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By M. M. Yahyaei

The Sarcheshmeh new concentration plant uses a 32 ft×16 ft constant speed (10.5 RPM) SAG mill with two 5500 hp motors which could rotate in two directions. The mill liners are chrome-molybdenum steel casting type with a Brinnell hardness between 325 and 375 with the lifter face angle of 14° and lifter height of 152 mm. The shell liner consists of 120 (two 60 rows) pieces with a High-High configuration in a rail design. A specially designed liner wear profile measuring device enabled fast and accurate measurements inside the mill during the mill shut-down periods. The measurements indicated that the liner wear profile along the liner length is non-uniform and the highest wear occurs between 1.25m and 2.75m of the mill length. The average weight of liners at the time of removal was 47% of the original weight indicating a significant metal loss. The modification of liner shape was undertaken with the aim of having a uniform profile at the liner removal time. The proposed liner unlike the pervious type did not have a uniform shape with a lifter height of 187mm at the section where the wear rate was high. It was believed that this new profile could arrive at a uniform profile at the liner change out time. A study was also directed to the possible change of charge motion due to the liner profile modification. The dynamic behaviour of charge was investigated through the analysis of forces acting on a single ball using mill characteristics such as mill diameter, rotational speed, lifter height and release angle. The simulation of charge motion with this method and Milltraj TM software indicated that the impact position of charge will change only one degree due to the maximum increase of 35 mm in the lifter height. This assured that the installation of the modified liner would not have any adverse effect on the mill because of ball impacting the mill shell. It was predicated that the amount of scrap metal will reduce to 30% from the current value of 47% beside 1500 h increase in the liner life time.

Jan 1, 2014

By D. W. Frommer, M. M. Fine

Laboratory investigations have produced flotation concentrates contain- ing 91 to more than 92 percent titania, with fair recoveries, from the Christy property, Hot Spring County, Ark. The titanium-bearing ore on the Christy property occurs in a quartz-clay- iron oxide mineralization, which contains, on the average, about 6.0 percent TiO2, chiefly as the mineral brockite; brookite and rutile are different crys- talline forms of titanium dioxide. Recent work by the Bureau of Mines has shown that titanium chloride can be produced readily from the rutile-type mineral by reduction with coke fol- lowed by low-temperature chlorination. Metallic titanium is in turn derived etallic from the chloride by the Kroll process .

Mar 1, 1952

By AIME AIME

THE Iron and Steel and Institute of Metals Divisions will meet jointly at the Statler Hotel, Detroit, Oct. 4 and 5, during the Metal Congress, Oct. 2-6. The Wire Association, the American Welding Society and the American Society for Steel Treating, together with the two Divisions of the Institute, constitute the Congress this year, and each body offers an interesting technical program. The National Metal Exposition will, as usual, be held concurrently. Visiting metallurgists will find themselves engaged in a bit of research not listed in the program-a time study of how best to exploit in a few days both the Congress and all that the place of meeting has to offer. For Detroit, the beautiful "City of the Straits," is third in rank industrially in the United States, and its great manufacturing plants offer much of metallurgical interest. This is especially true of the automobile plants which will be open to members of the various societies during the week of the Congress.

Jan 1, 1933

By G. I. Madden, L. H. Van Vlack

WhEN basic refractories which contain peri-clase, MgO, are used in steel furnaces, they are altered by iron oxide to form magnesiowiistite, (Mg,Fe)O, and an iron-rich magnesioferrite, (Mg,Fe)Fe2O4. Silica, which is usually present, produces a silicate liquid that surrounds the solid phases. The individual crystalline grains of the above two solid phases grow at elevated temperatures. Previous papersL" showed that, if either periclase or magnesiowiistite is present as the only solid phase, its grain size increases in proportion to temperature and in proportion to the square root of time; the growth rate is reduced slightly if the amount of silicate liquid is increased. Similar results have been observed for iron-rich magnesioferrite.3 To determine the effect of the presence of two solid phases on the rate of grain growth, micro-structural studies have been made on samples containing both magnesiowustite and magnesioferrite. The experimental procedure was the same as that followed in the previous studies of this type.'12 Briefly, this included determination of compositions from the available phase relationships4 that would produce the two phases of interest at the firing temperature and using reagent-grade raw materials to prepare mixtures of these compositions. The mixtures were pressed into pellet-size samples and then fired at the desired time and temperature. The samples were water-quenched to preserve the microstructure present at the firing temperature. Standard reflected-light metallographic techniques were used for sample examination and sample analysis. Grain sizes were determined by measuring the mean diameter of a number of randomly selected grains in a two-dimensional microsection. A large cross section of the sample was covered to prevent biased data resulting from such effects as localized differences in the radius of curvature of the crystal grains. Examination indicates that grain growth is restricted when more than one solid phase is present. This is illustrated in Fig. 1 for: (a) magnesiowustite plus a silicate liquid; (b) magnesioferrite plus a silicate liquid; and (c) magnesiowiistite and magnesioferrite plus a silicate liquid. Fig. 2 plots the

Jan 1, 1964

Senior staff representatives of the Bureau of Mines and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) met in Washington on September 6, 1972, to review and evaluate their cooperative accomplishments to date and to consider the planning and conduct of future coordinated activities. The six presentations given at this joint staff seminar are published here for the benefit of those concerned with the problems of coal mine health, and especially those with responsibilities in administering the Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969.

Jan 1, 1972

By J. Jones-Parra, J. C. Calhoun

INTRODUCTION The purpose of this paper is to present the results obtained by solving the fractional flow' and frontal advance' equations to obtain oil recovery at water breakthrough as a function of the length of the system being flooded, the linear velocity of injection and the displacing phase viscosity. The method of solution makes use of the stabilized zone concept first presented by Terwilliger, et al3 when calculating saturation distributions in a gravity drainage system. In order to check the calculated results, the equations and method of solution were applied to the system on which Rapoport and Leas' reported experimental data. METHOD OF SOLUTION The solution of the fractional flow equation and the frontal advance equation is obtained by assuming that a water front forms to sweep the oil out ahead of it. There is ample evidence that under the proper conditions a water 'front does form. If this water front is not to dissipate, the water saturations which comprise it must have equal linear velocities. These water saturations are said to comprise the stabilized zone. Equation (2) indicates that for all these saturations and hence fw must plot as a straight line against saturation for those water saturations comprising the stabilized zone. The water saturations lying between the highest in the stabilized zone and the highest that can be achieved in the porous medium comprise the variable zone. Regardless of the numerical value of the length of the system, the variable zone must eventually span all of it, so that for long enough systems in Equation (1) will be small enough to be neglected. Hence, for the saturations in the variable zone Equation (1) can be simplified to In order to determine the composite fw function applicable to the entire range of saturations in the porous medium, it is necessary to find the water saturation which separates the stabilized zone from the variable zone. This dividing saturation must be on the curve defined by Equation (4), and a tangent curve at that point must pass through the initial water saturation to satisfy Equation (3). Hence, the valid fw curve is given by a straight line starting at the initial water saturation, tangent to the curve of Equation (4): and along the curve of Equation (4) from the point of tangency on. The point of tangency determines the water saturation dividing the zones. The length and shape of the stabilized zone can be found by solving Equation (1) for Integrating this expression numerically between any two saturations in the stabilized zone gives the distance separating these two saturations. By repeated integration, the saturation distribution of the stabilized zone can be determined. The total length of the stabilized zone is given by The integral appearing in Equation (5) is a function of the viscosity ratio, the capillary properties of the rockfluid system, the relative permeabilities, and the initial water saturation. Considering these variables fixed and designating the value of the integral by writing caw for and v/60 for q/A; Equation (5) becomes The saturation distribution of the stabilized zone can be integrated over its length and divided by the length to obtain the average water saturation The volume of water in the stabilized zone is then given by The average water saturation in the variable zone can be found by extending the straight line segment of (the segment joining Sw and Sw) until it intersects fw = 1.00. The saturation at the intersection is. This method of finding is nothing more than the graphical solution of the equation The volume of water in the variable zone at breakthrough is then given by Assuming no initial water saturation, the recovery at breakthrough expressed as percent pore volume is given by

Jan 1, 1953

By Kent R. Van Horn, W. P. Sykes

Since Honda and Murakamil in 1918 proposed their constitutional diagram of the carbon-free iron-tungsten system, considerable effort has been expended by several investigators in attempts to define more positively the structural features of the alloys. The existence of an intermediate phase corresponding to the formula Fe3W2 (68.7 per cent W) was proposed from evidence of a purely metallographic nature by one of the present authors2 in 1926. Since that time the identity of this phase has been confirmed by Arnfelt3 and by Takeda,4 both of whom employed X-ray methods as well as the microscope and the chemical analysis of isolated microconstituents. According to Arnfelt, Fe3W2, as crystallized from the iron-rich melts at a temperature above 1450° C., contains by analysis 68.7 per cent W. The lattice of this phase is characterized by trigonal symmetry. Arnfelt, moreover, proposed a second intermediate phase formed at some temperature between 1450" and 1000" C. by a peritectoid reaction involving Fe3W2 and the iron-rich solid solution. A melt containing 25 per cent W was cooled to 1000" C. and heated for 100 hr. The precipitated tungsten-rich constituent was separated and found by analysis to contain 62.6 per cent W. This composition agrees closely with that represented by the formula Fe2W (62.2 per cent W). Diffraction patterns from the concentrated precipitate showed a hexagonal unit cell. Takeda confirmed the data of Arnfelt regarding Fe3W2 but was unable to detect Arnfelt's second intermediate phase. While Takeda failed to describe in detail the treatments employed, he stated that in alloys containing 40 per cent W which were quenched after heating at various temperatures between 1200" and 1450" C. no evidence of the second phase (Fe2W) was observed 'either in the microstructure or in the diffraction patterns of isolated residues. He therefore considered the existence of this low-temperature hexagonal compound as disproved.

Jan 1, 1933

By Merwin H. Howes

In constructing the NORAD Combat Operations Center, controlled blasting techniques were employed to achieve smooth walls and to avoid shattering the rock beyond excavation lines. Extraordinary measures were taken to stabilize the rock to permanently preserve the openings. Rock stabilization was accomplished by means of reinforced concrete and gunite linings, rock boltings, installation of chain-link fabric, and epoxy resin and cement grouting. A particular zone of weakness at B vital location was supported by exceptionally thick reinforced concrete lining, rock bolts, and cement grout.

Jan 1, 1966

By Winmill T. F.

Among the various theories proposed to account for the spontaneous ignjtion of coal, one which has at times been very strongly held is that the initial heating is due to the oxidation of iron pyrites. From the results described in this paper, it is possible to calculate roughly the rate of spontaneous heating of a specimen of finely-divided pyrites, on the assumption that all the heat developed is used in raising the temperature of the pyrites, and that none is lost. It is clear that where finely-divided pyrites occurs in considerable proportion among coal, it may be the chief factor in originating combustion, but that pyrites can only be the cause of a heating when it is present in considerable proportion, and in a very finely-divided state

Dec 1, 1916

By R. S. Dean

IN THE COURSE of its investigations directed toward providing strategic metals from domestic sources and toward utilizing power from Federal power projects in West, the Bureau of Mines concluded some years ago that the development of a method for producing electrolytic manganese might well be an important step towards both goals. Accordingly, laboratory investigations were undertaken in 1935. Further studied on a relatively large laboratory scale indicated that electrolytic manganese could be made from domestic ores at a cost not out of line with other nonferrous metals. On the basis of these results, the Electro Manganese Corp. Operating under U.S. Patent 2,119,560 issued to S, M, Shelton and assigned to the Secretary of the Interior for administration, undertook commercial production of electrolytic manganese at Knoxville, Tenn, This company has brought the process through the pilot-plant stage successfully, and is now regularly producing approximately one ton a day.

Jan 1, 1941

By Carrucan M. J

Costain Resources Limited operates two open cut coal mines in the Hunter Valley coalfields of New South Wales, Ravensworth Mine and Warkworth Mine. The location of the Ravensworth operation is shown in Figure 1. In the case of the Ravensworth Mine, Costain Australia is essentially a contract miner and is contracted to supply coal to Pacific Power (previously The Electricity Commission of New South Wales), on contracts won through a tender system. Due to the existing infrastructure and the lease area that associated with the contract, the mining strips at Ravensworth South have a maximum strike length of 1500 metres. This paper deals with the methods of scheduling used to overcome the challenge of mining the short strike length, multi-seam deposit at Ravensworth South.

Jan 1, 1992

By L. F. Willmott

The Bureau of Nines at Morgantown, W. Va., has been investigating, on a pilot plant scale, various methods of gasifying bituminous coal with oxygen and superheated steam to produce synthesis gas, as part of the broader program of finding new uses for coal. Differences in the pressure gasification methods used have depended on differences in the manner in which the pulverized coal is fed to the gasifier. One of the methods of feeding the coal that was investigated was the continuous, integrated coal-water slurry system. Goal and water were first mixed to produce a slurry; then the slurry was pumped through a heated coil. to evaporate the water fraction; the resulting steam was superheated, and some of it was separated so as to adjust the ratio of the residual steam to the coal fraction and make the resulting mixture suitable for partial combustion with oxygen in a pressure gasifier. Both before and during this reported3 developmental work it was necessary to make an extensive literature search into the technology of aqueous slurries in order to establish design criteria for the pilot plant and to correlate results of various phases of the work with that of other investigators, The pilot work coincided with the commercial development of a long-distance pipe- line for the transportation of coal as a coal-water slurry, and this fact tended to broaden the scope of the pilot plant work and the extent of the literature search. This bibliography is the compilation of the material that was collected.

Jan 1, 1963

By L. F. Willmott

The Bureau of Mines at Morgantown, W. Va., has been investigating, on a pilot plant scale, various methods of gasifying bituminous coal with oxygen and superheated steam to produce synthesis gas, as part of the broader program of finding new uses for coal. Differences in the pressure gasification methods used have depended on differences in the manner in which the pulverized coal is fed to the gasifier. One of the methods of feeding the coal that was investigated was the continuous, integrated coal-water slurry system. Goal and water were first mixed to produce a slurry; then the slurry was pumped through a heated coil. to evaporate the water fraction; the resulting steam was superheated, and some of it was separated so as to adjust the ratio of the residual steam to the coal fraction and make the resulting mixture suitable for partial combustion with oxygen in a pressure gasifier. Both before and during this reported3 developmental work it was necessary to make an extensive literature search into the technology of aqueous slurries in order to establish design criteria for the pilot plant and to correlate results of various phases of the work with that of other investigators, The pilot work coincided with the commercial development of a long-distance pipeline for the transportation of coal as a coal-water slurry, and this fact tended to broaden the scope of the pilot plant work and the extent of the literature search. This bibliography is the compilation of the material that was collected.

Jan 1, 1963

By R. L. Weigel

As Florida phosphate mining gradually moves from the Bone Valley formation to the Hawthorn formation, a greater portion of the minable deposit contains dolomitic diluents which result in lower product grades that can be detrimental to the production of phosphoric acid for fertilizer uses. One beneficiation technique found applicable to the phosphate pebble size range (3 X 16 mesh) is heavy media separation using suspensions of magnetite and ferrosilicon. As part of an ongoing investigation of dolomite removal technology, a pilot heavy media cyclone system was constructed by IMC and used in the testing of a variety of drill core composites and hulk samples. The results of these tests were used to develop a predictive model for heavy media cyclone separation based on pebble fraction assays and heavy media operating parameters. This model is currently being used in the evaluation of specific future mining areas.

Jan 1, 1984

By H. Guyod

The response of the Guard Electrode sonde (LL3) and the Laterolog (LL7) can be mathematically computed only for cases that do not represent realistic conditions. A resistance network analogue that simulates a number of typical—although idealized—formations was used instead to obtain, for both devices, a large number of resistivity logs and current distribution maps. From these data, charts were prepared for estimating true resistivities under a number of conditions. Some of these charts and current distribution maps are presented. INTRODUCTION Two main benefits are expected from a resistivity log: (1) obtaining geological information for mapping and other purposes, and (2) obtaining petrophysical data, based on true rock resistivity. The geological information can be derived from any resistivity curve having sufficient vertical detail, but true rock resistivities frequently are difficult to determine with desired accuracy because we do not have sufficient interpretation data. This is particularly true for the records given by the Laterolog tools. The object of this paper is to throw some light on the factors affecting the responses of these tools so that better resistivity data can be obtained from Laterologs. LATEROLOGS Laterolog measuring systems are of two types: the LL3 sonde, frequently called "Guard", and the LL7 sonde. Both measure the resistance between a single exploring electrode placed in the borehole and a faraway return electrode whose influence will be assumed here to be negligible. Although the principles of these tools have already been outlined,1-3 it is desirable to review them briefly in this article. LL3 Fig. 1, left side, represents a long cylindrical, vertical current electrode placed in a medium of uniform resistivity. The current leaving the center section of the electrode flows essentially along horizontal lines, delineating a surface having the shape of a biconcave lens. It is the elec- trical resistance offered to this particular group of current lines that is measured by the Guard tool. This is done in practice by having a long cylindrical electrode consisting of three sections physically and electrically separated by thin insulating washers, as shown in the center of the figure, and keeping the three sections at the same potential. It is obvious, for all practical purposes, that the current and potential distributions about this electrode are the same, as if we had a continuous electrode of same dimensions. Because the three sections are electrically separated, the resistance seen by the center section E can be independently measured. This section will be called the exploring electrbde, or E electrode. Its height generally is from a few inches to 1 ft. The outer sections are the guards G, which are several feet long. The combined length of the three sections is from 10 to 12 ft for the tools currently used in the petroleum industry. Let V denote the potential difference between E and the faraway return electrode, and I be the current flowing between these two electrodes. The resistance (Re) seen by the exploring electrode is VII, and the corresponding apparent resistivity is Ra = k(Re),............(1) where k is the tool calibration factor. The previous description establishes that the Guard tool uses that central portion of the sonde from which, in a uniform medium, the current follows essentially horizontal paths. When the formation being logged is fairly uniform, and when its resistivity is of the same order as

Jan 1, 1965

By H. F. Webster, C. G. Dunn

Rolling md annealing procedures are described for developing the (110) preferred orientation in tantalum for use as a thermionic-emission materinl where electrodes of a uniform high work function are needed. The development of a (110) [001] annealing texture is also reported. A preferential growth process due to low (110) gas-metal surface energy is considered in explanation of the observed growth of (110) grains. ThE growth of (110)-oriented grains in thin strips of rolled zone-refined tantalum, previously discussed briefly,' is reported together with more recent information on the formation of a (110)[001.] annealing texture, i.e., one where the [001] direction of each grain lies close to the rolling direction. The development of tantalum sheet with a (110) preferred orientation (position of [001 ] directions unspecified) is of importance as a thermionic-emission material in thermionic-energy converters. Since therm ionic-emission properties of cesium-coated crystals vary over a wide range depending on (hkl) a2-7 a single (hkl) preferred orientation is more useful than either several preferred orientations or none. Furthermore, the (110) preferred orientation yields the highest thermionic-emission density for a cesium coverage of less than a monolayer.5-7 A consideration of the stability of the grain structure needed at high operating temperatures suggests that the preferred orientation itself should be produced by annealing processes. Information on annealing textures in tantalum, however, is rather limited. Pugh and Hibbard 8 obtained (111)[112] and (lll)[112] components in a 1400°C recrystallization texture in 95 pct cold-rolled foil; these components were enhanced on annealing at 2500°C. Muller9 rolled 99.97 Ta to 90 pct reduction in thickness in the final stage and noted only a slight sharpening of the rolling texture, with some intensification of the (111)[112] component upon annealing at 1200°C. The experimental procedure followed in the present work stemmed from the idea of using possible differences in (hkl) surface energies to provide a small driving force for growth of grains having the lowest (hkl) surface energy.l0* This would mean using high-purity tantalum processed into thin sheet form and annealed at high temperatures either in a noncontaminating atmosphere or in one producing additional sample purification. EXPERIMENTAL Zone-Refined Tantalum. National Research Corp. tantalum in the form of 1/8-in.-diam rod and of 99.98 purity (53 ppm 0, 15 ppm N, and 8 ppm C) was zone-melted four times. The traversing speed was 4 mm per min. Such treatment increased the resistance ratio, R293k/R20K , where R293K is the resistance of the specimen at 20°C and R20K the re-resistance at liquid-hydrogen temperature, from a value of 25 for the initial rod to 175 for the zone-refined rod (the increase in the resistance ratio provides a measure of purification11,12). Part of a zone-refined rod was rolled unidirec-tionally to a strip 0.003 in. thick and 0.28 in. wide. Samples were given anneals in the range 1300" to 2100°C using ac conduction heating in an oil-free vacuum system. Recrystallization to small grains appeared to be complete at 1300°C. Large grains were formed at higher temperatures, but these were not entirely strain-free, some grains showing asterism in Laue X-ray patterns and some displaying a range in orientation. Part of the difficulty was caused by thermal expansion of the tantalum strip as it was held between fixed supports. However, in a different arrangement with the tantalum freely suspended in a tantalum can, high-frequency induction heating in vacuo at about l0-6 Torr produced

Jan 1, 1964

A major highlight of Fiscal Year 1993 is the completion of a new research facility dedicated to the advancement of robotics research and development. This new facility brings to the U.S. Bureau of Mines one of the largest and most unique facilities of its kind in the world. Located at the Bureau's Pittsburgh Research Center, the facility consolidates under one roof, all of the resource requirements of a first class automation and robotics research program. The Mining Robotics Development Center (MRDC) is the result of a major renovation of a large under-utilized warehouse-type structure and brings together the laboratories and offices previously housed in five separate buildings scattered throughout the Pittsburgh Research Center's 238-acre site. This new facility will support the computer-assisted mining research program, a high priority, multi-million dollar program that is expected to have a high impact on the health and safety of miners and coal productivity.

Jan 1, 1993

The purpose of this paper is to present the methods used in ground water control and the considerations that affected the development of these techniques. Production at Knob Lake is currently proceeding at depths which may be as much as 200 feet below the original standing water table. In order to produce a more saleable product and to improve operating and maintenance conditions, it is necessary to depress the water table below the mining level. Considerable success has been achieved by drilling deep wells in strategic locations and installing vertical tur-bine pumps at depths of up to 400 feet. This method is especially suitable for operation under severe winter conditions and has reduced the detrimental effects by a far greater extent than other methods of water control, Spring runoff is handled in open sumps, but all other water from four mines, with flows exceeding 16,000 g.p.m., is pumped all year 'round from about thirty-five wells. THE Knob Lake operation of the. Iron Ore Company of Canada is located on the Quebec-Labrador border, 320 miles north of Sept-lies, a seaport

Jan 1, 1965

By R H. Knight

Production mine geology must be accurate and efficient in order to reduce risk and ensure that ore value and mining operation revenue are maximised. Present grade control practices are commonly based on outmoded and inaccurate 2D geological mapping techniques where spatial relationships are estimated by eye, sketched by hand and projected to arbitrary reference planes. The 3D mapping approach outlined in this paper integrates 3D photogrammetric imagery with implicit modelling techniques to enable more accurate grade control and reconciliation in underground mines. High-resolution stereo photographs are taken of daily ore development headings. Ore contacts are traced directly on a 2D face photo using a stylus and rugged tablet. Area-weighted face grades are estimated and calculated on mapped 2D face planes. In the office, a 3D photorealistic mesh is processed and georeferenced. 2D face mapping data is transformed into its actual 3D location and true 3D mine mapping is performed by digitising oriented 3D polylines representing ore contacts and other geological features directly onto the image surface. Three-dimensional spatial relationships are fixed, eliminating the projection error of traditional 2D methods. Ore envelope and waste solids are modelled within the closed, drift-round mesh. Volume-weighted ore envelope and round grades, as well as round volume and tonnage, are calculated. Ore/waste classifications, grade, tonnage and per cent dilution are quantified per round, visually assessed in 3D and reconciled with short- and long-term models on a daily basis. Updated geological continuity models provide geological guidance in development headings under geological control and accurate 3D structural and form-line mapping improves definition drilling and stope planning. Three-dimensional imagery provides a permanent detailed survey and geological record of mine workings that can be revisited virtually to reinterpret geological ore controls in light of new observations and insights. In addition images can be used to monitor daily production performance, create training scenarios for miners, engineers and geologists and prepare management presentations. This approach adds value to underground mines by improving the accuracy and efficiency of mine geology practices. The method is particularly effective in mines with visually distinct and geometrically complex orebodies, such as those in the Balmat zinc mine located in New York State, USA, which are used to illustrate the method.CITATION:Knight, R H, 2017. 3D mine mapping – improving grade control and reconciliation in underground mines using photogrammetric imagery and implicit modelling techniques, in Proceedings Tenth International Mining Geology Conference 2017, pp 203–212 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Sep 20, 2017

By C. C. Hatch, C. R. Larsen, A. L. Mular

INTRODUCTION As part of a general project to simulate a concentrator, the Brenda Mines Limited secondary crushing plant, located near Peachland, B. C., was sampled during the summer/winter of 1975 and during the summer of 1978 to develop a digital crushing plant simulator specific to the Brenda operation. The purpose of this simulator was to study the influence of manipulable process variables on important responses, to permit study of alternative circuit configurations if desired and to perform off-line optimization. This chapter describes the methodology employed to develop the simulator (1,2) along with typical applications thereof. SECONDARY CRUSHING PLANT FLOWSHEET Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the Brenda Mines Ltd. secondary crushing plant circuit. The 41,000 tonne coarse ore stockpile(a) is -17.8 cm oversize (3B belt) from two 2.4 m x 6.1 m double deck vibrating screens (not shown). The screens are fed by 2 conveyor belts operated in series with two 198 cm apron feeders that handle discharge from a 152 cm x 226 cm primary gyratory crusher(520 KW). The primary crusher (not shown) treats up to 2725 tonne/hr of run of mine ore. Minus 1.9 cm undersize from the primary screens (#19 belt), referred to as the primary fines, joins secondary screen undersize (#18 belt) for conveyance to fine ore bins (not shown). Feed from the coarse ore stockpile is transferred by means of vibrating feeders and two 120 cm conveyors (#6 and #7) to transfer belts #8 and #9 (Figure 1). The belts feed two secondary 2.1 m standard heavy duty cone crushers (bl and b2). Each crusher is equipped with a modified coarse mantle liner and a standard coarse bowl liner. Mantle throw is 9.2 cm; nominal close side set is 3.2 cm. Crusher .countershafts (443 rpm) are driven by single 260 KW synchronous motors (710 rpm). Discharge from the secondary cone crushers joins discharge from four 2.1 m tertiary heavy duty shorthead cone crushers (fl, f2, f3 and f4). With the exception of the cavity (modified medium mantle liner and standard coarse bowl liner; close side set is nominal .84 cm) and motor (224 KW), these machines are similar to the secondary crushers. The combined discharge is transferred from a 183 cm conveyor to #14 belt which empties into a 1452 tonne secondary screen surge bin (c). Vibrating feeders beneath the bins feed five 2.4 m x 6.1 m double deck vibrating screens (dl, d2, d3, d4 and d5) sloped at 200 from the horizontal. The upper decks are punched plates with 2.7 cm x 7.6 cm slots. Lower decks are woven wire (1.27 cm diameter) sections with

Jan 1, 1982