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By Walter K. Utt

The process of drilling and bolting the roof is currently one of the most dangerous jobs in underground mining, resulting in about 1,000 accidents with injuries each year in the United States. To increase the safety of underground miners, researchers froth the Spokane Research Laboratory of- the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health are applying neural network technology to rite classification of mine roof strata in terms of relative strength. In this project, the feasibility of using a monitoring system on a roof drill to assess the integrity of a mine roof and warn a roof drill operator when a weak layer is encountered is being studied. Using measurements taken while a layer is being drilled, one can convert the data to suitably scaled features and classify the strength of the layer with a neural network. The feasibility of using a drill monitoring system to estimate the strength of successive layers of rock was demonstrated in the laboratory.

By C. E. T. White

Although trace amounts of Indium are found in many ores, commercial production of the metal has come almost exclusively from residues, flue dusts and slags generated by Zinc recovery operations. Our paper attempts to summarize the various approaches used to recover Indium from these by-products. Some comments on production and price trends are included as well as our views on future availability.

Jan 1, 1982

By Louis J. Sousa

In November 1989, the U.S. Bureau of Mines sponsored a 2-day conference to stimulate thinking and discussion about changing materials technologies and implications for the Government's materials information programs. On the first day of the conference, speakers provided overviews of developments occurring in each of the major materials groups. Emerging technological developments, applications, economic and national defense significance, intermaterial competition, and potential market growth in advanced plastics, polymer composites, ceramics, metals, and electronic materials were described. In general, the speakers forecast advanced materials market growth rates in excess of overall gross national product (GNP) though high costs will tend to limit growth outside of aerospace, defense, electronics, medical equipment, and other typically high value-added businesses. On the second day, a wide range of speakers representing several facets of the materials community described how advances in materials technology are creating a need for new types of data, statistics, information, and analysis. Reflecting the speakers' broad range of organizational, professional, and personal perspectives, an array of information needs was identified. Most requirements, however, seemed to fall into one of five major categories: Federal materials research activities, material standards, market and economic information, health and safety, and public policy.

Jan 1, 1990

1. Domestic Production and Use: In 1979, 12 companies operated 32 primary aluminum reduction plants, with 3 firms accounting for 64% of production. Washington, Oregon and Montana accounted for 32% of the total production; Gulf Coast States 20%; other Northern States 32%; and other Southern States 16%. Based on published producer prices output of primary metal in 1979 was valued at over $6 billion. Aluminum consumption by 25,000 firms was centered in the East Central United States. Of aluminum consuming industries in 1979, building accounted for about 24%; packaging 23%; transportation 22%; electrical 11%; consumer durables 8%; and other uses, 12%.

Jan 1, 1980

1. Domestic Production and Use: In 1984, 12 companies operated 27 primary aluminum reduction plants, with 3 firms accounting for 57% of production. Washington, Oregon, and Montana accounted for 35% of the production; Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, and Tennessee 25%; Alabama, Arkansas, Texas, South Carolina, and North Carolina 20%; other States 20%. Based on published producer prices, output of primary metal in 1984 was valued at $7.2 billion. Aluminum consumption by 25,000 firms was centered in the east-central United States. Packaging accounted for an estimated 35% of domestic consumption in 1984, transportation, 20%; building, 18%; electrical, 9%; consumer durables, 8%; and other uses, 10%.

Jan 1, 1985

Five watersheds, ranging in size from 29 to 49 acres, were selected in East-Central Ohio to investigate the hydrologic and water quality conditions occurring before, during, and after surface mining. Four of the watersheds will undergo surface mining, involving either the Number 6, 9, 11, or 8 coal seams, and one watershed having an outcrop of the Number 6 coal will be operated as a control watershed. To determine the premining hydrologic and water quality conditions (Phase 1), physical information was obtained for each watershed and instrumentation was installed for obtaining hydrologic data and water quality samples. In addition to topographic maps, soils and vegetation maps were prepared. Stratigraphic columns were developed from geologic cores; networks of observation wells and of soil moisture access tubes were installed; and weather stations were established to measure temperature, humidity, wind and solar radiation, and to collect precipi¬tation samples. Field data were collected over a 10-month period for one watershed and for about 8 months on another watershed before surface mining began. The other watersheds continued in the premining data phase. These data were for precipitation, temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, solar radiation, snow and frozen soil, soil moisture, infiltration (rainfall simulator), spring discharge, runoff from watersheds, and ground-water levels. Also, samples of runoff and ground water were obtained for chemical analyses and additional samples of runoff were acquired for suspended sediment load determinations. Over the study period, precipitation was not very representative of the long term averages, but data are available from the control watershed for a representative 7 year period which should prove invaluable in modeling the hydrology of the project watersheds for the premined conditions. Spring discharges (before mining) from the upper aquifer of two of the watersheds averaged only 508 and 652 gallons daily. The proportion of precipitation occurring as surface runoff from the large watersheds ranged from 8 to 36 percent and the peak discharges from 5.86 to 81.95 cfs. Base-flow and runoff water samples from four of the watersheds (unmined conditions) were collected and analyzed quantitatively for 39 water quality parameters. Monthly precipitation samples sediment fractions of the base flow and runoff were analyzed for 22 and 17 parameters, respectively. The average concentrations of the water quality parameters for the watersheds (unmined), except for suspended solids, were as low or lower than the EPA recommended maximum allowable concentrations in drinking water. Several parameters in precipitation equaled or exceeded the levels of corresponding parameters in runoff water. The average concentration of suspended solids in storm runoff ranged from 118 to 1110 mg/l, and for base flow the range was from 44 to 247 mg/l; the higher concentrations were associated with the watersheds exhibiting the greatest disturbance. Iron ranged from an average of less than 3 µg/1 to 228 µg/1. Manganese ranged from less than 41 µg/1 to 334 µg/I. Ground-water systems (unmined condition) are described for the five project watersheds. Each watershed was found to have two major perched aquifers within the top 250 feet. Generally, these perched aquifers involve local flow systems, though flow across watershed boundaries in some areas. Recharge is mostly from local precipitation and discharge is mostly as spring flow, base flow, evapotranspiration, and leakage through the underlying confining bed. Shallow ground water was commonly of the calcium bicarbonate type. Although dissolved-solids concentration was generally 200 to 600 mg/1, brackish or salty ground water was present in several areas. A composite hydrologic model for the project watersheds will consist of separate ground-water, unsaturated flow, overland flow, and evapotranspiration component models. The ground-water model (a modified quasi-three--dimensional U. S. Geological Survey model) operates on a grid network and the newly formulated unsaturated flow model was divided into overlying prismatic elements for numerical solutions. The unsaturated flow model includes provision for incorporating the evapotranspiration model. An available distributed kinemetic overland flow model was utilized. An analyses was made of one of the costs of reclaiming coal mines; the legal and administrative costs of complying with legislation. Such costs borne by coal companies under the Ohio law are thought to be a surrogate of these costs under the new Federal law. Regression analyses were used to relate the legal and administrative costs to acres in the permit and the tonnage of coal produced.

Jan 1, 1978

1. Domestic Production and Use: In 1980, 13 companies operated 33 primary aluminum reduction plants, with 3 firms accounting for 62% of production. Washington, Oregon, and Montana accounted for 30% of the total production; Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas 19%; Tennessee, Alabama, and North Carolina 15%; other central and eastern States 36%. Based on published producer prices output of primary metal in 1980 was valued at over $7 billion. Aluminum consumption by 25,000 firms was centered in the East Central United States. Packaging accounted for an estimated 26% of domestic consumption in 1980, building 22%, transportation 21%, electrical 12%, consumer durables 7%, and other uses 12%.

Jan 1, 1981

By H. T. Rall

This report summarizes a systematic 20-year study of the organic sulfur compounds in Wasson, Texas, crude oil and, to a lesser extent, of three other crude oils, that has culminated in some 200 individual sulfur-compound identifications. The development and application of special separation and identification techniques generally suitable for the characterization of sulfur compounds in any crude oil are discussed. This report reviews early sulfur literature covering petroleum sulfur compound identifications completed before this study was begun, and cites 58 papers resulting from this work. The sulfur compounds in petroleum, both as to type and quantity, have long been of concern to the petroleum industry, and such compositional data are not only of theoretical interest, but also of practical value.

Jan 1, 1972

By G. F. Kuncir

This volume was prepared in support of an evaluation of the Advancing Oil Shale Mining Technology Program performed by The Aerospace Corporation under a Bureau of Mines contract. The evaluation is described in part within a companion volume entitled Benefit-Cost Analysis. The economic mine models outlined herein provide a quantitative basis for the assessment of program benefits. Reference is made to estimated oil shale mine costs to delineate the beneficial impacts that can be expected to accrue for the future implementation of program developed technology. Estimated mine cost data are provided for surface, underground, and modified in situ oil shale mining operations.

Jan 1, 1977

A unity of viewpoint emerged from the workshop. The concept that transmission is via characteristic modes was a common theme in many of the presentations. Also, the confusion an the meaning of monofilar and bifilar to describe these dominant modes was cleared up. But, there was still a healthy divergence of opinion on what constitutes an optimum system. It was generally agreed that further analytical and experimental work is definitely needed. In particular, it was stressed that independent measurements of the constitutive properties of the electromagnetic environment are needed. Also, there was considerable concern that laboratory measurements of rock samples could lead to misleading results for the effective conductivities. Also, there was a general recognition that over simplified propagation theory should not be used to interpret field data. From a theoratical and practical point of view, it was realized that mode coupling plays a vital role in the transmission channel. One must not only understand which and how many propagation modes are excited by the transmitting antenna, but the conversion of energy from one mode type to another must be accounted for. This conversion can either be done intentionally (by fixed mode convertors) or non intentionally (by random wall roughness). In fact, mode conversion can be quite complicated when various propagation paths exist such as when insulated cables, leaky feeders, grounded rails, coal seams, etc. all convey portions of the electromagnetic energy. However, this state of affairs should be regared as an. opportunity for extended communication coverage in mines rather than a limitation of a desig. procedure based on preconceived notions of the dominant propagation mechanism.

Jan 1, 1978

By M. G. Wallis

This report presents the results of a study to develop a detailed mining method design based on longwall mining with sublevel caving. The method is applicable to low-dipping coal seams 20 or more feet thick such as are found in the western United States. The report covers (1) the development and description of the mining method, (2) evaluation of the engineering feasibility of the design, (3) estimates of productivity and recovery, and (4) an engineering cost analysis and economic feasibility evaluation of the mining method design.

Jan 1, 1977

Jan 1, 1991

By Allen G. Gray

It's not news to you that the United States is highly vulnerable to potential problems in supply of critical and strategic metals, and that these metals - chromium, for example - are employed in important bearing alloys. It's also not news to you that there is a significant challenge to improve durability and life of bearing systems which contribute to conservation as well as productivity. The objectives of this workshop are to identify available technologies and opportunities for new technologies in conservation, substitution, and displacement of critical and strategic metals in bearing systems. These considerations are among the most viable options for reducing vulnerability to a cutoff of chromium and other critical metals and action should be taken to identify and develop those technologies now rather than after a crisis is upon us.

Jan 1, 1984

By Edward A. Metz, R. Larry Grayson, Douglas F. Scott

We describe inconsistencies in disease and illness reporting in U.S. mining, identify under-reporting of disease and illness in U.S. mining, and summarize selected disease and illness in U.S. mining from 1983 through 2001. Methods: We summarized information on mining-related disease and illness data for the years 1983-2001 from the Mining Safety and Health Administration database (MSHA). Results: Discrepancies exist in types of information collected by the Centers for Disease and Control, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and the Mining Safety and Health Admin¬istration database. Several factors, including a worker's fear of losing his or her job, health insurance, or other job-related benefits contribute to under-reporting of disease and illness information in the US mining industry. Conclusions: Since 1997, both number of workers employed in mining and disease and illness rates have decreased; however, the highest disease and illness rates in mining continue to be coal worker's pneumoconiosis and hearing loss.

By Claudia Monreal L., Dafne Herreros

"The Geological Modeling is the undisputed point of split of any type of mining method, the effect that the vision and experience of the geologists is propagated trough the development of the project and is an important part of the final success. The collection of information is taken in stages. In earlier stages uses the greater part of the budget and the strategy to store and manage this data collection, as its performing will define the destiny of the deposit and of the business. With this background the geology and its modeling receive great attention from the industry and care providers being a fertile field in research and innovation. "

Sep 1, 2017

"M bed, Matanuska valley, Alaska, coal carbonizingproperties B 510M spectral lines, low-energy, study RI 5538Mab shaft, Leadvile district, Colo., investigation RI .1518Maberry process, for aluminum chloride TP 321"

Jan 1, 1960

By A. Choudhury

Deep open-pit mines are becoming increasingly common in the highly mineralized arctic and sub-arctic regions. Air inversion is a frequent occurrence in these regions, and is exacerbated by the natural topography of an open-pit mine. Due to such inversions, the air quality in open-pit mines deteriorates very rapidly. Transport of gaseous pollutants under arctic air inversion is complex and involves an interaction between flow, thermal and convective transport systems. This paper discusses the construction and validation of a three-dimensional model that simulate the flow of air and the transport of gaseous contaminants in an arctic open-pit mine and the effect of low influent velocity and large gust velocities on the contaminants profiles in the mine. It was found that while higher velocities may remove contaminants from the pit bottom, they may not remove the contaminants from the pit entirely, necessitating artificial mitigation measures.

Jan 1, 2012

By George Hope, Brigitte Lacouture

"The Red Dog Mine has increased mill throughput for most years since startup. Although flotation equipment has been added over the last 10 years, the Red Dog metallurgical performance has been restricted by a lack of adequate flotation capacity. Two reduced tonnage trials conducted in 1997 as well as numerous SAG relines have consistently indicated the potential to significantly increase both zinc concentrate recovery and grade with additional flotation capacity. Late in 1999, a new circuit was designed with increased flotation capacity while simplifylng the current circuit, providing for three stages of dilution cleaning, and creating a retreat section. The purpose of the retreat section is to target the more complex particles and allow the chemical environment to be fine tuned for improved iron depression. In total, twentyone (21) Outokumpu OK50 mechanical flotation cells and four (4) 3.66m dia. column cells will be added to the current flotation circuit. The VIP (Value Improvement Program) Mill Optimization project is also addressing thickening, water treatment and power issues and has a total budget of $US105 M. Startup of equipment will be phased in to minimize the impact on current operations and is expected to be complete by the end of Q3-2001.INTRODUCTIONRed Dog Operations started production in November 1989. The mine is located above the arctic circle in northwest Alaska. It is linked by an 80 km road to a port-site facility where the concentrate is stored. Concentrate is shipped to markets throughout the world during the one hundred (100) days of open seas. Typical of sedimentary exhalative deposits, the metallurgy proved to be challenging and coupled with many mechanical shortcomings, the initial few years were very difficult. The start-up issues were slowly resolved and in 1998, a major grinding expansion, the PRI (Production Rate Increase) project, was completed. The project was designed to allow a 40% increase over the 1995 throughput. In 2000 mill throughput was 3,050,000 tonnes to produce a total of 960,000 and 140,000 dry tonnes of zinc and lead concentrates respectively, making Red Dog the largest zinc concentrate producer in the world. To address a shortage of flotation capacity remaining from the PRI grinding expansion, a project designated as the VIP (Value Improvement Program) Mill Optimization project was initiated. The mill optimization project is targeted to produce 1,100,000 tonnes of zinc concentrate at 56% zinc grade and 87% zinc recovery. The project will add twenty-one (21) Outokumpu OK50 (50m3) flotation cells, four (4) 3.66mO column cells and address water treatment, thickening and power generation capacities."

Jan 1, 2002

Abbey, Robert Graham, District Mgr., The W. W. Sly Mfg. Co., 50 Church St., New York, N. Y. '21 Abbott, A. N Ave. Morelos 84, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico '23 Abbott, Argyle Campbell, Geol 42 Everett St., Arlington, Mass. '29 Abbott, Clarence E., V.P., Charge of Raw Materials, Tenn. Coal, Iron & R. R. Co., 1242 Brown-Marx Bldg., Birmingham, Ala. '04 Abbott, Louis Benjamin, Chief Engr., Consolidation Coal Co., Watson Bldg., Fairmont, W. Va. '15 Abeel, George H., Jr., Cons. Min. Engr 1281/2 S. Canon Dr., Beverly Hills, Cal. '18 Abel, Raymond L., Asst. Prof., Dept. of Pet. Refin., Univ. of Pittsburgh. .Pittsburgh, Pa. '28 Abel, Walter D., Cons. Engr 650 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles, Cal. '82 Abele, Louis T., Min. & Met. Engr., Supt., Texas Hill Mine Coulterville, Cal. '31 Abell, Leo M. Millicent, S. Australia '31 Abernathy, George Elmer, Prof. of Geol. & Min., Kansas State Teachers College, Pittsburg, Kan. '20 Aborn, Robert H., Research Lab., U. S. Steel Corp. Lincoln Highway, Kearny, N. J. '19 Abozeid, Mahmood, Dept. of Mines & Quarries Cairo, Egypt '26

Jan 1, 1932

By Dave Kay, Young-Suk Song

To meet the needs of South Korea's rapidly expanding economy, a large number of infrastructure projects are under way to improve transportation efficiency within the nation. These projects include high-speed rail links between major population centres and improvements to the road network. Being densely populated and geographically mountainous, infrastructure development in Korea requires a significant amount of tunnelling. Owing to the predominantly hard granitic nature of rock, drill and blast is the preferred method of tunnel advance. The Korean tunneller, however, faces the same pressures as those of his international counterpart in that both cost and production targets need to be achieved while meeting expectations of both community and regulator.

Jan 1, 2005