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By S. P. Sandoval

In 2002 the Freeport-McMoRan Technology Center undertook research to develop a lower-cost alternative to guar for cathode smoothing in copper electrowinning. The work was conducted at the Technology Center?s SXEW Test Facility located in Morenci, Arizona. Bench-scale copper electrowinning cells were designed and implemented to screen a number of potential polymers for cathode smoothing. These included modified polysaccharide polymers that were nonionic, cationic, and anionic in nature.

Jan 1, 2010

By J. H. Dietz

The electric assist option for diesel-electric trucks can improve truck productivity while maintaining the inherent flexibility of a truck and shovel operation. In addition, the resulting cost reductions offer a rapid investment payback for many mine situations. A review of the present technology and performance experiences verify the projected benefits in productivity and operating cost. New technologies can further improve the productivity/cost scenario.

Jan 1, 1984

By W. Jacobi

INTRODUCTION The radon problem concerns the radiation exposure from inhaled short-lived radon daughters and the associated risk for the induction or promotion of lung cancer. In several groups of miners which were exposed in the past to relative high radon levels during their underground work, an excess lung cancer frequency has been observed. On the basis of these findings it has to be stated that the inhalation of radon daughters is the most important radiation hazard in mining. Involved in this radon problem in mines are the difficulties to measure the individual radon daughter exposure of miners and to estimate the dose to critical cells and target tissues in the lung from inhaled radon daughters. And finally the reduction of radon levels in mines confronts us with special technical problems which are difficult to solve. Thus the setting of annual limits for the radon daughter exposure of miners alone is not sufficient to guarantee an appropriate standard of radiation safety. Of same importance are the improvement of air monitoring and the optimization of technical protection measures in mines. This has to be kept in mind for the following considerations on exposure limits. The ICRP has recommended in 1959 for the first time a maximum permissible concentration (MPC) for the occupational exposure to radon and its short-lived daughters (ICRP, 1959). This MPC in air was derived from a maximum permissible dose equivalent of 0.15 Sv (15 rem) per year to the epithelium of the large bronchi which was regarded as the "critical tissue". This old MPC-value was derived using a simplified lung model which paid main attention to the dose contribution from the inhalation of unattached 218Po(RaA) atoms. Since this time more realistic dosimetric models for radon daughters have been developed; some of these models will be presented in special papers on this conference. Furthermore in the last 10 - 20 years substantial epidemiological information on the lung cancer risk among several groups of Rn-exposed miners has become available. Taking into account these epidemiological and new dosimetric findings the ICRP has adopted in March this year new recommendations on occupational limits for inhalation of 222Rn, 22ORn and theirshort-lived daughters. This report will be published this year as ICRP Publication 32 (ICRP 1981). The recommended limits for radon daughters were derived from the basic dose and risk limits as they were proposed by ICRP in its new basic recommendations (ICRP Publ. 26, 1977). In the following this basic system of dose limitation is shortly outlined before the special recommendations for radon daughters are described. [BASIC CONCEPTS AND LIMITS] The new basic recommendation of ICRP (Publ. 26, 1977) proceed from the assumption that in the dose range which is relevant for radiation protection, the risk RT of so-called stochastic radiation effects (carcinogenic and genetic effects) in a target tissue T increases proportionally with the mean dose equivalent HT in this tissue: RT = aT HT. If several target tissues are irradiated the total individual (stochastic) risk is given by the sum of risks in these tissues: [R = ?TRT = ? T aT HT]. Thus this concept of individual health detriment takes into account the risk contribution from each relevant tissue. It replaces the old concept of the critical tissue, which neglected the exposure of other tissues. Applying this new concept a dose quantity can be defined which is proportional to the total individual radiation risk from stochastic effects. This so-called "effective dose equivalent (HE)" is given by the sum of the weighted dose equivalents in the relevant tissues: [HE = E wT HT with E wT = 1 T '1] The weighting factor wT of each tissues follows to wT = aT/awB, where awB is the total stochastic risk coefficient for a uniform irradiation of the whole body. For the lung as a single organ comprising several target tissues, the ICRP recommends a total weighting factor w = 0.12 (ICRP 1977/79). This concept of risk or detriment, respectively, has important consequences. To meet the objectives of radiation protection the new ICRP-system of dose limitation is based on the following three principles: 1) The justification of practices involving radiation exposures; no pratice shall be adopted unless it produces a net benefit. 2) The ALARA-principle that all exposures shall be kept as low as reasonably achievable; this requires the optimization of the level of protection. 3) The limitation of individual exposure (annual dose limits). It is important to note that the dose limits for individuals are only one part of this system of dose limitation. Furthermore, these limits cannot be regarded as a boundary between safe and unsafe. They have to be interpreted as the lower boundary of an unacceptable exposure region. This means that in addition to the observance of these basic dose limits it is demanded to optimize the level of protection. Consequently the optimized exposure levels or the corresponding operational limits will be normally lower than

Jan 1, 1981

By K. C. Liddell

Chemical processing research made notable advances during 1986. This overview is necessarily brief. It is intended, though, to give the flavor of selected areas where recent activity has been high. At the 1986 Annual Meeting of The Metallurgical Society, a symposium was held on hydrometallurgical reactor design and kinetics. R. G. Bautista, R. J. Wesely, and G. W. Warren edited the resultant proceedings volume. This is the first available volume on this subject. It includes 26 papers on fundamental kinetic studies, modeling of reaction kinetics and reactor performance, and pilot and production-scale operations. Metals discussed include silver, gold, platinum, titanium, cobalt, nickel, zinc, copper, manganese, and iron. Agitated tanks, heaps, dumps, pachucas, pressure auto-claves, electrolytic reactors, liquid membranes, and fluidized beds are among the reactor types covered. An international symposium dealt with iron control in hydrometallurgy. It was sponsored by the Metallurgical Society of CIM, the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy, The Metallurgical Society of AIME, and Gesellschaft Deutscher Metallhutten and Bergleute. J. E. Dutrizac and A. J. Monhemius edited a proceedings volume containing 41 papers. These covered many areas of process chemistry, solvent extraction, precipitation, treatment of pickle liquors, impurities, residues and the environment, and process selection. Precious metals Concerning precious metals processing, the US Bureau of Mines IC 9059 is noteworthy. It includes papers presented at a USBM briefing at the Western Mining Conference in Denver. Topics covered included ion exchange, staged heap-leaching direct-electrowinning, and mercury precipitation during cyanide leaching of gold ores. Also dealt with were carbonaceous gold ores, carbon adsorption and desorption, heap leaching, the carbon-in-pulp process, and precious metals recovery from electronic scrap and solder. R. C. Sandberg and J. L. Huiatt (Journal of Metals, June 1986, and USBM RI 9022) developed a method to recover silver, gold, and lead from a complex sulfide using ferric chloride, thiourea, and brine-leach solutions. Gallium Gallium recovery was also a subject of considerable interest. Much information on this topic is proprietary. But two papers described solvent extraction of gallium. V. P. Judin and R. G. Bautista (Metallurgical Transactions B, 1986) developed an equilibrium model to separate gallium chloride from aluminum chloride. Tributyl phosphate was the extractant studied. T. Sato and H. Oishi (Hydrometallurgy, 16, 1986) investigated gallium extraction from sodium hydroxide by using Kelex 100. Data were given on the equilibrium distribution and the extraction kinetics. Galena Interest continues in recovering lead by hydrometallurgical processing of galena. J. E. Dutrizac; S. H. Kim, H. Henein, and G. W. Warren; and M. C. Fuerstenau et al. (Metallurgical Transactions B, 1986) all investigated leaching of PbS by ferric chloride. Dutrizac reported parabolic kinetics and reaction control by outward diffusion of lead through a porous layer of elemental sulfur. Kim, Henein, and Warren, however, reported that two leaching reactions occur. A nonoxidative reaction produces H2S and there is an oxidative leaching by ferric ion. Acid dissolution was found to predominate when the acid activity to ferric activity ratio is high. Surface chemical reaction was reported to be controlling. Fuerstenau et al. also reported that mass transfer through the sulfur layer is rate determining. But they believe that the species transferred are chloro complexes of ferric ion. In other work on lead, A. Y. Lee, A. M. Wethington, and E. R. Cole, Jr. of the USBM described an environmentally acceptable hydrometallurgical alternative to the smelting of lead concentrates (RI 9055). Uranium In spite of depressed prices, much work has been reported on uranium processing. R. G. L. McCready, D. Wadden, and A. March-bank (Hydrometallurgy 17, 1986) described the nutrient needs for in-place leaching by T. ferrooxidans. They reported the optimal conditions for uranium solubilization. L. E. Eary, H. L. Barnes, and L. M. Cathles (Metallurgical Transactions B, 1986) carried out an experimental and modeling study of uraninite dissolution. They concluded that ferric ion preferentially leaches uraninite in pyritic ores. Hydrogen peroxide was found to be less selective. A. Vuorinen, P. Hiltunen, and O. H. Tuovinen (Hydrometallurgy 15, 1986) studied redox and precipitation reactions of iron and uranium in leach liquors. P. T. Chiang (Hydrometallurgy 17, 1986) reported on the effect of uranium loading in the DEPA-TOPO process to separate uranium and iron from wet-process phosphoric acid. F. J. Hurst (Hydrometallurgy 16, 1986) conducted a fundamental study of the separation of uranium from phosphoric acid by DEPA and TOPO. D. E. Chia and W. C. Cooper (Hydrometallurgy 16, 1986) reported on bench and pilot scale work to recover uranium by the HIMIX process. They reported that the acid consumption to produce an eluate suitable for yellowcake

Jan 5, 1987

By S. S. Hsieh

Bench-scale beneficiation studies were made on Idaho dolomitic phosphate rock using the TVA carbonate flotation process. The process employed diphosphonic acid as a phosphate mineral depressant and fatty acid as a carbonate mineral collector. Silica was subsequently rejected as float using an amine collector, with phosphate product recovered as the sink fraction. Two samples of prepared flotation feed from commercial operation were used; one contained 21% P205 and 3.2% MgO, and the other contained 26% P205 and 1.8% MgO. The results indicate that concentrates containing 31-33% P205 and 1% or less MgO can be obtained, with P205 recovery of about 80%.

Jan 1, 1984

By C. S. Compton, T. E. Marshall, D. R. Dolinar, R. Grau, L. J. Prosser, A. T. Iannacchione, D. C. Oyler

Unrecognized roof beam failures resulted in 69% of the falls of ground injuries occurring in underground U.S. stone mines from 1990 to 1996. Field investigations at 45 underground stone mines suggest that excessive beam sag or deflection is the principal unstable roof behavior characteristics associated with miner injuries. Laminated roof structures, common in most underground stone mines, allow the immediate roof to separate into distinct beams. The timely determination of roof beam deflection could provide stone miners with advanced knowledge of potentially hazardous roof. Existing methods to assess roof conditions consist of observational and monitoring techniques. Observational techniques include open drillholes, sounding, wedging, and borescopes. Monitoring techniques include scratch tools, extensometers, telltales, Miners Helpers, and Guardian Angels1. Miners have difficulty utilizing these techniques because roof beams are located an average of 8 m(26.5 ft) above the miner’s head in environments that are dark, dusty and noisy and these deflections are measured in millimeters of movement. To help mitigate the potential for falls of ground injuries to underground stone miners, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has developed the Roof Monitoring Safety System (RMSS) to aid in monitoring dangerous levels of roof beam deflection. If enough site-specific information is collected and placed on highly visible maps, individual mining operations could establish general guidelines for responding to specific roofbeam deflection occurrences. This would help in implementing a pro-active, comprehensive roof control plan for reducing falls of ground injuries.

Jan 1, 1999

By G. D. Mainwaring, Weng L. W, Lam Y. K.

The first power transmission cable tunnel in Singapore was the 2.6km long undersea tunnel between Pulau Seraya and mainland Singapore, constructed in the1980s. Ten years later, similar concepts were used for the Tuas Cable Tunnel. The tunnel, which includes a 2.2km long immersed tube section, was designed to accommodate 10power circuits of 400kV and 230kV capacity. It is fully equipped with sophisticated control and communication equipment, fire suppressant and life safety systems plus a maintenance vehicle which runs on tracks through the length of the tunnel. The paper discusses the planning, design, and construction of the Tuas tunnel, and the development of these concepts for future tunnels.

Jan 1, 2001

By R. L. Grayson

Based on the relationships between severity measure vs. productivity and other factors, this paper presents a comprehensive analysis of US underground coal mine injuries in 1996 by mine size. From the 1996 data, it was concluded that, generally, the larger the mine, the more productive it is (in tons per employee-hour) but the more severe is its injury experience (r = 0.65). However, within very large, large and medium mines, the more productive the mine, the less severe is its injury experience (r = -0.43, - 0.36 and -0.26, respectively). For small and very small mines, a deeply nested analysis would be required to understand relationships. Other interesting relationships and comparisons are presented.

Jan 1, 2002

By G. Bryant, P. Ziemkiewicz

Acid mine drainage (AMD) from both abandoned surface and underground mines is a serious problem. The flow of water and changes in quality over time from abandoned mines is important in determining remediation strategies. Acid mine drainage from surface mines is estimated to last for 10-20 years, while estimates of acid drainage from underground mines vary from 10- 100s of years. Fifteen underground mine discharges in West Virginia were studied to compare water quality changes between 1968 and 1999 to see if our data are consistent with other studies. Each of the discharges were categorized into one of three groups: undisturbed since 1968, affected by surface mining since 1968, and reclaimed. Comparing water quality between 1968 and 1999, the discharges in the undisturbed category showed a 35 to 95% improvement in acid concentration and a 40 to 99% reduction in iron concentration. The discharges affected by surface mining showed the most dramatic improvement. For acidity, iron, and aluminum, the percent improvements were all above 44%, and in most cases in the 70 to 99% range. In the reclaimed category, one of the four discharges declined in water quality. Discharge 82 showed a 76% increase in acidity, and iron and aluminum concentrations worsened by 58 and 96%. However, discharges 15 and 74 improved in water quality with a 94% acid load improvement and a 95% iron load improvement at both sites.

Jan 1, 2000

By E. Cho

Illinois No. 6 coals of IBC 101 and IBC 112 were treated in solution with sodium hypochlorite to remove their sulfur contents, especially organic sulfur. The lab experiments were conducted in two steps of leaching at room temperature and hydrolysis at 90oC. The removal of organic sulfur from IBC 101 was by 37.8% while that from IBC 112 was only 13.7% under their respective optimum conditions. This large difference in organic sulfur removal is considered to be due to difference in concentration of surface total acid group, 3.14 vs. 0.88 mmol/g of coal.

Jan 1, 2007

By Y. H. Zhan

A new P(MAAA) latex was developed and used in separation of ultrafine apatite from calcite and silica by means of selective flocculation. The latex was found to flocculate selectively apatite from apatite/calcite and apatite/silica mixtures in the presence of sodium tripolyphosphate and sodium silicate over a pH range from 9.1 to 9.4. The separation of apatite from calcite was more selective with sodium tripolyphosphate, while the results of the separation of apatite from silica were better when sodium silicate was used. In the apatite/calcite system, 90% apatite recoveries into a concentrate containing 34% P2O5 were possible in the presence of 4 mg/l of sodium tripolyphosphate at a latex dosage of 2.2 kg/t. In the apatite/silica system, 80% of apatite could be recovered into a concentrate containing 33% P2O5 in the presence of 20 mg/l of sodium silicate at a latex dosage of 1.1 kg/t. Deposition tests were used to study the interaction between the latex and the mineral surfaces. The results revealed that deposition density of the latex on apatite was higher than on calcite; the differences between the deposition onto these two minerals were higher at pH 9.2 than at 7.2. The results point to the stronger interaction between the latex and apatite surface when compared with the latex-calcite interactions.

Jan 1, 1998

By Jaroslav Briancin, Katarína Gáborová, María Florencia Márquez-Zavalía, Marcela Achimovičová, Ol’ga Šestinová, Pavel Škácha

Naumannite (Ag,Se), a silver selenide mineral, was first discovered in 1828. This study investigates the structure, morphology, chemical composition, and leaching kinetics of naumannite. Mechanical activation in a planetary ball mill increased its specific surface area, enhancing the leaching rate of silver in nitric acid (HNO3). The study found that mechanical activation significantly improves silver recovery.

Jul 1, 2023

By A. Davis

Pit lake chemistry depends on the lithology and hydrologic characteristics of the ultimate pit surface, the availability of buffering capacity in the wall rock versus oxidizable sulfide content, and the alkalinity of recharging ground water. In this paper, we assess the geochemistry of 11 existing pit lakes, ranging from the acidic Red Hill and Berkeley pit lakes (pH 2.6 to 2.8) to the alkaline Yerington Pit lake (pH 8.45). Predicted pit lake chemistry is similar to that in existing pits with the long-term pit lake chemistry lying on a geochemical continuum between end members consisting of influent calcium bicarbonate ground water, and naturally occurring sulfate-rich evaporite playa lakes.

Jan 1, 1996

By T. C. Page

The Yarnell gold depoSit, located in the Weaver mining district of Yavapai County, Arizona is found within a structurally controlled, hydrothermally altered zone that occurs within a 1700 Ma granodioritic intrusive. Both potassic and sericitically altered rock that occur around and above the low-angle northeast striking Yarnell fault are known to host economic gold mineralization; a wider envelope of weakly-propylitic alterred rock also occurs in this area. During mineralization, strong sericitization accompanied several stages of quartz ± adularia veining, stockwork formation, and localized silicification and potassic replacement, in association with deposition of specularite, pyrite (now oxidized), and gold. The footwall of the fault is also sericitically altered but poorly mineralized. Mineralization along the Yarnell fault continues both northeast and southwest from the main deposit although the thickness of the zone and associated alteration envelope diminish away from the orebody. A sample of undeformed illite taken from the Yarnell fault zone was K/Ar dated at 69 ± 1.6 Ma; this date reflects a minimum age for both mineralization and latest movement on the fault. Gold mineralization is accompanied by modest increases in Ag, As, Cu, and Mo content. Both CO2-and H20-rich fluid inclusions were studied and suggest mesothermal pressures and temperatures of formation for the deposit.

Jan 1, 1992

By D. Bleazard

Barrick Goldstrike Mines, Inc. is actively involved in improving the reliability of mining and processing equipment through the use of failure analysis and condition monitoring activities. Program results include an increase in equipment capacity and an overall reduction in operating costs. The identification of equipment failure modes and the development of associated capital asset management practices can minimize failure consequences. Successful programs have included; alterations to management practices, equipment modifications, and/or the implementation of condition monitoring programs. By controlling or minimizing the effects of incipient equipment failures, corrective actions can be taken earlier in the failure cycle, resulting in an associated reduction to repair costs and equipment down time.

Jan 1, 1997

By B. Yarar

The critical surface tension of wetting (?c) of Cu2S, FeS2, PbS, and MoS2 were determined by plotting flotation recovery versus YLV which was arranged by methanol, and Extra-polating to % R = 0. ?c values ranged from 26 dyne cm-1 for MoS2 to 49 dyne cm-1 for PbS and elemental sulfur gave a value of 31.5 dyne cm-1. Minerals exhibiting natural flotability of different extents, could be separated from their mixtures in the absence of conventional flotation reagents, but controlled ?LV. Correlations between non-stoichiometry and degree of natural hydrophobicity for MOS2 are also reported in this paper.

Jan 1, 1983

By Fred C. Bond

The perennial subject of comminution is deserving of a fresh approach if one can be found. This is attempted here by directing attention primarily to principles rather than to theories. While theories attempt to explain how a certain process acts, principles delineate the laws which the action-must follow. Comminution may be defined as the progressive separation of particulate matter. At the present time this is accomplished commercially by applying energy in the form of compressive and, shearing forces. Such forces strain and distort the particles they contact. When-the applied stress locally exceeds the breaking strength at the weakest flaw in the particle, a crack tip forms. The surrounding strain energy flows to the crack tip, which rapidly extends through the particle as a break. The minute changes in shape and the resulting energy flow cause the failure of other highly stressed flaws, with the consequent formation of a progeny (1) of new smaller particles out of its destroyed progenitor. The applied mechanical energy is transformed into strain energy as the particle is distorted, and then into heat when it fails. Only a tiny fraction of the order of 1/1000 of the applied energy necessary for breakage appears as new surface energy in the product particles. The comminution problem is the relationship between, energy input and product particle size. Its solution is of great-economic importance,

Jan 1, 1961

By Joaquin Ruiz

Naica consists of at least 10 mantos and 40 chimneys that have produced over 15 million tens of ore with 10% Zn, 13% Pb and 13 oz/ton Ag. The ore occurs in thick-bedded, folded Cretaceous limestone. Fractures and 26 Ma old felsite dikes with an initial strontium isotopic ratio of 0.708 localize the mineralization. The mantos follow the dikes and have abundant early skarn with manganohedenbergite, calcic garnet, idocrase, quartz, calcite, wollastonite, schellite and later sulfides. The chimneys arise from the mantos and change from silicate-rich to silicate-free sulfide limestone replacements. Carbon, oxygen and sulfur isotope data on carbonates, silicates, sulfides and sulfates are compatible with a single evolving (magmatic?) fluid.

Jan 1, 1985

By Harry E. Holzschuh

The two Agrico Chemical Company self unloading Phosphate Rock barges put into service in 1976 operate at over their design carrying capacity. Each barge now carries 26,000 short ton instead of the planned 25,000 short ton at 32 foot of draft. They are in service between Agrico's Tampa, Florida Terminal and the Donaldsonville, Louisiana Fertilizer Complex, moving a total of 2,500,000 short tons each year. This was the first use of the Parascrew design for a marine application. The barges, with their 3,000 STPH unloading and matching loading rate is the vital link in this total transportation and handling system. Rock is moved from the Pierce, Florida Mines through the Tampa Big Bend Terminal, across the Gulf of Mexico, and up the Mississippi to the Agrico Faustina Phosphoric Acid Plant 30 miles below Bacon Rouge, Louisiana. The trip from the terminal to the plant is 600 miles and the turnaround time is just about six days. Seven years operating experience has proved that the system works. Fittingly, the two barges are named the "Faustina" and the "Pierce". They have a beam of 85-feet and are 495 feet long. folded depth is 43 feet, with a ballasted light draft of 19 feet and a typical loaded draft of 32 feet. There are four separated holds with the machinery room located forward of 101 hold. Each hold is 51 feet wide at the coamings with an 18 foot straight section on the side, and a 24 foot long, 600 slope sheet for a 23 foot clear reclaim width at the bottom. The Parascrew in each of the holds is 37 feet long between the bearings and is supported on a 14 inch diameter hollow shaft. The screw pitch varies and the diameter of the flights step up from l'-9" diameter to 2'-6" diameter on the discharge end. By sloping the centerline, a minimum four inch bottom clearance is maintained across the hold. Some bending of the tube does take place.

Jan 1, 1983

By Dean Newman, Michael Behrens, Mark Trim, Justin Arifin

Road tunnels in recent infrastructure projects in Sydney, Australia, are designed to have a fire resistance level of either a 4-hour cellulosic fire or a 2-hour hydrocarbon fire. Where permanent ground support for tunnels consists of systematic rock bolts and relatively thin layer of shotcrete, it is important to ensure that during and after the fire event the ground support is designed/predicted not to pose risks to the tunnel occupant. The global behavior of the ground support can be predicted using finite element analysis, and its resistance is derived with consideration of the material strength degradation due to the elevated temperature.

Dec 1, 2022