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By Ray H. Hario

Background of Erie Mining Company Erie Mining Company, managed by Pickands Mather & Co., is one of the largest producers of iron ore pellets in the United States. The plant is located at Hoyt Lakes, Minnesota, sixty-five miles north of Duluth on the eastern end of the Mesabi Range. Taconite Harbor, situated on the north shore of Lake Superior, is the location of its Power Plant and shipping facilities. (Figure 1) Even though the plant commenced operation in September, 1957, its true be-ginning can be traced back to 1931 when Pickands Mather, in conjunction with Bethlehem Steel Corporation and Youngstown Sheet and Tube Company, began investi-gating the possibilities of processing low grade ores. In 1940, Erie Mining , Company was formed. During the early and middle 1940's, laboratory and pilot plant research was proven to a point where a preliminary plant was deemed feasible and built in 1948. This plant had an annual capacity of 203,200 t (200,000 long tons) per year and, until mid-1952, was the only taconite plant in existence using commercial-size equipment. During this period, ownership of Erie Mining Company was expanded to include Interlake, Inc. and The Steel Company of Canada, Limited. In 1953, authorization was obtained from the owners to build a 7.62 M t (7.5 M long tons) per year plant at a cost in excess of $300,000,000.

Jan 1, 1977

By James M. Link

A program was initiated tinder sponsorship of the U. S. Bureau of Mines to investigate pipeline behavior of raw and spent oil shale slurries. Slurries were recirculated in pipeline loops with 150-mm and 200-mm diameter horizontal test sections and a 150 -mm diameter vertical test section. Slurry concentrations from 10 to 60 weight percent were investigated. Critical and deposition velocities were observed. Head losses were measured at various velocities. Rheology measurements were made on representative homogeneous samples from the pipeline. From these data, pipeline energy requirements were predicted by computer and compared to pipeline data. Computer programs were also used to analyze pipeline data for two flow models: 1. Heterogeneous flow regime for coarse, settling slurries 2. Homogeneous flow regime for nonsettling suspensions The economics of slurry transport of raw and spent shale were examined. Cost estimates encompassed a range of pipe diameters to transport a wide range of throughputs of both raw and spent shale. Similar estimates were made for conveyor belt systems to provide a valid cost comparison. Economic comparisons are valid in a general sense, but a specific study must be made to determine the cost advantages of hydraulic transport for a given mine.

Jan 1, 1977

By P. J. G. du Toit

Coal has been mined by hydraulic means in various countries, i.e., the hydraulic excavation as well as the hydraulic transportation of coal has been practiced. The hydraulic breaking (excavating) of the coal dealt with in this report is done with a monitor directing a continuous jet of water against the coal, pressures of the water fed to the monitor range from 1500 to 2500 psi at 1000 to 2100 gallons per minute Transportation of the coal from the face is by fluming if a gradient exists in excess of 2 or, when a favorable gradient does not exist, the coal is pumped from the face by various types of pumps which can also provide a means of hoisting the coal to a higher elevation as required. This report presents: 1.) preliminary design and systems specifications of a demonstration miner (referred to in this report as a hydrominer), 2.) mining configurations showing good promise for typical U.S. thick coal seams in three seam pitch categories, (0° - 7° = Flat, 8° - 250 = Moderately pitching, 26° - 90° = Steeply pitching), along with cost and performance analyses for each system, 3.) a definition of a test program that will provide sufficient engineering data for the design of a water jet cutting head adequate to cut coal in those typical U.S. thick coal seams The cost analysis data showed hydraulic methods to be economically competitive with present thick seam raining methods. It was also obvious from studies of thick seam methods that the hydromonitor coal breaking techniques are more effective in removing most of the coal with its long reach of 60 ft. (or more), is a safer mining system, and produces very low coal-dust content in the air (usually less than 0.25 to 0.5 mg/cubic meter). It is recommended that the USBM sponsor a full fledged continuation of the hydraulic mining program: (a) lab, test, (b) preliminary field test, (c) full scale mine section demonstration.

Jan 1, 1977

By H. M. Coggin

The study summarizes the state of the art in rock mechanics, open pit and underground mining, leaching, geology, metallurgy and financial analysis Conceptual design of pit slope caving technique and analyses explore concepts for the exploitation of ore grade remnants in the walls and bottoms of open pit mines and the potential economics of the adaptations Several coded sites were examined for future studies where the feasibility of the method may be demonstrated. An extensive bibliography has been developed

Jan 1, 1977

By R. E. Gray

[The purpose of the study is to investigate cases of subsidence over abandoned mined-out areas of the Pittsburgh Coal identified from published and unpublished sources and to determine through a consideration of the geology, topography, climate, mining activity, and evidence at ground surface, what mechanisms control subsidence .and under what circumstances it takes place. The study wan performed it two phases, the first to identify all documented incidents of subsidence in mined-out areas of the Pittsburgh coal Region; and the second, to study a particular portion of the region in detail, collecting pertinent data relative to the sites within, characterizing roil the nature of the subsidence and its economic consequences, and determining the applicability of the findings to other areas whore similar problems with the collapse of abandoned miner have been encountered.]

Jan 1, 1977

By B. C. Christensen

The contract objectives are (1) to develop safe practice guidelines which will minimize the chance of fires in underground fueling areas and (2) to develop a low-cost, reliable, automatic fire protection system for underground fueling areas. The effort described by this report covers the period from 21 June 1976 to 30 September 1977 and accomplished the following tasks: ? Preparation of Data Plan and Data Acquisition, mainly through visits to sixteen mine sites and a literature survey. ? Analysis of the accumulated data, providing design inputs for (a) evaluation of the fire problem; (b) development of safe practice guidelines; and (c) development of recommended design concepts for automatic fire protection systems. ? Preparation of safe practice guidelines for underground fueling areas. ? Preparation of recommended design concepts for automatic fire protection systems for underground fueling areas. ? Design and fabrication of fire protection system for installation at Pine Creek Mine, Bishop, California. ? Install system and perform underground fire tests at Pine Creek Mine.

Jan 1, 1977

By E. W. Greig

This paper is an account of exploration for bauxite in the Amazon Basin, Brazil, and particularly of the discovery, exploration and development by Alcan of the Trombetas deposit so a general account of the Trombetas Project has already been published in E/MJ (Anon. 1975) to which the reader is referred for details on owner-ship, infrastructure and construction as well as the proposal for mining and treating the bauxite. It is impossible to consider the Trombetas deposits in isolation. A regional account of bauxite in and around the Guyana Shield and the northern portion of the Brazilian Shield is included and it is suggested that these deposits all formed during Tertiary time under similar conditions.

Jan 1, 1977

Jan 1, 1977

By S. N. Chadha

INTRODUCTION The work described here refers to the Genesee River Interceptor Southeast Project. This project is a part of the Combined Sewer Overflow Abatement Program, Phase I, for the Rochester Pure Water District, Rochester, New York. Our contract required the design of a 13,200-feet long main tunnel, 14 feet finished diameter, approximately 100-120 Feet below ground; drop shafts and diversion tunnels to deliver surface flow to the main tunnel; a gate chamber whereby the main tunnel is dropped 35 feet, and provision made for connection to the future tunnel in Phase II, as well as a host of other surface structures. Cross sectional dimensions for the structures involved varied from 16 feet circular to a 20'x50' horseshoe, in a competent rock formation consisting of Lockport Dolomite and Rochester Shale. In the construction of a rock tunnel, the problems of the tunnel designers are as follows: 1. To evaluate stresses in the rock as a result of excavation. 2. Design a temporary support system to prevent any rock failure during the period of construction. Design of this temporary support system is empirical. Design loads given by empirical relations are dependent upon the rock quality and size of opening. Temporary support system may either be steel frames closely spaced along the length of tunnel and tied together, in the case of poor rock, or, an even spacing of rock bolts in the case of competent rock. 3. Design a final lining for the service loads. Service loads, in our case of a water-carrying tunnel, are hydrostatic pressure due to ground water, deadweight of lining) pressure of contained water and time dependent rock loading. The constitutive properties of the rock are extremely complex because of discontinuities, pre-existing stresses due to overburden, material symmetries and changes of initial state associated with the process of excavation. The changes of initial state may be changes of stress fields along with the consequent yield of the material or the extension of existing discontinuities.

Jan 1, 1977

By Behram Wadia

El presente texto describe la importancia del uso de herramientas en la evaluación de proyectos - en tanto permite analizarlos uniformemente y así obtener resultados diferentes. Así también se analiza las diferentes premisas usadas para calcular la tasa interna de retorno de un proyecto con resultados diferentes.

Nov 1, 1976

By Agustín Chang

La aplicación de las técnicas de Ingenieria Industrial en las minas de Centro Min Perú son importantes para ayudar a las operaciones para mejorar la productividad y reducir los costos. Los resultados obtenidos mediante los estudios de mejoras y de medición de trabajo, permitieron elevar la eficiencia personal y la óptima utilización de los recursos de operaciones de minas. En ese sentido, el presente texto busca proveer información relacionada con la práctica industrial en las minas de CentrominPerú a los ingenierios de Minas.

Nov 1, 1976

By Juan Roldán

El presente trabajo refiere la política de creación, formación y futuro de la Escuela de Minas de Recuay en el ámbito de la minería nacional e internacional. Para ello, se revisa los fundamentos del proyecto, antecedentes, organización, formación y perfeccionamiento del personal, métodos de enseñanza y conclusiones.

Nov 1, 1976

By Jorge Vargas Fernández

El presente texto señala los fundamentos de un programa de productividad y recomienda los índices y actividades principales que puedan desarrollar las gerencias y superintendencias de las empresas para incrementar la productividad de las empresas.

Sep 1, 1976

By Pedro Tumialán

Los yacimientos mineralizados metálicos de la cordillera de Huayhuash se hallan en rocas estratificadas del cretácico medio, discordantes y algunas veces concordantes con la estratificación en rocas ígneas del terciario. En ese sentido, el presente texto describe el estudio de esta asociación mineralógica a través de la división de tres áreas: zona de Pacllón (sur), zona de Huallanca (central este y norte), zona de Tucu Chira (central oeste); en una extensión total de 60 por 45 Km. Asimismo, los minerales económicos se hallan con otros no económicos, deduciendo una serie de guias mineralógicas para la exploración minera.

Sep 1, 1976

By Lashley Harvey

El presente texto señala la importancia de un manejo adecuado de la cuenca para la producción de energía eléctrica. Para ello, es necesario revisar las vías navegables, la transportación por la costa y los ríos, el antiguo desarrollo de las vías navegables, las leyes del agua y la transformación, las mejoras de las vías navegables y el mejoramiento de zonas del puerto es costas y ríos.

Jul 1, 1976

By J. Zegarra

"Si bien el anhidrido sulfuroso es considerado como un contaminante atmosférico, puede ser utilizado en la concentración de minerales por flotación a través del reemplazo del NaCN/CaO. En ese sentido, el presente texto señala la aplicación de este reactivo en el proceso de flotación, así también como se presenta los trabajos realizados a escala de laboratorio con el objeto de determinar su aplicación a la flotación selectiva directa de mineralessulfurados y en el mejoramiento del grado de concentrados de zinc. "

Jul 1, 1976

By W Jahn Archer

El rendimiento de extracción de mineral de cobre en Mufulira aumentó durante el periodo de 1971 - 1973. Por ello, los experimentos iniciales se concentraron en tratar de comprobar las potenciales ventajas de un tiempo de flotación prolongado, de forma que se incremente el rendimiento en cobre. En ese sentido, el texto señala las mejoras en los circuitos de flotación a través de la instalación de una celda de flotación DAVCRA en el circuito triturador. Dicha celda se intercaló con el circuito central y en el circuito de residuos.

Jul 1, 1976

By Tomás Acero Rosales

Ante la magnitud de los accidentes mineros y su gravitación en los costos de producción, se inició un estudio que determine estadísticamente los accidentes sucedidos entre 1965 y 1975. Es por ello, que el presente texto presenta dichas estadístícas y tomar medidas de prevención que disminuyan las incapacidades físicas, pérdidas de vidas humanas y la elevación de los costos de producción. Para tener una visión específica del estado de la Seguridad en el sector minero, se lo ha clasificado de acuerdo a las principales actividades en minas metálicas subterráneas, minas a tajo abierto, minas de carbón y plantas metalúrgicas. Esta clasificación señala que las minas metálicas subterráneas son las que producen el mayor número de accidentes, le siguen las minas de tajo abierto y las plantas metalúrgicas, donde no se considera a las minas de carbón porque desde 1971 a la actualidad éstas han paralizado sus labores.

Jul 1, 1976

By Lashley Harvey

Dado que la colonización de América Latina presentaba problemas en la adquisición y población de valles norteamericanos del Missouri y el Mississippi, el desarrollo de las cuencas del Amazonas, el Orinoco y el Plata tuvo que esperar hasta el siglo XX, puesto que entonces los conocimientos de ingeniería más avanzados hicieron posible utilizar al máximo esos tres sistemas fluviales. En esta perspectiva, el texto plantea la administración de cuencas como una forma de aprovechamiento de los ríos para múltiples objetivos y de conservación del agua.

May 1, 1976

By Herbert Drechsler

El texto analiza las relaciones entre el valor efectivo neto (net present value) de una inversión y los criterios de los retornos de capital (payback). Mientras la realización de una inversión prosigue en minería, puede ser que se descarte el seguimiento simultáneo de futuras alternativas de inversión. Esto es válido al menos para una época de medios de inversión limitados. Asimismo, es importante evaluar nuevos proyectos de inversiones, donde se ofrecen algunos instrumentos de Management con el fin de reducir las pérdidas (regrets) de una inversión demesiado prematura.

May 1, 1976