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Erosion of unprotected batters, spoil banks, slopes, and stockpiled material creates a multitude of environmental problems. Winds blowing across these denuded surfaces can generate dust clouds capable of depositing un- desirable particulate material a considerable distance from the source. Water eroding these areas continually exposes new surfaces which may be oxidized. Iron pyrites can be dissolved in the flowing water, resulting in the addition of pollutants to streams and water sources. Silting of water sources can also occur as a result of this erosion. Valuable topsoil can be blown or washed away. In addition, the after-effects of erosion leave a visual pollution which is more difficult and expensive to correct than to prevent.

Jan 1, 1976

By R. H. Sprute

The Federal Bureau of Mines performed laboratory tests using direct current to dewater and densify fine-grained coal sludge in order to alleviate disposal problems and lead to recovery of high energy value often present in this waste. The laboratory tests described in the main body of the report were performed on thickened underflow (no flucculant added) from a northern Appalachian coal preparation plant. Solids in this slurry was very fine with 65 percent of the particles less than 0.1 mm in diameter. A variety of application procedures tested is exemplified by a test in which a soupy slurry (55 percent dry-weight moisture content) was converted into a firm dense material with a 20-percent dry-weight moisture content. These results were achieved in 3 hours with current density of 3.7 amp/ft2 and a power expenditure of 35 kwhr/yd3. The treated material has an average heating value of 10,400 Btu/lb. Varying current density, electrode configuration, and placement depth makes application of the treatment flexible. Two other types of sludge were tested briefly--thickener underflow from a southern Appalachian coal preparation plant with flocculant added, and sludge from an acid mine drainage treatment plant. The underflow responded well to the treatment, but response of the sludge from the acid mine drainage treatment plant was poor.

Jan 1, 1976

This paper describes thick seam mining as practised at Westfalen Colliery, Redbank via Ipswich,in South Queensland. The author describes the develop- ment of the mine from conception to the time of successful operation and compares the two systems of mining adopted at the colliery.

Jan 1, 1976

By David E. Hyatt, Christopher H. Cox, Franklin T. Davis

INTRODUCTION The composition of water used in the flotation process has always been of primary interest to the flotation metallurgist. It is by alteration of the chemistry of the water introduced to the process that flotation separation is effected. In only a few cases has it been necessary to treat available water prior to use in the process. In the past, flotation tailings were treated for the removal of solids via the tailings dam and water decanted from the dam was either recirculated to the process or discharged to the surface water system. The choice of recirculation or discharge was based upon water availability, effect of recycle water on the process, and economic considerations. The Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972 have charged the United States Environmental Protection Agency with establishing effluent limitations from point sources of discharge into the navigable water of the United States. A detailed study, sponsored by EPA, of the water of ore processing plants took place in 1974 and 1975 and guidelines for these plants will presumably have been published by the time this paper has been presented(1). The action of many of the individual states preceded the EPA in this attempt to regulate the quality of the water discharged from industrial point sources. Even with recycle of tailings water, some water is discharged from tailings dams into the substrata and at least one state is currently preparing guidelines for the quality of water discharged into the substrata.

Jan 1, 1976

By Edward L. Vickers

The Pacific rim countries, comprising more than half the globe, represent a complex mix of developed and developing nations. The area comprises a large segment of the industrialized world. Within its boundaries are also found many of the world's greatest mineral resources largely concentrated in the less developed countries. The conflicting objectives of these developed and developing nations are giving rise to changes in the traditional patterns of world resource development. Powerful political and socio-economic factors affecting the world today are having a great bearing on natural resource developments in the Pacific basin. New forms of partnerships have been emerging in developing nations which have had a great impact on the mining com- munity, lending institutions, as well as political relations. The United States and Japan have been substantially responsible in the past for the development of natural resources in this area of the world. Their role, however, is undergoing significant metamorphosis. The rapidly changing economic and social environment in the developing countries is producing new tensions which affect future collaboration between producers and users of natural resources. To understand current problems, I believe, it is worthwhile to examine historical trends in this area which may help defining alternatives facing us in the future. In modern times the United States was the first country in the Pacific basin to start development of resources on a massive scale. It began with the major exploration of the mineral-rich west of the United States and extended significantly later into Latin America and Australia. In the early 1950's, Japan became a significant

Jan 1, 1976

By N. Finkelstein, D. A. Hinckfuss

The large and compact but simple Bougainville Copper Limited flotation circuit has been in operation for 3-1/2 years. Discussion of problem areas encountered since start-up and remedies that have been implemented or proposed, form the main basis of this paper. Full cur- rent operational data is also provided.

Jan 1, 1976

By Greenwood-Smith R, Ellis W. K

A bulk analyser based on the gamma-ray resonance scattering process can be used to give a rapid and accurate measure of the percentage by weight of copper or nickel averaged over a large mass of sample, typi- cally 20 kg. It is shown that for a bulk sample containing about 3 wt.% Cu, crushing to -25 mm is the only sample preparation requited for analysis to within an error of about 0.06 wt.% Cu (errors quoted are one standard deviation). A comparison of bulk analyser and con- ventional assays on the same bulk samples can be used to estimate the sample preparation errors in the conventional methods. The squared deviations between bulk analyser and conventional assays are approximated by the sum of variances in sample preparation, conventional analysis, and bulk sample analy- sis. The sample preparation error was esti- mated as 0.26 wt.% Cu for samples crushed to -2 mm before splitting, 0.08 wt.% Cu for samples crushed to -0.35 mm before splitting, and 0.04 wt.% Cu for the average of 15 grab samples from bulk samples which had been crushed to -2 mm. The average copper grade for each group of samples was about 1.7 wt.%. Results are presented which show that

Jan 1, 1976

By Walter D. Holland

This is one of a series of instruction guides developed to help instructors present health and safety training courses to workers in the coal mining industry. This course is intended for training those, usually the safety officers, who perform surveys fur inhalation contaminants in above ground work areas. The handbook entitled ?Handbook for Surveys of Inhalation Contaminants in Above Ground Coal Mining and Processing Work Areas? (NTIS #PB-243-35";) is used as a manual for the course and as a prime reference when performing the actual surveys or interpreting the sampling results. There are six experiments for the students to perform during the course to familiarize them with the sampling devices routinely used during the surveys.

Jan 1, 1976

Major producers posted 25¢-per-pound increases on cadmium, raising their domestic quotes to $2.75 per pound. COBALT: Cobalt consumption in February, exclusive of salts and driers, increased by 21 percent compared with consumption in January. Significant increases in consumption occurred in cutting and wear resistant materials, welding and alloy hard-facing rods and materials, magnetic alloys, and other alloys. The major sales agency for cobalt in New York reportedly announced price increases, effective April 15, 1976, for cobalt metal, powders, and oxide. The new price for 250 kilo (551 lb.) drums of cobalt metal (granules or electrolytic cathodes), f.o.b. Port of New York, was quoted at $4.40 per pound. This is the first cobalt price increase since January 23, 1975, and is the result of a price increase by Sozacom, the official Zairian sales agent. Other cobalt producers are expected to raise their prices in line with the new quote.

Jan 1, 1976

By J. Herbst, I. Heber-Panu, Dan G. Cojocariu, E. Ene-Danalache, G. Poling

A general model which represents not only batch but also continuous flotation in multi-cell machines is presented. This model considers both the size distribution and the distribution of flotabilities in a size class for valuable mineral particles in the pulp. The general expression is shown to reduce to several previously reported models. In addition, a number of new models are found to arise for different specific assumptions concerning the flotability distribution and/or the size distribution of the particles undergoing flotation. Several of these new models are tested experimentally using laboratory-scale batch and pilot-scale continuous data. Model parameters are estimated from this data and a comparison of calculated recoveries and those experimentally determined are presented. Finally, the influence of the feed rate, aeration rate and valuable mineral content of the feed on the recovery is examined.

Jan 1, 1976

By T. Imaizumi

Covering the whole scope of the MMIJ activities, i.e. geology and exploration, mining, mineral processing, and metallurgy, the technical innovations and improvements since 1972 were reviewed. Special references were made to the MMIJ Research Committees which were subsidized by the Japan Mining Promotive Foundation, in connection with those activities.

Jan 1, 1976

By J. M. Toguri

The viscosity of the molten FeO-Fe2O3-Si0z system in the composition range of interest to copper smelting has been investigated using a rotating cylinder technique. The silica content of the slag was varied from 20 to 35 wt percent while the oxygen pressure of the system was varied from 10-7 10-11 atm. The temperature range investigated was from 1200 to 1350°C. It was found that the viscosity of the slag generally decreased with increasing temperature and increasing oxygen pressure. As the silica content was increased, the viscosity was found to increase.

Jan 1, 1976

By David Hoadley, Kenneth R. Maser, Ashok B. Boghani, James E. Billar, D. Randolph Berry, Mackenzie Burnett, Robert H. Trent

APPENDIX F GOVERNMENT OFFICES CONTACTED DURING SURVEY 1. MESA Inspection Offices North Central District Duluth, Minnesota South Central District Dallas, Texas Rolla Subdistrict Rolla, Missouri Rocky Mountain District Lakewood, Colorado Salt Lake City Subdistrict Salt Lake City, Utah Spokane Field Office Spokane, Washington Osburn Field Office Osburn, Idaho Phoenix Subdistrict Phoenix, Arizona 2. MESA Research and Management Denver Technical Center Denver, Colorado Pittsburgh Technical Center Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Metal and Non-Metal Office Washington, D C 3. State Offices (State plan States) Arizona State Mine Inspector Phoenix, Arizona New Mexico State Mine Inspector Albuquerque, New Mexico

Jan 1, 1976

By W. Kunda

A laboratory study was carried out on the treatment of sulphidic copper concentrates in aqueous chloride systems under elevated temperatures and oxygen overpressure. Exploratory tests showed that chalcopyriteoxidizes with various chloride salts to form, depending upon the pH of the system, soluble copper chloride or insoluble copper oxychloride salts; the copper can then readily be recovered from the solution or residues respectively. During the leaching, iron was oxidized to iron oxide and remained in the leach residue while the bulk of the sulphide sulphur was oxidized to the elemental form with a minor portion oxidized further to sulphate. The presence of metal chloride salts in the system increased the oxidation rates of chalcopyrite and depressed the solubilization of iron in the system. A systematic oxidation leach study carried out in (1) ammonium chloride and (2) sodium chloride systems showed that the former system required little or no HC1 addition while the latter required 2 mol of HC1 per mol of dissolved copper (plus zinc). The copper was recovered from the cuprous or cupric chloride leach solutions by cementation with iron. Extractions of 99% copper and zinc, 97% silver, and negligible iron were obtained. Sulphur was oxidized to the elemental or sulphate form; the relative proportions of the total sulphur were 60 and 30% for system (1) and 80 and 10% for system (2). A flowsheet for a conceptual process with minimal reagent requirements was proposed.

Jan 1, 1976

By J. Herbst, K. Fallenius, G. Poling

Since 1970 a new series of pneumo-mechanical flotation machines has been developed by Outokumpu Oy. The cells have a completely new type of mechanism based on a recently-developed theory of conditions necessary for dispersion of large amounts of air. The mechanism was developed in 3 cu m cells and scaled to 16 cu m cells. Rotor and stator description, scale-up theory, and practical experience with the 16 cu m cell are presented.

Jan 1, 1976

By Dennis J. Callaghan

This report is the result of information obtained from a review of related literature, personal inquiry and on-site examination of active surface coal mining operations. Four improved surface coal mine systems are described in detail and evaluated for feasibility, implementation requirements, environmental benefit and costs. Engineering feasibility emphasizes equipment availability, compliance to design requirements, practicality and industry rating. Implementation potential emphasizes immediacy, ease, acceptability and constraints. Special attention was given to environmental responsiveness, both with regard to the solutions to mined-land reclamation problems and to the concurrency of reclamation. Each system description includes a hypothetical model mine with a depreciation schedule, capital summary, estimated annual production costs, sales price computation, production and operating cost summary, and a sensitivity analysis of mine price to stripping ratio. A program plan and time schedule for demonstrating a selected mining system covers site selection criteria, mine data collection, criteria for controlling and budgeting costs and reporting findings. Ten additional mining methods and techniques are briefly described and evaluated. Common reclamation problems are listed and described. Sixteen state reclamation laws and regulations are abstracted. Sixty-nine references are listed in the bibliography.

Jan 1, 1976

By John Nauman

Liquid ferrous silicates that are related to cop- per slags have been studied as media for the transfer of heat in pyrometallurgical processes. The effective thermal diffusivities have been measured from 1025Oto 1400°C, and values in the range of 0.004 to 0.007 cm2/ sec have been obtained. The heat-transfer characteristics of these slags have been determined by measuring the rise of temperature of a cold nickel sphere immersed in the liquid slag. The sphere is spun about its vertical axis to obtain a well characterized flow of liquid about the sphere. The principal barrier to the transfer of heat from the bulk slag to the metal sphere is a solid shell of slag that forms around the sphere and subsequently melts. It appears that the detailed nature of this shell is important to theheat- transfer process. A mathematical model is used to predict the rate of heating of the sphere, and to evaluate various aspects of the system that can influence the transfer of heat.

Jan 1, 1976

By Richard L. Bullock

Drilling of small diameter blast holes in the conventional tunnel driving system or mining operation still consumes a significant part of the time and money required to extend an opening in rock. The use of pneumatic drills for most small hole applications has been the dominant tool used by miners and tunnel men alike throughout the world. But now, a, trend has been started that is showing major inroads into the traditional areas of pneumatics drilling for all types of rocks. Operators dealing in very soft materials, such as coal, salt or potash, traditionally had the option to use hydraulic power for their drilling tools. Twelve to fifteen years ago, drillers in medium hard, but nonabrasive rock extended their drill machine option by helping to develop a drill that still used air to power the hammers, but relied on hydraulic power for the rotational torque and feed thrust. (1) This was a significant step forward, particularly for those who drilled in rocks that were compatible to rotary-percussion bits. However, this application was in fact somewhat limited to the limestone and dolomite formation of mid-United States and the softer sediments in Europe. Now high performance rock drills have been developed, using all-hydraulics for both the hammer and rotation, that have many advantages over the conventional pneumatic systems. In two previous papers on this subject, (2)(3) this author reviewed in detail: 1) the characteristics of each of the manufacturer's products that were on the market; 2) The specific advantages of the all-hydraulic drilling systems; 3) Data from the applications of these drilling systems that was in use; 4) What was needed to further develop this drilling system and utilize its potential in the mining or tunnelling cycle. This paper will attempt to update previous papers, without reiterating many details of drill descriptions or

Jan 1, 1976

By A L. Withy

This paper is intended as a review from a planner's viewpoint, of the relationship between town and country planning, a primarily government activity, and the minerals industry, which, with the exception of coal, is a largely private enterprise activity. The paper first considers the nature of the system of planning in New Zealand, and the objectives sought by planners in relation to minerals are discussed. The reasons why these objectives are not generally being achieved are investigated. A final section deals with the gap between objectives and achievement, and suggests a number of ways in which this gap may be narrowed.

Jan 1, 1976

By E. E. Maust

The literature on the activation of sphalerite for flotation by short¬chain xanthates leaves unanswered the question of whether a compact surface film of activator sulfide is necessary or merely sufficient for high flotation recoveries. Studies by Guarnaschelli and Plaksin indicate that xanthate adsorption and flotation of sphalerite are increased with increasing hole/ electron ratio. These results, and the known acceptorlike behavior of many heavy-metal impurities in zinc sulfide, suggest that activation may result from a traditional semiconductor doping effect at the surface. Using the theory of chemisorption states on ionic crystals as developed by Levine and Mark, the Bureau of Mines has carried out A calculation to estimate the surface-state energies of various metals when they are substituted at zinc sites on (110) sphalerite surfaces. Based on a simple Madelung-Born treatment of ionic solids, the calculation indicates that many of the metals known to activate sphalerite for subsequent flotation have lower surface-state energies than nonactivators. The results of these calculations are discussed from the standpoint of consistency with the proposed activation mechanism and observed flotation results. The satisfactory agreement obtained is taken to be support for the proposed mechanism, and further elaboration of a surface-doping model is attempted.

Jan 1, 1976