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By Thomas S. Jones

This report discusses processing and use of the principal forms of manganese. The focus is on trends in the United States in the 20th century and specifics of domestic manganese material flows as of about 1990. To protect proprietary data, quantitative assessments are limited to the iron and steel industry, which accounts for about 90% of consumption. Nonmetallurgical uses are considered qualitatively. Approximate disposition of a U.S. cumulative consumption during 1901-90 of an estimated 69 million st of manganese is estimated to be iron and steel slag, 69%; nonmetallurgical uses of a dissipative na¬ture, 10%; iron and steel scrap, 9%; National Defense Stockpile, 3%; unidentified and/or including items in service, 10%. In slag from iron blast furnaces and steelmaking, manganese is present as a minor, relatively im¬mobile component, which so far has been uneconomical to recover. Construction and road building are main applications for these slags. Steel slag contains the greater amount of manganese. Studies by others of global manganese fluxes and the effect of human activities on them also are discussed. One source concludes that the main effect of human activities, via deforestation and agricultural activities, has been to increase the rate of transport of manganese to the oceans.

Jan 1, 1994

By R. Dippenaar

The emergence of new steel grades is largely driven by the need to produce high quality steel at a competitive price. The principal aims are to attain ultra-high purity, (especially low interstitial elements) and ultra-cleanliness (by the control of the inclusion content and size). Whereas the steel used to build the Titanic contained 650 ppm sulphur, resulting in MnS stringer-inclusions 25 mm in length, modern quality requirements for arctic pipelines would only allow 10 ppm of sulphur and inclusions in ball-bearing steels must be smaller than 5µm. Most developments are aimed at hot-metal treatment before refining and ladle treatment after decarburisation. Because ferroalloys are added during or after the refining step, it is the secondary (ladle) refining production technologies that are of specific interest to the ferroalloy producer. Through ladle treatment, hydrogen and nitrogen contents are reduced, ultra-low levels of solute impurities are attained and the shapes as well as the composition of inclusions are modified. Steelmakers are concerned about the cost effectiveness of the use of ferroalloys such as consistent product analysis and delivery, improved financing arrangements and technical support. Minimal variation in product sizing is vital because it impacts on handling problems and because particle size determines the rate of particle dissolution. The required ferroalloy product quality depends on the specific use but in general sulphur, phosphorous and nitrogen contents are of concern. Apart from the presence of trace and impurity elements, ferroalloys also contain inclusions. For example, ferromanganese may contain MnO-MnS-SiO2 inclusions while high-carbon ferro-chrome may contain different kinds of Cr-Mn-spinels. The presence of these impurities and inclusions has a significant impact on steel production techniques and cost and hence, on the selection and use of ferroalloys. The interrelationship between ferroalloy quality and steel production technology is plant and product specific and hence, effective communication between ferroalloy suppliers and steel producers is essential.

Jan 1, 2004

By C. F. Jackson

THE work of, the Mining Methods Committee is now well under way. Following discussions previous to and during the February meeting, an Outline for Papers on Mining Methods was prepared, and over a thousand copies have now been distributed to committee men, to section secretaries and to members who have indicated any interest in the subject. The objective of the committee is to prepare a symposium on mining methods which will be of real practical value to the operator and engineer in the solution of every-day mining problems. It is planned to cover the entire field of mining in such a way that the different branches of mining, such as coal and ore (iron, copper, lead, zinc and precious metal) can benefit from the experience of the others at points where they have problems in common.. It is realized fully that each of these branches of mining possesses its own peculiar problems, but at the same time, there are prob-lems in connection with each, where the experience in others should be of value. The committee proposes to proceed along the following lines: 1. To present a general classification of mining methods, showing their inter-relationship, and at the same time .provide a common language for the discussion of mining methods and a nomenclature that will have the same meaning wherever used. A com-plete set of illustrations will accompany the classi-fication to make clear the terminology adopted and to show graphically the inter-relationship of methods. 2. To show the relationship between the physical characteristic of the deposit, the economic consider-ations and the. mining method., It is not proposed to treat this subject as a mere academic problem, but to secure reports from every mining company of impor-tance in this country, which will show what methods or modifications and combinations of methods have actually been applied and the physical conditions and economic considerations which have led to the adoption of these methods in each case. The Mining Methods Committee has drawn up an Outline for Papers on Mining Methods to be distributed among mining engineers and operators, giving in detail the information desired. This outline is the result of several months of careful thought and is a composite of the suggestions of many engineers and mining company officials from all parts of the United States.

Jan 7, 1922

By A. Fleming

The exploration process, like any other commercial activity, can only succeed if the objective of the exercise is clearly defined and persistently pursued. Successful exploration requires properties, funding, personnel and persistence. Many of us have years of experience in conducting exploration in our countries of residence. Conducting exploration in a foreign country, however, requires a number of significant other criteria.

Jan 1, 1997

By Hui Yongning

This paper presents a simulating test of constitutive relation of soil anchor in laboratory and puts forward a new plastoelastic mechanical model, on which a new calculating formula of elastic and plastic limit bearing capacity for soil anchor is suggested and two engineering projects verify that this method is adaptable.

Jan 1, 1991

By S. L. GILLAN

OF the forty or more excursions provided for the delegates to the World Engineering Congress at Tokyo, the trip to the Ashio copper mine stands out as one of the most enjoyable. In every detail looking to our comfort and pleasure the Furukawa company, our hosts, were admirable. This company operates five other copper mines, also gold and coal mines. Ashio is the largest with an annual production of about 14,000 tons of copper. It has been continuously worked since 1620, and doubtless was one of the sources of copper used in the gigantic statues of Buddha of many hundred years earlier date.

Jan 1, 1930

By T. J. Lutz, D. S. Yantek, L. Yan, J. R. Srednicki, J. A. Yonkey, G. T. Homce

Federal regulations require the installation of refuge alternatives in underground coal mines. Of the inuse refuge alternatives, more than 95 percent are mobile refuge alternatives, with the remainder being built-in-place (BIP) refuge alternatives. Heat/humidity buildup has been one of the major concerns with mobile refuge alternatives. For BIP refuge alternatives, however, there is a lack of in-mine heat/humidity test data to determine the extent of heat and humidity buildup. To quantify heat/humidity buildup in BIP refuge alternatives, the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) performed a series of heat/humidity tests on a 60-person BIP refuge alternative with and without a borehole air supply. At various times during the year, tests were performed with cooled, heated or unconditioned borehole air to examine how various outdoor temperatures may affect the thermal conditions inside a BIP refuge alternative. The results show that the air supplied to a BIP refuge alternative may require heating or cooling, depending on the outside air temperatures and the temperature of the mine. For example, during tests with an external ambient temperature above 21 °C (70 °F) and a relative humidity of 90 percent, providing 13 °C (55 °F) dew point air at 775 scfm, which is slightly higher than the mandated flow rate of 12.5 scfm per person, kept the internal apparent temperature below the mandated 35 °C (95 °F). Results for each test case are presented.

Jan 1, 2018

By W. L. Heidenreich

This report describes the methods and results of field investigations conducted by the Bureau of Mines between December 1956 and December 1957 on seven deposits of nickel-cobalt-iron-bearing laterite and weathered serpentine near the west coast of Puerto Rico east and south of Mayaguez. These deposits were named, for purposes of identification, Guanajibo, Punta Guanajibo, Las Mesas, north and south deposits of the Rosario Southeast group, and the west and east deposits of the Maricao Southwest group. In addition, the lower 17 miles of the Guanajibo River Valley was tested at widely spaced intervals for possible concentrations of magnetite and chromite in the alluvial sands. The objective of the investigations was to appraise, by drilling and sampling, the two largest deposits--the Guanajibo and Las Mesas. Testing of the smaller deposits was much more restricted. Field investigations consisted of mapping, drilling with power auger, sampling drill-hole sections, and pre-paring samples for chemical analyses, mineralogical studies, and metallurgical tests. The work was financed jointly under a cooperative agreement by the Bureau of Mines and the Economic Development Administration, an agency of the Puerto Rican Commonwealth.

Jan 1, 1959

By Ramiro da Conceição do Nascimento, Horst Guenter Feldhagen, Rafael Piumatti de Oliveira

Mixed hydroxide precipitate (MHP) is a nickel intermediate product that has economical benefits to downstream leaching of lateritic marginal ores. Usually, this product is subsequently processed and refined to produce nickel by hydrometallurgy, but an alternative route can be made integrating hydrometallurgy and pyrometallurgy. Assessing the overall consumption of ferroalloys to obtain stainless steel, as an increasing practice performed in China, the synergy of nickel extraction from laterites by leaching and precipitation asMHP with the production ofMHP agglomerates applied as rawmaterial to furnaces of ferronickel production is a very attractive practice. This work aims to further the technological development of an agglomerated product feasible to hydro-pyro integration. The agglomeration experiments were performed by traditional pelletizing (firing the pellets) and cold bonded pelletizing (aging the pellets by appropriate stocking). Appropriate compositionswere prepared withMHP, additives and binders for each of these routes. A specific study of binder composition was made to find an adequate melting point. The produced pellets were tested to prove their properties by crushing strength tests. The standardization applied to iron ore was followed. The best result of crushing strength was 98.52 daN/pellet. The agglomerates with approved crushing strength for use in electric furnaces were smelted to produce alloys containing nickel; the agglomerates were characterized by scanning electron microscopy. The alloy obtained was metallic ferronickel with sulphide precipitates. Therefore, MHP pellets can be precursors of nickel alloys, which have to be refined to obtain the desirable composition.

Jul 6, 2020

By G. S. Hume

In the transformation of carbonaceous materials, such as peat, to coals of various grades, the changes are known to be both physical and chemical and the grade of coal finally produced depends on the stage to which alteration proceeded. Those changes, which are frequently spoken of as the results of metamorphism, are due to pressure with accompanying heat and, according to the amount of metamorphism to which the sediments with the included carbonaceous beds have been subjected, there is a gradation from peat to anthracite coal, and even to graphite. The improvement in the quality of the coal as a result of metamorphism is due to an increase of the carbon content of the coal and a corresponding loss of the volatile materials. This rise in the quality of the coal according to the degree of metamorphism is well illustrated by the coals of western Canada. In the Plains area, where the deformation and the attendant metamorphism of the sediments is comparatively small, the coals are lignites, whereas in the mountains, where deformation has been severe, the coals are semi-anthracites. Sub-bituminous and bituminous coals occur in the intervening areas. The same general relationship between the quality of the coal and the degree of metamorphism holds true for the Appalachian basin of the United States, where there is a progressive improvement in the quality of the coals from west to east, that is, from an area of comparatively slight metamorphism to an area of marked deformation in the Appalachian Mountain region. But while it is true that this relationship holds in a general way, it has been found that the improvement in the quality of the coal is not always uniformly progressive, and there may be local variations such that an area containing coal with a carbon content indicating low or medium metamorphism may be surrounded by areas in which the coals are of higher grade. These local variations in many cases can be explained, and they in no way detract from the general rule that, in a region exhibiting a progressive betterment in the quality of the coal from an area of low metamorphism to one of more marked deformation, the quality of the coal, i.e., the amount of fixed carbon in the coal, may be taken as an index of the degree of metamorphism of the coal as well as of the sediments in which it occurs, It has been pointed out (') that certain coals, such as cannels, are unreliable indicators of the varying degree of metamorphism because of the nature of the material from which such coal was derived. Such coals, however, are not known in western Canada and their behaviour need not here be discussed.

Jan 1, 1927

By G. K. Lee, E. R. Mitchell

Designers of combustion processes may select aerodynamic conditions which produce only superfine fly ash. Although it is not usually anticipated that this will create a problem, such as has been found to agglomerate in high-velocity gas streams, to plug mechanical dust separators in a short time, and to contribute to atmospheric pollution. The problem is a fundamental one, and may be approached in several ways. The authors, in the course of their combustion research program, had occasion to examine the agglomeration of ash, ranging from sub-micron to 17 microns in size, produced in a (coal and oil) dual-fuel-fired steam generator. Several theories, supported by extensive laboratory studies, have provided some understanding of a probable mechanism of agglomeration. As a result, certain precautions are suggested in the design and selection of combustion processes and equipment.

Jan 1, 1962

By J. Marts

Underground longwall coal mining sections are operated as sealed gobs if the coal is prone to spontaneous combustion. Sealing along the gate roads during longwall face retreat limits the flow of fresh air (oxygen) into the gob and, thus, deprives the spontaneous combustion reaction of oxygen. In a project sponsored by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), researchers at the Colorado School of Mines have used computational fluid dynamics modeling to simulate the flow of gases in sealed longwall gobs. The models were validated using measurements and observations from the field and demonstrate that targeted injection of nitrogen along the gate roads inby the face can be used to control the size and location of explosive methane clouds within the gob and to minimize or eliminate the explosion hazard resulting from the formation of flammable methane-air mixtures.

Sep 1, 2013

By Kellerwessei H, Oberheuser G

A major breakthrough in extending the life of the wear material of high pressure roll crushers when treating moist, highly abrasive material has removed the last impediment to the widespread acceptance of high pressure comminution in the minerals industry. The system is very energy efficient. It has been demonstrated that in the cement industry energy savings of up to 50 per cent have been achieved compared to conventional hall milling. Besides being energy efficient, the process provides some remarkable and useful effects; ò better liberation of mineral constituents (as proven for diamond liberation). ò preferential comminution where induced micro fissures follow grain boundaries. ò higher reactivity of the product due to micro fissures. All these points will be described here together with a review of current flowsheet design and incentives for the use of this method of Comminution.

Jan 1, 1993

By John Ramsay, Frederick A. Edwards, J. Eric Belford, Clarence V. Amyotte

"DEVELOPMENT of the underground mine is carried out from a main ramp driven from surface to the 800 and 1200 levels and from a shaft sunk to 3050 ft. Sub-levels at approximately 100-ft vertical intervals, starting 300 ft above the 800 level, were collared from the ramp as it advanced and a considerable amount of development work was pursued. The lateral and ramp work provided an opportunity to train drift crews, test equipment and methods, assess ground conditions and advance the initial stope development. The development of an exhaust ventilation raise system closely followed the extension of the level development to the south end of the orebody (Fig. 26) . On completion of the shaft, temporary lip pockets were installed at the shaft stations on the 800, 12.00, 1600, 2000 and 2400 levels. The permanent loading pocket had been installed on the 2860 level as part of the shaft-sinking contract and the level had been connected to the 2800-level station by a small muck transfer raise. Development of the 2800-level area was given top priority at this stage. This included a 1000-ft cross-cut to the crusher location, the crusher excavation, storage bins, conveyor ways and a ramp to connect the 2800 level to the loading pocket, the rope changing station and the shaft sump. The development and installation of the rock handling system between the 2400 level and the shaft bottom was contracted to Macisaac Mining and Tunnelling Company, of Sudbury, Ontario."

Jan 1, 1974

By W. P. Yant

This report describes result of a study of the carbon monoxide and particulate matter in the air of the Holland, Tunnel and metropolitan New York made by the Bureau of Mines (which had participated in the development

Jan 1, 1941

By F M. Senda

This paper highlights strategies used at the Barrick operated Kibali Gold Mine (KGM) to improve the drilling accuracy and blasting effectiveness for longhole open stoping. The mine currently uses Solo DL421 for the required stope drilling and has experienced an average deviation of 10 per cent. Strategies are raised to eliminate or at least mitigate the adverse effects of blasthole deviation and the impact of blasting induced effect at the stope faces including the stope crown. The integration of deviation trends in the design would allow the actual blastholes to be established within their required positions to then facilitate a proper energy distribution with the eventual production blasting. The implementation of stope undercutting reduces the hole length from 35 m to 30 m which in return decreases blasthole deviation by 3 per cent. Another strategy adopted to improve the drilling accuracy is to slow down the penetration rate with the use of several operating approaches, including 135 MPa percussion pressure, 65 rev/sec rotation speed and 17 MPa feed pressure. To this penetration rate, a constant k factor is applied to increase the rate when the bedding inclination is less than 45° from the horizontal or when the hole length is under 10 m. This reduces deviation by a further 4 per cent. Where the rock mass is highly jointed it is advised to use the average penetration rate over the entire length of the hole. Furthermore, the paper shows the effect of deviation on the blasting results through a prediction of fragmentation blasting model optimised with reduced deviation and highlights the effect of presplit mining and timing delay on the blasting effectiveness. Although the size pattern increases with deviation, a strategy pertaining to timing delay with blasting would be to align to the work of Grant (1990) where the optimum hole to hole delay is found to be between 7–10 ms/m of spacing, while the optimum delay between adjacent ring varied between 110–160 ms. Stabilisation of crowns and wings will perform with the implementation of presplit blasting.

Mar 29, 2023

By S. Deming

Coal is China's main source of energy. In 1988, 76.1% of commercial energy consumption was supplied by coal. To provide a rational utilization of its coal resources, China has paid considerable attention to coal preparation over the last 10 years. In 1980, there were only 105 washeries treating about 100 million tonnes of coal, but by 1988 there were 151 washeries treating 171 million tonnes per year. This paper describes the development of China's coal preparation industry; its growth, the equipment, and the technology. Statistics and information on the current status of the industry are also be presented.

Jan 1, 1991

By Rosa Malena Fernandes Lima, Kerollan da Silva Ramos, Joyce de Assis Silva, Geriane Macedo Rocha

This study evaluated the effects of collector type amide-amine compared with those of conventional etheramine acetate (both cationic collectors) on the surface properties of quartz and hematite. An examination of certain properties of the reagents indicated that the new collector amide-amine has CMC (critical micelle concentration) and pKa values (100 mg/L and 8.2, respectively) significantly lower than those of etheramine (800 mg/L and 9.4, respectively). Microflotation tests showed that the recoveries of quartz with amide-amine in all the concentrations tested were higher than those with etheramine. This is attributed to its lower CMC and pKa values. The selectivity window between quartz and hematite flotation using amideamine was higher at pH 10.5 (approximately 80% for 5 mg/L). Therefore, the use of starch is not necessary in siliceous itabirite flotation by amide–amine collector. Zeta potential measurements and infrared spectra reveal that the adsorption of amide-amine collector on quartz surface occurs mainly by electrostatic attraction. Considering the better collectability of amide-amine for quartz flotation and lower adsorption affinity for hematite surface than etheramine, the amide-amine is a promising collector to be used in reversal iron ore flotation.

Jul 30, 2021

By Yunnen Chen

This work concerns the removal of zinc(II) and COD by means of sawdust obtained as a by-product from locally used wood. The zinc(II) and COD removal study has been carried out batchwise where the influence of physico-chemical key parameters such as tree species, pH value of solution, temperature and contacting time and dosage of adsorbent have been considered. The maximum percent removal was attained at pH 9 all for Zn(II) and COD after about 60 min. The adsorbent can be effectively desorption using 0.1 M HCl. The experimental results showed that ion exchange maybe the major adsorption mechanisms for binding the divalent metal ions to the sawdust. Sawdust was a potential adsorbent for the removal of Zn(II) from the effluent of electroplating industry.

Jan 1, 2009

Earnest Advocacy - A Key to Sustainable Minerals Industry Education - A Philippine Experience

Sep 13, 2010