide basis. Since the 1981-82 recession, IOC has embarked on a comprehensive cost reduction and productivity improvement program in order to survive in the world iron ore market.This paper will outline the approach used in prioritizing the cost reduction items.IntroductionMuch of the mining industry in North America is in a crisis state. Most producers are operating at production levels well below capacity, some have been merged or sold, while others have been mothballed or closed permanently. For many of us still operating, the future is uncertain. Despite the many cutbacks and closures, there is still an abundant supply of minerals in the world market and there is almost no hope for any relief on price pressures on most mineral commodities in the near future. The Iron Ore Company of Canada (IOC) operates an iron ore mine, a concentrator and a pellet plant known as the Carol Project located in Labrador City, Newfoundland. This concentrator and the pellet plant have the annual capacity to produce 20 million and 10 million tons respectively. A company owned and operated railway links this operation with the dock terminal facilities in Sept-Iles, Quebec.In the past decade the Iron Ore Company of Canada has been one of the largest producers of iron ore products in the world. Its pellets and concentrates as well as natural ores were sold in North America, Europe and the Far East. In 1981-82, sales, particularly in North America, went into a serious decline. For almost 30 years, the gospel IOC preached to employees was ""production, production!"" There were many innovations, and millions of dollars were spent on the biggest and best equipment, on research and development, on training and developing employees."

Jan 1, 1987

By H. A. Kee

In the mining industry, as in other business, one of the more satisfactory results of sincere but cheerful effort lies in the proper completion of undertakings and problems, which, to be successful, must continually hold the interest of all concerned in the work. In most undertakings, genuine interest and satisfaction is largely dependent on the proper appraisal of opportunities presented, and the opportunity to associate ourselves with sinking operations at McIntyre central shaft, from the surface to a depth of 4,133 feet, was genuinely appreciated. This opportunity was made possible by the previous persistent and successful leadership of Mr. J. P. Bickell, President, with the assistance of his associates, and of the general manager, Mr. R.J. Ennis, in the development of the McIntyre Porcupine mine, and I beg to state that any success in this sinking operation was very largely due to the congenial co-operation and splendid workmanship of Captain Martin C. Horne, his shift bosses, leaders, and all those who worked with us . Our slogan throughout was " Safety First for Pleasant and Efficient Workmanship," and this general policy made it possible to sink and timber 2.,123 feet during the first year without a serious accident.

Jan 1, 1928

By H. A. Wentworth

The Central Manitoba mining district, as spoken of in Manitoba, refers to that portion of the country lying between lake Winnipeg on the west and the Ontario boundary on the east, and from a few miles north of the Wanipigow (or Hole) river on the north, to a few miles south of the Bird river. It embraces two known mineralized belts; the gold area in the north, extending from the shores of lake Winnipeg almost to the Ontario boundary (in a slightly southeasterly direction) a zone some eight or ten miles wide and perhaps forty miles long, lying (for the most part) north, and parallel to, the Manigotagan river; and the Bird river copper and coppernickel deposits, an area not yet clearly defined, but in general lying immediately north of, and roughly parallel to, the Bird river. To the south of the Bird river is a somewhat differently mineralized area, numerous pegmatite dykes being found, with minerals typically associated with such rocks. More specifically, the known gold deposits are largely segregated in the above belt; (1) around English brook; (2) along the north shore of Wanipigow lake; the Rice lake area (about midway of the belt); and the Long Lake-Bulldog lake area, at the eastern end of the belt. Not all the known gold occurences are found in these segregations, but the density of claim staking in these areas is perhaps an indication of the greater number of prospects found in them to date.

Jan 1, 1925

By C J. Moran

The Gladstone region, as one of the most industrially intense regions in Australia, uses significant quantities of fresh water. Awoonga Dam, situated on the Boyne River, is the only major source of water in the region. The current typical annual usage is 53 GL (Porteous, 2006) and approximately 80 per cent of the water is used by heavy industry (Gladstone Area Water Board, 2004). Until relatively recently, there has been ready and easy access to raw water for industrial use. The recent drought, which resulted in severe water restrictions in 2002 and 2003, emphasised the importance of water for a dominant industrial region like Gladstone. Although now in the process of changing, the typical contractual arrangements in the past have provided little financial incentive for efficient water use. From research undertaken on potential water reuse opportunities, several key questions have emerged related to water management in an industrial region such as Gladstone. This paper highlights these key questions, presents findings from recent regional strategies and assesses the potential for water reuse. Even though there is no clear-cut financial incentive for reusing water, there could be stronger regional and risk mitigation drivers for doing so. Initiatives to incorporate adaptive capacity through collaborative industrial synergies would allow for robustness and resilience in water security, leading to long-term sustainable water management across the Gladstone region.

Jan 1, 2006

By Richard Conkling

A SHALE layer, buried beneath two or three thousand feet of strata, in some instances, will upon folding become thicker in the synclines and thinner on top of the anticlines. This can be accounted for, in part, by the stretching on the crests of the fold and the compressing in the troughs; but this will by no, means account for all of it, as is shown in the example herein set forth. It is my firm belief that the rest of the thickness is due to flow. What causes the movement, however, does not concern us here, so long as there is movement, for this article purposes to show its effect upon the producing area of different sands. It is the author's hope, in this way, to drop a hint or two that may be valuable to the oil geologist, in making estimates of future productions and values of oil properties. An example will be given from property in the famous Cushing Pool in northeastern Oklahoma, where the author has had occasion to make a detailed study before recommending some property to his company, and has then been able to watch the results of this work. The author never mapped the surface structure in this pool, as this had been done by Frank Buttram when he was with the Oklahoma Geological Survey. We are using, therefore, a section of his map in this article for our surface contours. The main east clip comes farther east than this section shows.

Jan 10, 1916