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By S. G. Sawyer

The Pittsburgh Safety and Health Technology Center (PSHTC) of the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) provides engineering and scientific support to the inspectorate personnel of MSHA. One of the Center's myriad roles is to assist in the investigation of mining accidents, especially those involving fatalities. Center personnel utilize forensics to help uncover the causes of accidents and to make technical recommendations on the prevention of future similar mishaps. To exemplify a typical forensic investigation, this paper documents the methodology used in determining the reasons for a boat sinking, which resulted in a double fatality on a mine company pond.

Jan 1, 1997

By R. J. McNally

THERE are three primary plant nutrients—nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium—expressed in any fertilizer compound as percent N, percent P 2 O 5, and percent K 2 O, in that order. This article will be concerned with the first two. The chief source of P 2 O 5 is phosphate rock. As found in the western states phosphate rock is essentially tricalcium phosphate-calcium fluoride (fluor-patite). As such, it is quite water insoluble.

Jan 1, 1957

By D. R. Jolley

"The selection of equipment for open-pit mining is an important decision which results in a considerable capital expenditure by the operator. The decision is complicated by the wide product range on the market. Certainly, equipment performance is an important criterion to consider in making the decision. Equally important, however, is the operating inter-relationship among the equipment. A poor balance increases production costs and waiting time as queues form at the bottlenecks. This inter-relationship is dependent on equipment performance, but it is also affected by management decisions (i.e. scheduling techniques).The purpose of this paper is to show how the computer is used to decide which equipment and operating decisions achieve the required production objectives at least cost. Actual mining of the pit is simulated over a period of time using different equipment and scheduling decisions. Production, waiting time and costs are evaluated for each alternative until the operator is satisfied that he has achieved the best result."

Jan 1, 1970

By Sravya Kosaraju, Christian Ekberg, Stefan Allard

Li-ion batteries are now used in electric vehicles (EVs), plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) and, hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs). Nanostructured Li(NiyMnzCo1-y-z)O2 is one of the more popular cathode chemistries for automotive Li-ion battery, due to its enhanced properties such as large surface area, short diffusion length, enhanced ionic and electronic conductivity, improved mechanical strength and structural integrity [Pan et al, 2013]. Recycling of Li-ion batteries helps to mitigate environmental effects of virgin metal extractions along with improper disposal of end of life batteries. To fulfill these objectives of the recycling, recovery of pure streams of the involved metals should be considered. In this study, the batteries were first discharged and dismantled in an inert atmosphere (Ar). The electrodes were then heat treated in a box furnace. This was done in order to break the chains of the adhesive (PVDF) and consequently separate the metallic substrates Cu and Al from the electrochemically active compound. This heat-treatment also helped to simplify the dissolution of the metal constituents in the electrochemically active compound from the cathode in the acid leaching process. Solvent extraction was chosen to achieve separation and recovery of metals with higher purity from these leachates. In the scope of the present work, a complete process from the point of dismantling to separation of constituent metals using solvent extraction was studied.

Jan 1, 2014

By Marcos Paulo Kohler Caldas

Após a sanção da RoHS Directive 2002/95/EC que entrou em vigor em 01/07/2006 proibindo a utilização de seis substâncias perigosas, sendo elas: chumbo, mercúrio, cádmio, cromo hexavalente, bifenilos polibromados e éteres difenil-polibromado fabricantes de equipamentos eletroeletrônicos tiveram que restringir os usos de tais substâncias. Com isto, as placas de circuito impresso dos equipamentos passaram a ser identificadas com a sigla RoHS ou outra identificação que indique o atendimento a diretiva. O presente trabalho visa analisar um lote de placas mãe de computadores obsoletos direcionados ao CEDIR-USP (Centro de Descarte e Reuso de Resíduos de Informática) no período de 01/01/2013 a 30/05/2013, identificando-as como “lead free” ou “comuns”, a fim de verificar a relação entre placas livres de substâncias perigosas e placas contendo tais substâncias. O lote possuía quantidade aproximada de 3.230 placas. Após a separação, as placas “lead free” foram classificadas por marca e nacionalidade. O resultado da pesquisa mostrou que mesmo após onze anos da edição da diretiva o percentual de placas livres de substâncias perigosas ainda é muito baixo. Cerca de 97,80% das placas de circuito impresso coletadas ainda possuem em sua composição substâncias perigosas. Verificou-se que todas as placas “lead free” encontradas são de origem chinesa e seus fabricantes são: Gigabayte, Itautec, Intel e CE. O estudo também classifica a origem dos resíduos como: industriais, da própria universidade ou residenciais.

Aug 8, 2018

By Rafaela Pereira Batista

O consumo de refratário na produção de aço é parte significativa no custo de produção. Por este motivo, é usual nas aciarias a oxigênio empregar os processos de slag splashing e slag coating, visando à formação de uma camada de escória sobre o refratário de MgO-C. Os dois procedimentos diferem, principalmente, pelo seu objetivo: o slag splashing visa a proteção do revestimento como um todo, enquanto o slag coating busca proteger principalmente o fundo do conversor e as ventaneiras do sopro combinado. Para a efetividade destes processos, é necessário adequar a escória para que a camada formada resista a temperatura e condições do processo, seja compatível quimicamente com o refratário e tenha boa aderência ao tijolo do forno. Este trabalho apresenta os resultados do desenvolvimento de um modelo matemático que orienta quanto a adição para o tratamento do revestimento refratário do conversor pela projeção de escória.

Oct 30, 2017

During underground mining, rock mass changes can occur as a function of the mining sequence and excavation processes. Mining-induced rock mass damage can occur due to redistribution of static stresses and the application of dynamic stresses from blasting and seismic activity. These rock mass changes can result in a degradation of strength of the bulk rock mass and the remaining rock surrounding existing excavations. Rock mass damage near existing excavations which lead to excavation-scale instabilities such as rock fall, excavation closure, or visible rock mass fracturing can detrimentally affect the safety and profitability of mining operations.The focus of the current work was the prediction and assessment of damage to mine infrastructure occurring in relation to the blasting of a sublevel open stope. The study case involved a 60kt stope located in a highly-competent rock mass at a large Australian sublevel open stoping mine. The mine infrastructure of interest for investigation included local stope access development, critical access and haulage development crossing a regional-scale fault, an explosives storage magazine and a ventilation return air raise. The methods used to predict or assess the blast-induced damage to each infrastructure element in response to stope extraction were:- intact rock strength testing,- discontinuity mapping,- linear-elastic static stress modelling,- blast-damage mapping,- near-field blast vibration monitoring and analysis,- geophysical assessment using inferred stiffness and wave velocity methods, and- post-extraction void assessment.The results of the detailed blast damage prediction and assessment program at the mine site have been discussed by the primary author elsewhere (Fleetwood, 2010). The current work will address blast-induced damage to mine infrastructure as a result of extraneous blasting vibrations from stope production blasting. A method for predicting the amplification of excavation surface motions from reflecting body waves will be discussed as well as the results of damage mapping around the study stope. The results of the damage mapping program identified blast-induced damage that occurred to the surface of the explosives storage magazine and local stope access development. No damage was observed at the main fault crossing or return air raise where higher vibration amplitudes were measured or predicted.

Dec 6, 2010

By M. Holmes, R. Molnar, E. Norton, K. Baxter, J. Riordan

The Boleo Copper-Cobalt-Zinc-Manganese Project of Baja Mining Corp. is situated adjacent to Santa Rosalia on the Baja Peninsula of Mexico. The El Boleo ore is a mixed oxide-sulfide deposit with major values in copper, cobalt, zinc and manganese. The metallurgical process designed to treat the El Boleo orebody involves a sulfuric acid leach in seawater using oxidative and then reductive leaching to maximize metal extraction. The leach solution is separated from the barren solids via counter current washing through a series of high rate thickeners. Copper is recovered using conventional SX-EW processing as cathode. Zinc and cobalt are extracted from the copper SX raffinate after iron and aluminum precipitation. The CSIRO DSX solvent system (Versatic® 10 and LIX® 63 mixture) are used in this extraction. Manganese remains in the DSX raffinate and is recovered by soda ash addition as a high quality manganese carbonate precipitate. Zinc and cobalt are acid stripped from the loaded DSX solvent. Zinc is then re-extracted away from cobalt using Cyanex® 272 extractant and stripped into a highly concentrated strip liquor (+100 g/L Zn) and directed to either a spray dryer or a granulator for production of zinc sulfate monohydrate. The zinc solvent extraction raffinate, containing cobalt, advances to another SX circuit using Cyanex® 272, for the recovery of cobalt as cobalt cathode. In this paper, the detailed results from bench and integrated pilot plant testing for zinc recovery from the El Boleo ore will be described. The results of this testing are currently being used to engineer the commercial plant at El Boleo.

Jan 1, 2008

By Lawrence Devon Smith

The selection of the production rate is one of the most crucial decisions to be made in the development of a mineral property. However, it is not uncommon for the production rate to be decided arbitrarily, before any technical evaluations begin, and it is often not reconsidered when better data becomes available. A number of methods are used in the mineral industry to select the production rate for a project. There is general agreement that the size of the ore reserve has a strong influence on this decision, but what other factors are involved? Is there a way to identify an optimum rate? This paper examines the factors that influence the selection of a production rate from the perspective of project economics. The NPV maximum value should be viewed as a “failure” point. The “two times capital” maximum is proposed as a lower limit. A practical check is suggested to confirm that a selected rate is in an optimum range. Production rate assumptions are much more likely to be reviewed for marginal projects, but they should also be reviewed for viable projects.

Jan 1, 1997

By Rex C. Bryan

An accurate and dependable ore reserve estimate is important to any mining company. It is also essential for development drilling and production planning to know about the distribution of the ore within the area to be mined. This paper will show that in the case of more variable deposits such as uranium, the use of geostatistics is superior to conventional techniques. Unlike conventional methods, geostatistics includes the importance of spatial orientation of measured variables. With the use of variograms in conjunction with kriging, a point or a block may be estimated along with its error of estimation. The existence of disequilibrium can create a severe problem in uranium 'ore reserve estimation, and mine and production planning. Disequilibrium can be simply defined as the ratio of chemical or assay values to gamma equivalent values calculated from the downhole geophysical gamma-ray logs. Various methods for adjusting for disequilibrium have been proposed. Most, however, have side stepped the consideration of disequilibrium itself being a regionalized phenomena; or its, relation to surrounding geology. This paper presents methods of incorporating both aspects. The East Dilts Pit at the Bear Creek Uranium Mine in Wyoming, has been used as a case study. Polygonal, triangular, and lognormal kriging and various disequilibrium adjusted methods, including multi-factor cokriging have been com- pared with the mining experience.

Jan 1, 1982

By Enrico Tosolini

O controle da massa linear dos arames CA60 vem sendo tratado com máxima prioridade, devido ao constante esforço da indústria nacional de reduzir os custos e melhorar a eficiência de produção. O trabalho é um estudo teórico dos fatores físicos que influenciam na variação da massa linear. Para desenvolver a análise, o problema foi simplificado para reconduzi-lo a um problema linear de fácil análise e com parâmetros intuitivos para fácil aplicação dos conceitos nos problemas diários da produção.

Aug 16, 2017

Most compact bucket wheel excavators in use are in the small to medium range. Large compact bucket wheel excavators compete directly with con- ventional longer boom excavators which have operational advantages over the large compact. There are, however, situations where the large com- pact excavator is viable. In the development of these large compacts there are a number of technical features to be addressed. In addition the SECV now propose to expand the concept to a large compact bucket wheel excavator with a bridge and loading unit for their Loy Yang Open Cut.

Jan 1, 1989

By E. Isokangas

A mine is essentially a series of operations, including drilling and blasting, crushing, milling, flotation, and leaching, that are interconnected and therefore interrelated, with the performance of one operation affecting the performance of another. Optimizing each stage separately without considering the whole system often causes potential economic benefits and energy savings to be missed. However, the PIO methodology is a thorough approach which considers these individual process activities within the context of the whole process. The basic principle is to optimize the process as a whole, rather than each process step in isolation from the others. Metso?s Process Technology and Innovation (PTI) group offers a global consulting service for the mining and construction industries. A significant amount of this consulting work involves process integration and optimization (PIO) studies. When conducting a PIO study, every aspect of the process is considered. In addition to drilling and blasting, transportation, handling and storage, crushing, screening, grinding, flotation, separation, and recovery, other aspects including equipment utilization and energy consumption and even greenhouse gas emissions are also included if necessary. In a PIO project, it is very important to understand what type of material is being processed at any point in time. That is, which domain or domains is the material part of? This is necessary in order to observe the effect of different ore sources (and the blending of sources) on concentrator performance. Linking the ore from the pit to the concentrator required the development of an ore tracking system. As a result, PTI developed a radio-frequency based material tracking system called SmartTag?. This system allows tracking of ore from its source through blasting, run-of-mine (ROM) pads, crushers, intermediate stockpiles, and finally into the concentrator. Using the SmartTag? system, definitive correlations can be made between the performance of the plant and the plant feed characteristics, including the domain from which the feed ore originated. Since its commercialization in 2007, SmartTag? has been used in the majority of PTI?s consulting projects and several permanent systems have been installed worldwide1. Successful applications of the SmartTag? system have encouraged development to allow the system to be used in a wider variety of plants, in particular plants with finer crushing and screening stages. This paper describes how the SmartTag? system is being utilized by PTI and the benefits being gained by its use in PIO projects, as well as presenting some case studies.

Jan 1, 2012

By O. C. Blade

This report on the properties of motor fuels sold through service stations in the United States was made in accordance with a cooperative agreement between the American Petroleum Institute and the Bureau of Mines of the United States Department of the Interior. This paper is a continuation of a series made in cooperation with the Coordinating Fuel Research (CPR) Committee of the Coordinating Research Council (CRC), Inc. The first of this series of reports presented data on motor gasolines sold during the winter of 1935-36, and succeeding reports described motor gasolines sold during the summers and winters to and including the summer of 1941. No reports were made on motor gasolines sold during the winter of 1941-42 and during the summer of 1942. However, starting with the winter of 1942-43, the semiannual reports were resumed.

Jan 1, 1949

By Constantin D. Pitis

?Demand-side measure" means a rate, measure, action or program undertaken to conserve energy or promote energy efficiency?? (BCUC, 1996) In actual economical environment, business sustainability requires high-efficiency technological processes. That is why the efficiency concept has to be present at all levels of industrial activities. Nowadays, some purchasing decisions are still driven predominately by the purchase price, in spite of the evidence that such price represents up to 5 % to 7 % of the total costs of ownership with full consequences of energy efficiency and the impact on total ownership costs. The paper presents essentials of converter types and basics of the Global Efficiency (GEff) Concept that has been promoted over the last few years in South African industries (Pitis et al., 2006/7). GEff concept is proven as a useful tool used on price-efficiency decisions. Theoretical and technical aspects of this concept were substantiated with case studies. First part presented in this paper will describe how GEff concept was used on price ? efficiency decisions when single input or direct converters and systems (considered as low value equipments) have been replaced. Besides the impact of energy savings and new innovative developments, the paper suggests general other benefits of: ? Technical and economical performance improvements and competitiveness of mining corporations to international standards; ? Defusing incipient energy crisis in the sector; ? Improving environmental conditions; ? Creating new job opportunities in mining sector. Proposed concept in this paper could be further developed as models of improving companies? corporate energy policies.

May 1, 2010

The Committee on Technical Nomenclature, of which John T. Faig, Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Cincinnati, is Chairman, appointed by the Society for the Promotion of Engineering Education, has recently issued a report advocating uniformity in the use of symbols to designate engineering and mathematical terms: The selection of the symbols was based upon a canvas of a considerable number of engineers, editors of engineering papers, and professors of engineering throughout the United States. The list, as finally accepted by the Committee and recommended for universal adoption, is as follows: Concept Symbol I Concept Symbol Acceleration due to gravity 'g Length L Acceleration, linear a Mass m Area A Modulus of section Z Breadth b Modulus of elasticity, Young's... E Center of rotation 0 Moment of force M Coefficients and constants C, K Moment of inertia, polar J Deflection of beam y Moment of inertia, rectangular.. I Depth : d Quantity of liquid flowing Q Diameter D . Radius r Distance passed over s Radius of gyration k Distance of extreme fiber from Reactions R neutral aids C Revolutions per unit of time.... N Eccentricity of application of load e Stress, unit S Efficiency (hydr., mech., vol.)...er,.em, e9 Time t Force F Torque T Friction, coefficient of f Velocity, angular :. W Head H 'Velocity, linear V Height h Volume V Horsepower : Hp Weight W Hydraulic radius Re Previous lists of symbols have not secured wide acceptance in, this country; some that have been proposed by prominent writers are familiar to very few engineers. The above list is presented in the hope that it will assist in the evolution of a standard list. It is short; it contains no Greek letters; it is mnemonic to a considerable degree, though not by

Jan 1, 1918

By R. G. Aspden

The cold rolling and annealing textures were studied for 3 pct Si-Fe grains initially (001) [hkl]. A concentration of (001) [loo] primaries were observed only in the annealing textures of crystals initially having [loo] within 8 deg of the rolling direction. Eke annealing textures of the (001) [I101 cold rolling textures were sensitive to the initial orientation of the grains. Single crystal data were used to explain the formation of (001) [loo] in poly-crystalline malerial. CUBE texture formation in 3 pet Si-Fe sheet occurs during the final high temperature anneal. Its formation is dependent on the proper distribution of (001) plane primaries with reference to the rolling direction&apos; and on the growth of these primaries by secondary recrystallization. The selective driving force for these primaries with (001) within 7 deg of rolling plane is derived from the difference in surface energy between the annealing atmosphere and the crystallographic planes exposed at the surface of the sheet.&apos;-= The alignment of [loo] directions of (001) secondaries with the rolling direction is required for optimum magnetic characteristics7 and is dependent on processing.&apos; A high degree of alignment has been observed when the final cold rolled texture has a strong (111) [ll2] type component3 and the normal grain growth texture prior to secondary recrystallization has components with a [loo] parallel to the rolling direction and planes from (001) to (110) parallel to the rolling plane.1,3,8,9 Generally, this (001) component is much weaker than the (110) component. The growth rate of (001) plane primaries to secondaries has been found to be independent of the orientation of the primaries with reference to the rolling direction, i.e., the secondaries have the same degree of alignment of [loo] directions with the rolling direction as the (001) primaries.&apos; Hence, the rolling and annealing textures of individual grains or single crystals are of interest in understanding the development of the (001) [loo] secondary recrystallization texture. (001) components have been observed in the annealing textures of cold rolled grains initially having a [loo] parallel to the rolling direction and an (001) rotated up to 30 deg from the rolling plane. Crystals initially near the (001) [loo] orientation when rolled under the influence of constraints imposed by neighboring grains form deformation bands and ro- tate in both directions toward (001) <110>.10,11 Deformation bands have been reported also for crystals initially with an (001) within 1 deg of the rolling plane and a [loo] within 1 deg of the rolling direction when rolled as a free single crystal.12 These crystals have weak recrystallization textures and contain near an (001) [loo] component.10-12 When near (001) [loo] crystals are rolled as free single crystals no deformation bands form and the crystals rotate by a single rotation toward (001) [110]. Recrystallization after a 70 pct cold reduction yielded near an (001) [loo] component13 and after a 90 pct cold reduction an (001) [I201 component." Crystals initially near (210) [001] had a texture after a reduction of 70 and 84 pct which was similar to the (111) [li2] but rotated 10 to 15 deg in the transverse direction. These crystals recrystallize to (210) [OOl] or (410) [001] and contain an (001) [loo] component.10,13 An (001) component has not been detected in the normal grain growth textures of other single crystals. Crystals initially having orientations between (110) [001] and (111) [ll2] have a cold rolled texture of principally (111) [ll2] .10>16 Other crystals with a [I101 parallel to the cross direction rotate to (111) [112] and/or (001) [110] stable end orientations. Crystals initially having from (001) [110] to (111) [lie] retain this orientation after cold rolling.15 The cold rolled textures having [I101 directions parallel to the rolling direction had components in the annealing textures related to the deformation textures by 25 to 30 deg rotations about common (1 10) poles. Cold rolled textures of the (111) (112) type recrys-tallized to (120) [001] or (110) [00l]. The purpose of the present work was to further the understanding of the alignment of [loo] directions of (001) secondaries with the rolling direction. The cold rolling and annealing textures of grains initially (001) [hkl] were studied. These data were applied to the formation of (001) [loo] by secondary recrystallization. PROCEDURES AND EXPERIMENTAL TECHNIQUES The (001) poles near the sheet normal and rolling direction are given in Fig. 1 for the 10 grains studied. Each of these grains was located in the center of a polycrystalline specimen approximately 25 mm wide and 50 mm long. The lower case lettered grains, a through dl were about 1.2 mm in diam and near the (001) [loo] orientation. Specimens containing these grains were from a commercial 3 pct Si-Fe alloy with the principle orientation of (110) [001] as obtained by impurity inhibition of growth with manganese sulfide inclusions.17,18 Upper case lettered grains, A through F, were about 6 mm in diam and had (001) planes near the rolling plane and [hkl] di-

Jan 1, 1963

By Pedro A. Netto, Giulio R. Altoé, Sergio N. Monteiro, Ygor M. Moraes, Frederico M. Margem, Gabriel O. Glória

Since environmental issues are becoming more and more important Worldwide. Nowadays, Natural fibers are been used to substitute the synthetic ones. Although PALF fiber is an important natural fiber and its mechanical Properties surpass in various aspects some other lignocelluloses fibers, such few studies have been conducted with the fiber obtained from leaf of PALF plant. In order to better evaluate the mechanical properties and possible applications, this paper aims to improve the elastic modulus of the PALF fiber by Weibull statistics, by evaluating their mechanicals properties and possible applications. The fibers were divided in diameter intervals and the tensile strength and elasticity modulus were measured in each range. The fractured surface was examined using scanning electron microscopy. The results, interpreted by the Weibull statistical method, showed a correlation between the fiber elastic modulus and its diameter.

Jan 1, 2015

By M. P. Sinha, Rashmi, Tata Steel Ltd., S. Jaiswal, A. Bhatnagar, P. Garg

Reagents form a crucial part of flotation process as they have the power to control the surface properties of minerals. In case of coal flotation, collectors and frothers are two the important and commonly used reagents. But other types of reagents such as promoters, modifiers and depressants are also finding wide applications because of their availability to improve selectivity and increase recovery. Because of these chemicals the scenario has changed from flotation being used mostly for high rank hydrophobic coals to low rank, oxidised or inferior coals. In the present work a case is presented in which two non-ionic surfactants (abbreviated as A & B) known to act as emulsifier have been studied to get a better flotation performance for a preparation plant with varying feed characteristics. Laboratory flotation tests were conducted with both the surfactants using three feed samples of the plant by varying the dosage at three different levels. The highest combustible matter recovery (more than 80%) was obtained for surfactant B at a dosage of 75 ppm (parts per million) for feed 1. But at the same dosage the recovery decreased by 21% and 10.2 % respectively for feed 2 and 3. On the other hand surfactant A showed a consistent result for all the three feed samples giving the highest value at a dosage of 50 ppm followed by a decrease beyond this point. The tests were complemented by contact angle measurements that demonstrated the same trend. In addition to this the reproducibility of data for Surfactant A was checked and found that the standard deviations for both separation efficiency and combustible matter recovery were within the permissible range (less than 5%). Finally an in-plant process optimization study to evaluate the performance and applicability of surfactant A at industrial level was done and has been discussed.

Jan 1, 2016

By Hal J. Kelly

A picture of the ceramic industrial potential of the Pacific Northwest States is presented by reviewing the present ceramic industries, raw-material resources, and current market demands. A resume is given of the industrial plants manufacturing ceramic ware as well as available information on raw-material resources. No attempt was made to prospect for new deposits but rather to evaluate, insofar as possible, those already known. Since much of the industry is concentrated on the Pacific coast, most of the information available on resources concerns deposits in that area. Large, undeveloped districts in Montana and Idaho, however, offer promise of larger reserves of ceramic raw materials. Average annual production, some operating costs, and annual power consumption are given for each of the plants. Production and some cost figures are listed to show the limited nature of the present industry and to suggest fields open for new development.

Jan 1, 1956