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By Donald S. Bubar

The Separation Rapids property, located approximately 60 km (37 miles) north of Kenora, Ontario, Canada, is host to one of the largest rare metal pegmatite deposits in the world. This pegmatite was named the Big Whopper by its discoverer, Dr. Fred Breaks of the Ontario Geological Survey, because of the exceptional length and width of the surface exposure. The property is readily accessible from a main, all-weather road via a network of secondary logging roads. The main line of the Canadian National Railway passes through the village of Redditt, just 40 km (24 miles) south of the property. The Big Whopper is one of the complex-type (petalite sub-type) class of rare metal pegmatites that are geochemically the most highly evolved in the spectrum of granitic pegmatites. Such deposits are economically important as resources for the rare metals lithium, tantalum, cesium, and rubidium. While complex-type pegmatites are found in many areas of the world, most are too small to be profitably mined, however, with an inferred resource in excess of 15 million metric tons (mt) (17 million short tons [st]), the Big Whopper is only the fourth deposit of its type in the world with the size required to be of major economic importance. The other three deposits, which are currently in production, are the Tanco mine in Manitoba, the Bikita mine in Zimbabwe, and the Greenbushes mine in Western Australia. The Big Whopper is situated in the eastern continuation of the Archean Bird River greenstone belt which also hosts the Tanco pegmatite, approximately 60 km (37 miles) to the west. The principal commodities identified in the portions of the Big Whopper pegmatite explored to date are petalite (LiAlSi4010) and rubidium-rich K-feldspar. These are industrial minerals with important applications in the glass and ceramics industries. The Big Whopper also contains substantial quantities of lepidolite, a lithium, rubidium-mica which is the principal ore mineral for rubidium metal. Tantalum and cesium occur in anomalous levels with the petalite mineralization, and the possibility of finding zones of high enrichment in these valuable high-tech metals elsewhere in the deposit is excellent. Such enriched zones are typical of pegmatites as highly evolved as the Big Whopper. To date, the geological mapping and diamond drilling work completed by Avalon have delineated the Big Whopper pegmatite system over a strike length exceeding 1.5 km (0.9 miles), over widths ranging from 10 m to 80 m (30 feet to 260 feet) in thickness, and to a vertical depth of close to 300 m (1,000 feet), where it remains open. The pegmatite system consists of a vertically oriented massive petalite pegmatite dyke striking 280 degrees that is flanked by amphibolites containing a swarm of narrower albite and petalite dykes which have all undergone intense deformation in a high strain zone resulting in folding and intense shearing. The Big Whopper exhibits a mineralogical zonation pattern which is complicated by the superimposed deformation that has both folded and stretched the deposit. Drilling has defined a dilute geological resource totaling 7.1 million mt (7.8 million st) grading 1.283 percent Li20, 0.346 percent Rb20, and .007 percent Ta205 over a strike length of 600 m (2,000 feet), and to a vertical depth of 250 m (820 feet), where it remains open. The petalite and rubidium-rich-K-feldspars contained in the Big Whopper all appear to be of superior quality. The grades are consistent with a petalite content averaging 25-30 percent and a rubidium-rich-K feldspar content averaging 15-20 percent. The remainder of the rock consists mainly of albite, several types of mica, and quartz. Accessory minerals include columbitetantalite, cassiterite, apatite, garnet, and gahnite. Market studies show that the deposit is located close enough to existing transportation infrastructure to access rapidly growing, major markets in the glass and ceramics industries, both in the northeastern U.S. and Europe. There are only three competing lithium minerals producers in the world with the Bikita mine in Zimbabwe being the only major producer of petalite. The other lithium deposits produce spodumene, a less desirable lithium mineral. Lakefield Research Limited has successfully designed a process to produce an ultra-pure petalite concentrate containing up to 4.65 percent lithium oxide, and as little as 0.014 percent iron oxide, low levels of soda and potash, and negligible amounts of other trace elements. With these specifications, Avalon will have an excellent quality product for glass-ceramics applications such as Corningware®, CERAN® stove tops, and other thermal shock-resistant products. Lakefield is presently designing the balance of the flowsheet to produce separate concentrates of rubidium-rich K-feldspar, albite, mica, tantalum, tin, and high-purity quartz. Initial test work indicates that the feldspar products will be of exceptional quality. The K-feldspar concentrates contain 11-12 percent K20 and 1 percent Rb20, while the sodaspar contains over 10 percent Na20, and both have very low iron (0.01 percent Fe203). A preliminary economic model shows that with an initial production rate of 90,000 mt (100,000 st) per year, expanding to 170,000 mt (190,000 st) per year over 5 years, the project is capable of generating over CDN $10 million per year in pre-tax cash flow by year 5 on a capital cost of approximately CDN $30 million.

Jan 1, 2001

By F. Dingwu

The latest technology and novel equipments in kaolin processing industry in China are described in this paper. Some typical experimental results are presented, which include laboratory-, pilot-or commercial-scale tests. The characteristics of kaolin processing technology are summarized, and the developing trends are indicated.

Jan 1, 1995

By Janet Briggs, Michael Vertes, J. F. Shirley, R. E. Cutherbertson, Alexander Sutulov, J. D. Vincent

Molybdenum, the 42nd element in the periodic table, is now a very important metal in industry of the United States and the world. Chemically, it is a very complex element having valences of 0, +2, +3, +4, +5, and +6, and can exist as a mixture of these valences in many compounds. It was discovered and separated by Scheele in 1778. At the present time, molybdenite is the only important commercial source of molybdenum. Molybdenum occurs in some 12-14 different recognized minerals, but practically all of the production is molybde¬nite. As late as 1915, it was considered a rare metal. Germany made extensive use of it during the first world war, which resulted in the establishment of a molybdenum industry in the United States at Cli¬max, Colo., in 1917. It was not until the mid-1920s when its introduc¬tion to steelmaking developed for the US automobile industry that the metal gained important acceptance. The first notable example was the Willis-Saint Claire automobile introduced in 1921 by C. Harold Willis, formerly chief metallurgist for Ford Motor Co. Molybdenum has also been produced in the US from wulfenite (PbMoO4) from Arizona and Nevada, and a small amount of molyb¬denite was produced up to the early 1970s as a coproduct from two molybdenum-bismuth mines in Quebec, Canada. The first byproduct production of molybdenite from a copper con¬centrating operation was achieved at Cananea, Sonora, Mexico, and was followed shortly by the Utah division of Kennecott Copper Co. in the mid-1930s. This section of the Handbook is divided into four main subdivi¬sions: Chapter 2, which deals with the concentration and recovery of molybdenite from primary molybdenum ores; Chapter 3, which deals with the recovery and separation of molybdenite as a byproduct from copper production; Chapter 4, which deals with the conversion practices employed for converting molybdenite to the oxide or metal form; and Chapter 5, which covers the uses of molybdenum in steel¬making, chemicals, pigments, lubrication, catalysts, etc. The Free World molybdenum production, for the past eight years from all sources, is shown in Table 1. 2. Primary Molybdenite Ores General In 1978 there were four primary molybdenite recovery plants in operation: Climax, Endako, Quests, and Henderson. For over half a century the Climax mine has been by far the largest and most important source of molybdenum in the world. During the early 1970s a few primary molybdenite mines in British Columbia were shut down due to adverse economical conditions. The largest of these was British Columbia Molybdenum, formerly owned by Kennecott Copper Corp. The Climax plant and operations are described in detail and the opera¬tions of the other plants are summarized following a general discussion of recovering molybdenite from primarily molybdenite ores. Recovery of molybdenite as a byproduct will be taken up in Chapter 3. Geology Molybdenite production from mines in which it is the sole or preponderantly important mineral is confined to ore bodies in granites or igneous-type rocks or pegmatite dikes. More than one state of mineralization is sometimes present as at Climax, York, Hardy, and Questa. In the case of Climax, important byproduct recovery of tung¬sten, tin, pyrite, and monazite is also attained. The molybdenite is commonly disseminated very finely in the siliceous granitic gangue but does occur in stringers and blebs in silicified mineral solution channels. Treatment of Primary Molybdenum Ores All primary molybdenum ores are low in molybdenite, the content ranging from less than 0.20% MoS2 to a high of about 0.40% MoS2. A high resistance to grinding is a common ore characteristic combined with a habit of very fine dissemination of molybdenite in the siliceous portion of the ore. Because of low MoS2 content, high hardness, and fine dissemination of molybdenite in primary ores, it has been necessary to develop a special mill treatment which yields an accepta¬ble recovery at a reasonably low milling cost. Essentially, the treatment consists of intensive rougher flotation at a relatively coarse grind with production of a low grade rougher froth containing a substantial percentage of the molybdenite in the form of low grade middling particles, followed with multistage regrinding to liberate the locked molybdenite and several stages of flotation cleaning to produce a finished grade concentrate. Rougher flotation on pulp ground to ap¬proximately 35 mesh is common practice, even if complete liberation of molybdenite from siliceous gangue may require regrinding to 200 mesh. The flotation of middling particles with a very low content of molybdenite in the rougher flotation step has been made possible by the application of a combination of reagents first developed at the Climax mill and used with some modification in the treatment of all primary molybdenum ores. The reagents commonly employed and their functions in flotation are:

Jan 1, 1985

By R. E. Anderson

Canada encompasses an area of approximately 9,976,000 kilometres. It is comparable in size to the United States, but because of climatic conditions and limited transportation facilities, much of the area is unsuitable for agricultural or industrial development. We have a population of 22,000,000 - most of whom reside within a hundred mile belt paralleling the Canadian-U.S. border. Our principal cities in order of size are Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, and Winnipeg. We have a total of 10 provinces, each of which elects its own - government. The Yukon Territory and Northwest Territories covering the northern half of the country, are administered by federal government agencies. The mining industry employs approximately 9% of the labour force and accounts for more than 40% of all tonnage shipped on Canadian railroads and inland waterways. In 1974 it produced $4,800 million in mineral wealth. Canada ranks first in world production of asbestos, nickel, zinc, and silver and has significant production of copper, iron, molybdenum, lead and other mineral commodities. During the past decade Canada, like many other western countries, has undergone dramatic economic and social change. This trend is continuing, and its effect on the Canadian mining industry has produced conflicting results. From the industry's point of view, some of the more negative aspects include a steadily increasing involvement by government at municipal, provincial and federal levels through the imposition of Stricter controls, regulations and taxation policies, a rising tide of nationalism, which advocates public ownership of all natural resources, the spectre of inflation (currently increasing at the rate of 8% per year) and unsettled labour conditions.

Jan 1, 1976

By Paul S. Murphy, Eric W. Oehrke

INTRODUCTION The global market for sulphur has experienced dramatic structural shifts during the past 10-15 years. After a number of years of dominance as sulphur suppliers, the world's Frasch producers were confronted with large increases in nondiscretionary sulphur production from sour crude oil and gas, while escalating energy and exploration costs reduced the economic incentives to replace dwindling sulphur reserves. Sulphur demand also experienced substantial growth, but the majority of this increase was filled by nondiscretionary production. The result was essentially flat demand for Frasch sulphur during this period. This paper briefly summarizes Freeport Sulphur Company's outlook for global supply and demand for sulphur through the year 2000, and examines in more detail the history and anticipated shifts in trade patterns. World trade in elemental sulphur (brimstone), despite year-to-year fluctuations, has been on an upward trend in recent years, and should continue to grow through the end of this century. The type (discretionary vs. nondiscretionary) and location of forecast sulphur supply sources has potentially broad implications for the world's Frasch producers, as they compete in a world market which is increasingly supplied by non-discretionary production. SULPHUR DEMAND Sulphur is a versatile and essential element used in a wide variety of manufacturing processes. Almost 90% of world sulphur consumption is in the form of sulphuric acid. The relatively low cost, ready availability, and physical and chemical properties of sulphuric acid make it the most economical acid for a number of chemical processes. Although sulphur is used in the manufacture of many products, the largest consumer by far is the phosphate fertilizer industry. The majority of sulphur demand growth over the past 30 years has occurred in this area, and today it accounts for nearly 65% of global sulphur consumption in all forms. Due to the relative importance of phosphate fertilizers, sulphur demand is typically discussed in terms of fertilizer and non-fertilizer (or industrial) uses, and this approach will be followed here. We at Freeport believe that global consumption of phosphate fertilizers should grow at an average annual rate of about 3.5% through the year 2000, which is roughly equal to the growth rate experienced during the past ten years. The basic assumption underlying this forecast is that world population will continue to grow significantly, while the total acres of cropland will grow only slightly. Therefore, in order to feed a growing population, higher crop yields will be necessary, which in turn will require the increasing use of fertilizers. This expected growth in phosphate consumption will, without doubt, fluctuate from year to year, and we Frasch producers have painful memories of the large dip in demand during 1982-83. However, we believe that the fundamentals for growth are very good, and that future demand will move back onto the historical trend line. In the recent recession the use of sulphur in the non-fertilizer or industrial sector dropped sharply, and it now appears that future growth will not return to the old trend line. Most of the non-fertilizer uses of sulphur and sulphuric acid involve older industries which are very mature, such as oil refining, steel, pulp and paper, pigments, etc. The use of sulphur in some of these industries is expected to exhibit little or possibly even negative

Jan 1, 1986

By W. J. Guay

Carbonaceous gold ores containing gold dispersed in sulfides are refractory to cyanidation because: ( 1) the carbonaceous materials adsorb gold during cyanidation; (2) a portion of the gold is so finely dispersed in the sulfide mineral lattice as to preclude contact with cyanide solution; and (3) a portion of the gold is chemically combined with carbonaceous material. Techniques which have been used to treat these ores are: (1) roasting or chemical oxidation to decompose sulfides and carbonaceous materials; (2) flotation to reject carbon; (3) the use of kerosene or other reagents to passivate the adsorptive carbon compounds; (4) carbon or resin in pulp; (5) flotation of a bulk concentrate which is treated by one of the above methods; and (6) the use of chelating agents which have a stronger affinity for gold than the activated carbon in the ore.

Jan 1, 1981

By Gunnar Thaning

The iron ores mined by LKAB in the north of Sweden have excellent beneficiation properties. This gives LKAB a favourable position as regards the production of low silica pellets for direct reduction. LKAB have concentrated on developing and marketing grades of pellets for the Midrex-Purofer-HyL process group, i.e. such D.R. processes which are carried out in a shaft furnace or a static bed using reformed natural gas as a reducing agent. The paper deals with properties and quality demands of iron ore pellets for such processes. Matters such as the effect of the residual magnetite in the fired pellets on the degree of metallization, the amount and composition of the slag phase in the pellets, the mechanism of the disintegration during reduction, the state of swelling of the pellets during the conditions prevailing in these processes, the importance of the porosity, the improvement of the reducibility and lowering of the sticking tendency of the pellets by small additions of suitable additives and the influence of the pellet size are discussed. A special test procedure for D.R. pellets has been elaborated by LKAB. Thus, three metallurgical properties are routinely determined separately, namely reducibility, reduction strength and sticking. The test methods are described. Finally the present and future LKAB pellets for direct reduction are presented with respect to chemical analyses and metallurgical properties.

Jan 1, 1978

By D. R. Nagaraj

Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy (SIMS) was used to study copper ion adsorption, and its effect on subsequent sulfide collector adsorption, on pyrite and pyroxene minerals under flotation related conditions. Copper was found to adsorb on both of these minerals and cause enhanced sulfide collector adsorption. The distribution and depth profile of copper and collector on these mineral surfaces were obtained by using SIMS in the imaging mode. The results of this study have provided a valuable insight to understanding pyrite and gangue flotation observed frequently in operating plants.

Jan 1, 1995

By Dongjie Zhang, Fengyu Ren, Xudong Li, Yanjun Zhou, Yang Liu, Rongxing He, Jianli Cao

Based on the limiting-equilibrium analysis of roof processive caving in hanging wall caving method and the critical medium column theory, a new model of subsidence prediction caused by sublevel caving mining method was proposed in this study, considering the drawing influence and the dynamic process of filling granular media. Meanwhile, the distribution rules for lateral pressure with different orebody dip were studied under drawing ore, and subsequently complemented the model. This model indicated that the surface subsidence scope decreased as the unit weight of crack rock and the orebody dip increased. In addition, the height of critical medium column showed a decreasing trend as cohesion of rock mass, the internal friction angle and the unit weight of rock mass. Also, the method of predicting the scope of surface subsidence in the Dabeishan Iron Mine was applied. The results showed that the relative errors are less than 9% and the prediction method could be used in practical application.

Feb 24, 2022

By S. E. Phillipson

Four massive pillar collapses in limestone mines, and one in a marble mine, occurred between 2011 and 2021 in benched areas at the Appalachian physiographic province. We characterized the rock mass at 43 limestone mines using the Geological Strength Index and, by plotting the results on a physiographic relief map, determined that GSI values between 55 and 70 preferentially occur in the Appalachian and Ouachita Mountains, which were subject to deformation during the Ouachita and Alleghanian Orogenies. Limestone mines located in formations of similar age in the Interior Plains, where deformation was less developed, are characterized by Geological Strength Index values over 80. We present the results of pillar strength calculations that incorporate the Geological Strength Index from mines that experienced massive collapse, as well as from mines with benched areas that did not collapse, to demonstrate the negative effect that a jointed rock mass has on pillar stability. We suggest that pillar designs, particularly those in which benching will be incorporated, should include allowance for rock mass quality. Because of the preferential dominance of lower GSI values in the Appalachians, we further suggest that pillar designs in this environment may require additional engineering assessment, especially where benching is intended. Lower GSI values may often translate into greater overbreak, which results in loss of pillar volume, corresponding wider back spans, and a decreased width-to-height ratio.

Jun 25, 2024

By A. Kepeski

Cement industry relies heavily on the control of large volume of raw materials in the proximity of plant operations for clinker and cement manufacturing. These mineral resources are perhaps considered as ?low-profile? (mostly comprise limestone's, clays, marls and sands), but their availability, accessibility and suitability ? the later with respect to chemistry, mineralogical and physical characters ? are factors of paramount importance and may largely affect production cost and plant productivity. The combination of scarcity of good quality raw materials deposits and the growing environmental concerns have challenged the cement producers towards sustainability and the responsible exploitation of natural resources. In open pit mining and quarrying, the evaluation of mineral resources vs. handling of the non-usable overburden and other off-spec materials directly affects the medium to long-term production planning, quality control practices and environmental management. It is a general trend for many cement producers and a usual case for a number of Titan Cement plants worldwide, that redesign of quarry pits is necessary not only for stability purposes but also as a result of environmental constraints and emerging issues. The material reserves then have to be re-evaluated in the light of the new final pit design, safety distances from houses, other infrastructure and Law restrictions and according to criteria of safety of operations, reduction of environmental impacts, pit optimisation and proper future reclamation. The paper discusses the case of three active quarries of Usje Cement Plant, in Skopje (Macedonia), namely Usje (marl), Goverlevo (lime-stone) and Ljubosh (sand), where a large campaign of redesign and evaluation of recoverable reserves and the needs in rehabilitation took place in 2004. Technical and environmental issues and criteria are presented in the form of master plans and the highlights of the first attempts to propose and apply a reclamation scheme are discussed, by also examining alternative solutions for each quarry area. Finally, the 2005 progress in applying changes to the design of benches and pit layout, as well as experiences gained, are discussed.

Jan 1, 2005

By P. S. Sundar

A laboratory method for the simulation of in-situ leaching of uranium was developed under contract to the Interior Department's Bureau of Mines. Simulation tests using sulfuric acid, ammonium bicarbonate and sodium carbonate as reagents and hydrogen peroxide as oxidant were carried out with representative ores from Texas and Wyoming. The tests not only yielded recovery rates of uranium and permeability changes, but also qualitative inferences on the chemical and physical phenomena which occur underground. Leaching with basic solutions was found to be kinetic constrained and with acid solutions, equilibrium constrained. The rapid permeability changes observed when leach solutions were introduced, were probably caused by gas blockages in the packing. Precipitation of calcite or gypsum and the reaction of clay to leach solutions had slow and gradual effect on the packing permeabilities.

Jan 1, 1978

By A. D. Kalogeropoulos, T. N. Michalakopoulos

This paper deals with the numerical simulation of rock cutting laboratory tests using the discrete element method. The main objective is to provide a method for calibrating numerical DEM models of rock cutting in a systematic way so that realistic results are yielded. The numerical models are developed with the discrete element code Yade, which models rocks as a collection of bonded spheres. The models are calibrated in a four-step process based on the design of experiments method and optimization. The calibrated models are evaluated both quantitatively and qualitatively against actual laboratory cutting tests, in terms of the ratio of the simulated mean cutting force to the actual one and the cutting force time series, respectively. The fully calibrated models showed that the simulated cutting process matched qualitatively the actual cutting force recordings and underestimated the mean cutting force by approximately 3%. It is concluded that well-calibrated numerical simulations of the rock cutting process can provide not only a better understanding of the process itself but also quantitative data regarding the cutting force and energy requirements.

Dec 28, 2022

By M. I. Brittan

A technique has been developed that analyzes routine mill operating data to determine the key operating parameters responsible for gold losses to tails. These parameters represent the prime operating variables having a dominant effect on gold recovery. The technique quantifies these effects for the specific plant being analyzed, providing a tool to optimize recovery and costs and so enhance the mine?s cash flow. The quantitative relationships generated will be different for each ore and plant: every case is site-specific and has to be treated on its merits. Examples are provided to illustrate the considerable metallurgical and financial benefits which can be realized from optimization. The examples are taken from case studies of mills in four major gold mining districts of the world.

Jan 1, 2010

By C. Webb, M. A. Tuck

This paper describes the application of a cable disc elevator to continuous lift ore vertically from underground mines. Application of this system requires the tensions developed within the cable must remain within the carrying capacity of the cable including applicable safety margins. A critical element occurs at starting the system when it is fully loaded which requires the force developed by the system to exceed the static friction forces. This paper describes the laboratory rig developed to investigate the static friction forces. Details of the results of tests on three different ores for both dry and wet conditions are given. These results are discussed.

Nov 19, 2020

By C. W. Baxter

Eveleth taconite company was formed in 1963 to mine and beneficiate taconite on the Mesabi range of Minnesota. Its thunderbird mine is located midway between the cities of Eveleth and Virginia, Minnesota, and the crude ore is transported by rail to its Fairlane plant approximately ten miles to the south of the mine, "figure 1". As is implied by the names of the mine and plant, the ford motor company is the principal owner of Eveleth taconite company, with an 85% interest, Oglebay Norton company holds the remaining 15% interest and also is the managing agent.

Jan 1, 1972

By R. J. Zagrocki

Rekindled public concern about lead toxicity has intensified the awareness of lead-bearing materials in contact with the environment and the human population. Lead's common association with other metals makes the increasingly restrictive lead standards a primary concern for a large number of metal and metal-related industries. In commercial scale demonstration tests with lead-bearing wastes, the HRD Flame Reactor process has a demonstrated ability to separate and recover over 95% of the lead as a recyclable oxide, while rendering the remainder of the material as vitrified, non-leaching, and nonhazardous co-product. Recent Flame Reactor process tests and preliminary cost data for secondary lead soda slag are highlighted.

Jan 1, 1992

By Alice S. Allen, James Paone

SURFACE SUBSIDENCE IN MINING The consequences of subsidence are becoming progressively more serious as the consumption of an ever- increasing quantity of minerals conflicts with the needs of an expanding population for surface land area. The inevitable result will be an increase in the amount of land area on which undermining is restricted because surface subsidence must be prevented. Designation of land areas that may be undermined, provided that subsidence is controlled and kept within specified limits, also will increase. The decisions as to which land is to be used for urban, agricultural, or other purposes clearly involve considerations that go far beyond the scope of mining technology. Under the authority assigned to the US Bureau of Mines (USBM) by the Organic Act (May 16, 1910) and its succeeding amendments and pursuant regulations (30 U.S.C. 1-1 1 ), the Bureau conducts scientific and technologic investigations concerning mining and its related problems. Subsidence-control demonstrations that have been conducted under this authority include projects in Wyoming, West Virginia, Illinois, and the Pennsylvania anthracite region. The problenls for technology arc to devise methods for extracting minerals with controlled subsidence in varying geologic settings and for calculating or predicting the amount, extent, and characteristics of the subsidence that accompanies the extraction of our principal minerals mined by high-tonnage methods so that logical choices can be made from the possible alternative approaches. Where underground minerals and fuels are mined and removed, the voids that are created underground generate strong imbalanced stresses in the surrounding and overlying rock strata. The resulting readjustments in the rock masses may cause subsidence of the ground surface. Subsidence implies vertical collapse, because the most conspicuous component of movement is downward. However, the downward component is accompanied by differential horizontal strains that may be more damaging to man-made surface structure.; than the more apparent vertical displacements. SUBSIDENCE CONTROL The most widespread method of alleviating potential subsidence problems in undermined areas has been to backfill mine voids with mine refuse or some other in- expensive material that provides lateral support to the remaining mine pillars and vertical support to the mine roof and overburden. Most USBM backfilling work has been conducted jointly with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources in the anthracite region of northeastern Pennsylvania. These joint projects were conducted under the authority of the Anthracite Mine Drainage Control Act of July 15, 1955 (Public Law 84-162, as amended), and the Appalachian Regional Development Act of 1965 (Public Law 89-4. as amended). In addition to the Appalachian and mine-drainage projects, the Bureau has either conducted or participated in demonstration projects to develop the "pumped- slurry" method of backfilling mine voids. Three of these projects were conducted in Rock Springs, WY. The first was a field test of the pumped-slurry technique, conducted in 1970 under the combined participation of the City of Rock Springs, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Dowell Div. of the Dow Chemical Co., and USBM (Candeub, Fleissig, 1971). The objective was to demonstrate that a large quantity of sand could be hydraulically injected under pressure through a single borehole, and that filling of the mine voids would be essentially complete. In the earlier "blind-flushing" methods, involving sluicing material through boreholes by gravity, quantities per injection hole ranged from 15 to 765 m3 (20 to 1000 cu yd), and the mine voids were only partially filled. In the first test of the pumped-slurry method, approximately 14 900 m (19,500 cu yd) of sand were injected success- fully through a single borehole. Subsequent information obtained through 43 monitoring boreholes indicated that mine voids below 11 330 m2 (2.8 acres) had been filled. As a result of the successful initial test of the pumped-slurry process, USBM conducted additional backfilling demonstration projects using the new technique. The first full-scale demonstration was carried out in the Green Ridge section of Scranton, PA, between 1972 and 1974. This project proved the feasibility of using the new hydraulic-injection technique to back- fill dry mine voids, as well as flooded voids, and it demonstrated that crushed anthracite refuse could be used as easily as sand in the process. Stabilization was pro- vided for about 202 300 m2 (50 acres) of Scranton, having a population of approximately 1000. Additional demonstration projects at Rock Springs, WY, between 1973 and 1975, resulted in the stabilization of about 364 200 m2 (90 acres). The work was necessary to preserve the physical and economic well- being of the city, because there have been numerous occurrences of subsidence during recent years. A demonstration project completed in 1976 in Rock Springs brought the total stabilized area in that city to 647 500 m2 (160 acres). At a cost of about $3,000,000, a population estimated at 7000 persons and property values exceeding $18,000,000 were protected. Presently. USBM is participating in subsidence- control projects involving backfilling in Pennsylvania, Illinois, and West Virginia. Eleven demonstration projects were in progress by USBM in 1977-eight in the Pennsylvania anthracite region and three in bituminous areas of West Virginia (one) and Illinois (two). The estimated total property value is over $100,500,000, and the total cost of the projects is expected to be nearly $20,000,000. The demonstration projects are designed to adapt the pumped-slurry technique to a variety of subsurface conditions, to increase efficiency, and to reduce costs.

Jan 1, 1982

By Allegra Yeley, Ted Klemetti, Gamal Rashed, Tim Miller, Nicole Evanek

In 2015, the Subtropolis Mine in Petersburg, OH, experienced a massive ground collapse that continues to grow over time. Horizontal stress effects have affected the roof at this operation in the past and may have played a large role in this collapse. Horizontal stress can impact the roof and floor stability and endanger the health and safety of underground stone miners. Mines experiencing damaging effects from horizontal stress typically find that the principal stress direction is the same throughout the mine and the region. At the Subtropolis Mine the principal horizontal stress direction appears to change as conditions change and differs from the regional horizontal stress, particularly near the collapse or other roof fall areas. The growth over time of this collapse and other roof falls have been captured and analyzed using geologic mapping, 3D LiDAR scanning, numerical modeling and geographic information systems like ArcGIS. Utilizing these tools to better understand sitespecific conditions can be critical to reducing the potential of massive ground collapses in the underground limestone industry.

Feb 1, 2024

By David J. Brown

Extensive deposits of bituminous, subbituminous, and lignite coals occur in the western United States (Figure 1). Over one trillion tons of identified resources have been located and inferred by geologists and more than 200 million tons of western coal are mined annually (1). In the future, production of western coals will increase significantly and approach national production levels of higher-rank eastern coals. Western coals will be utilized in new power plants as a replacement fuel for oil and gas and may be used in advanced technologies such as diesel engines or in direct-fired turbines. Since these applications require low-ash, low-sulfur coals, crushing to fine sizes and significant cleaning to remove minerals and sulfur will be required. Coal cleaning traditionally has been associated with reducing pyrite and other mineral matter from high-rank eastern coals. To date, insignificant quantities of western coals have been cleaned before utilization and limited data on their washability characteristics exist. Because of this lack of data, it is difficult to predict how these coals will react to standard washing techniques.

Jan 1, 1985