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By Bradford F. Townsend

A study was made on six collapses that occurred during large-diameter tunnelling through weak sedimentary rocks and soil using SES methods in three stages?top heading, bench and invert. The collapsed lengths are between 20 m and 277 m. The collapses were re-mined using essentially the same tunnel-ling method with larger excavation profiles to accommodate the designed remedial measures consisting of ground treatment, pre-support and stronger initial support/outer lining required to carry higher ground loads acting in the collapsed lengths. The paper presents information on the collapses and the design and execution of the remedial measures.

Jan 1, 2008

Assuming that a gold ore has been effectively ground to ensure maximum economic liberation of gold, the circuits that will have the most effect on the successful operation of a gold plant will be that of the leaching and carbon-in-pulp circuit (CIP). The reagent and utilities operating costs associated with leaching, adsorption, elution and regeneration would typically make up some 15% of total operating cost, whilst the capital costs associated with these areas is about 16% of the total. Although not largest (capital and operating costs associated with comminution are generally dominant) these items represent a significant proportion of capital and operating cost. Much more importantly, these plant areas represent the primary gold recovery process and their technical and operational efficiencies will have a significant impact on overall plant efficiency. The objective during process design of these sections is thus to develop a design which provides maximum technical and economic efficiency and which is robust to potential changes in ore throughput, mineralogical characteristics and head-grade. Experience has shown that, particularly for longer life and higher-grade projects typical of the South African underground gold mining industry, small changes in recovery and efficiency have a significant value over the life of the project.

Jan 1, 1999

By Patrick E. Durnal

A joint venture of Ben C. Gerwick Inc., Sverdrup (now Jacobs) and DMJM (now DMJM Harris) designed the $779 mill seismic upgrade of the Richmond - San Rafael Bridge over the San Pablo Bay in the San Francisco Bay Area and provided construction support to Caltrans. Construction of the marine foundation retrofit was completed by a joint venture of Tudor Saliba/Tidewater/Koch-Skanska and their subcontractors: Pomeroy Precast Construction, AGRA Foundations, Dutra Construction and Vortex Divers. Construction management and inspection was performed by Caltrans with support of various consultants.

Jan 1, 2013

The lead concentration of flotation feed ore slurries is determined using two ?-ray absorption gauges mounted directly on a 6 in. diameter flotation feed pipeline. One gauge is a conventional "density" gauge using CS137. The other is a "lead-sensitive" gauge, which depends on the preferential absorption. by lead of 225 key y-rays resulting from Compton backscatter of CS137 y-rays.Gauge outputs are combined using an analogue computer the output signal of which is directly proportional to the lead concentration of the pulp. The accuracy of measurement of the pulp lead concentration is ± 3·6 per cent for ore slurries with lead concentrations in the range 0'07-0·16 g/c.c. and pulp densities 1.43-1.60 g/c.c.This paper sets out the development of the technique and details are given of the two experiments (1964, 1966) conducted in the plant at North Broken Hill Limited. The installation of the two-gauge system inthe plant during May 1968 is described. Details are given of the calibration technique used and the results obtained.

Jan 1, 1969

By Rodrigo Toro, Mario Delisle, Claudio Zamora

"The mining market is researching innovative methods to train the workforce for mining which is normally extremely difficult to get. Thus, the dynamic simulation-based technologies become an essential pillar to educate and train the inexperienced staff at the pace required by this industry. Even if Operator Training Simulator (OTS) systems are commonly used in most of industries, knowledge transmitted to operators are unfortunately not ""capitalized"" in general. The OTS systems are usually delivered as a single hardware and software platform and very little as a full service long-term.In this article, an integrated solution to increase the efficiency of the operators is proposed. This solution is based on the combination of dynamic simulation, processes knowledge, virtual reality and the knowledge capitalization through the creation of simulation scenarios and e-learning. The Codelco Ministro Hales plant simulation project for a copper concentrator plant is presented as a real life example.IntroductionDynamic and real-time process simulation have proven to be a must in the development of greenfield projects, providing mechanisms to design and test controls design, interlocks, start-up, shut down sequences and operator training, among others (see (McMillan, 2006) for further details). Early adopters of this technology were utility power plants; in the petrochemical industry have become a standard, and in the mining industry the use of dynamic simulations is growing, especially in new projects and training of operations personnel for the adoption of best practices and new technologies, see (Nikkhah & Anderson, 2001) and (Toro, Ortiz, & Yutronic, 2012).This paper outlines a solution that utilizes dynamic simulations as the base of an integrated platform for operational effectiveness, which takes into account the current scenario of new mining projects and operations, where high turn over rates and needs of specialized workforce have given a special value to this kind of technologies."

Jan 1, 2015

By Edgardo Torres Hernández

El Proyecto Optimización de Ángulos de Taludes en Explotación de Minas es un proyecto desarrollados por E-Mining Technology (EMT), socio estratégico de Prodimin en Perú, para Codelco Chile en uno de sus yacimientos del Norte de Chile. El desarrollo de este proyecto estuvo enmarcado en el Programa de Proveedores de Clase Mundial; programa que tiene como misión desarrollar un sector de proveedores intensivo en conocimiento, mediante la generación de soluciones tecnológicas empujadas desde la demanda de la minería y desde la propuesta del sector de proveedores que puedan ser escaladas a otros sectores y mercados.

Sep 1, 2017

By Valois R. Shea-Albin

Increasing pressure from State and Federal agencies to mitigate mining-induced subsidence damage to overlying structures has presented a unique problem to the coal industry in the western United States. Because sandstone escarpments are an environmental issue, millions of tons of coal reserves that underlie these escarpments risk being classified as unminable by regulatory agencies. At this time, the effect of subsidence on escarpments has not been well documented or characterized. The Bureau of Mines is using numerical modeling techniques to analyze escarpment response to longwall mining. Two- and three-dimensional finite element models have been constructed for a study area near Price, Utah, where longwall panels were mined near an escarpment. This status report includes preliminary results showing that the pattern of subsidence surrounding the escarpment can be simulated through numerical modeling. Models that include such structural details as joint and fracture patterns will better simulate subsidence patterns .and magnitude. By locating longwall panels strategically in relation to the escarpment, stability may be preserved throughout the mining process. Numerical modeling provides a method to analyze relatively quickly the effects of longwall panel location and resulting subsidence on escarpment stability. The goal is to provide a relatively accurate predictive tool for mine planning to determine if escarpment stability can be maintained while maximizing extraction of the coal reserves.

Jan 1, 1986

Iron ore in the Middleback Range area has a density and susceptibility contrast with adjacent rocks, and gravity and magnetic methods are applicable to exploration for it. The gravity method is satisfactory whether the ore mineral is hematite, magnetite, or limonite; the magnetic method is suitable for detecting ores which contain magnetite, such as some hematite ore, magnetite ore, and possible ore in the form of magnetite-bearing schists. jaspilites, and carbonate rocks.Geophysical exploration began in 1948 and is still in progress. The methods which have been used are aeromagnetic (83 per cent), ground magnetic (13 per cent), gravity (3 per cent), and others (1 per cent). Ground magnetic surveys have been made wherever aeromagnetic surveys recorded large anomalies. The gravity method is being used to investigate those parts of the area considered most favourable for ore occurrence.Qualitative and quantitative interpretation of the geophysical data has been made and the rocks causing selected anomalies tested by bores.Magnetite in the Middleback Group rocks produces the major magnetic anomalies in the area. The average magnetite content of magnetite-jaspilite, which is the commonest rock type, is 33 per cent by weight and that of magnetite-carbonate at the Iron Duke-Iron Duchess is 50 per cent. These rock types also contain hematite and the average total iron content of the former is 35 per cent and of the latter 50 per cent.INTRODUCTIONThe geology and iron ore resources of the Middleback Range area were described by Miles (1954). Since 1954, much drilling, mapping, and quarrying has been done but there is no published report of this work.The rocks which constitute the Middleback Range, Camel Hill-Cooyerdoo line, Katunga Hill-Iron Knob, and Ash Range (Fig. 1) belong to the Middleback Group of Middle Precambrian or late Archaean age. Most outcrops of the Group are jaspilites, formerly called banded hematite (or magnetite) quartzite. The high grade hematite deposits...

Jan 1, 1964

By W Taylor, S Chen, R Haywood, M White, R West, J Ranasinghe

In March 2012 a combined BHP Billiton and Hatch team embarked on a program to improve the concentrate burner efficiency of BHP Billiton’s Olympic Dam copper flash smelting furnace. A multi-faceted approach including an analysis of the furnace using operational knowledge and first principles engineering led to the design and supply of a new central-lance (disperser). A new, patented, swirl method of introducing the copper concentrate into the furnace was developed to integrate with the existing concentrate burner. Plant trials in 2014 demonstrated an increase of nearly 10 percent in the oxygen efficiency of the furnace. The improved efficiency is expected to provide savings in operating costs and asset life extension of downstream gas and dust handling equipment.CITATION:White, M, Haywood, R, Taylor, W, Chen, S, Ranasinghe, J and West, R, 2015. Improved copper flash smelting at Olympic Dam, in Proceedings MetPlant 2015, pp 382–395 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Sep 7, 2015

By W. P. Erasmus

This paper will focus on the use of the ?wet-mix? steel fibre re-in forced shotcrete as a permanent lining in deep shafts, assessing gold bearing reef. It will cover all aspects relating to the choice of this material covering the geological conditions through to the final quality control. All procedures are in line with ISO 9001,as JCI projects who manage the project, are an approved company therof.

Jan 1, 2001

By Dan Payne

The Crinum mine has recently completed workings in the southern area of the mine. Over the 10 years of longwall production 40 million tonnes have been extracted and the mine has experienced over 40 longwall face, 3 main gateend, and 2 tail gateend roof falls as well as 5 roadway roof falls away from the longwall. Weak roof (less than 10MPa (1450psi) in the bolted horizon) has been the principal roof control issue at the mine. However, weak, highly cleated coal, water inflow from overlying aquifers, some minor structure and a diatreme in the main headings have also contributed to the challenges at the mine. This paper describes the geotechnical experience over the 10 years, the mine?s approach to addressing the issues and the relative success of these approaches.

Jan 1, 2008

By Brian Stump, David Anderson, D. Craig Pearson, Robert Martin

Mining explosions designed to move, bulk or fracture rock are often composed of a number of explosions arranged in a complex spatial and temporal pattern. The effects of the explosions are strongly dependent upon the design and implementation of this blasting pattern. This paper describes the collection, combination and visual display of multiple types of data from these explosions for the purposes of understanding the relationships between the blast design, implementation, and observations. Data sets consist of three-component ground motion, acoustic, video and high speed film, three-dimensional topography, geological and geophysical properties, design blast pattern and timing, and velocity of detonation in the explosive for individual borehole detonation times. The explosions studied include simple single-fired contained explosions, ones designed to bulk and fracture rocks and those that cast material.

Jan 1, 2000

By Tim O’Neil

The search for precious metals opened up the American West. And Nevada was right in the heart of this development. In the mid-19th century, prospectors seeking gold roamed the hills of Nevada and discovered the ComstockLode. The development of this huge silver and gold deposit began in1859 and was responsible for Nevada’s early entry to statehood. Mining was Nevada’s first industry. In more recent years, the Nevada mining industry has led the nation in gold, silver and barite production. Nevada also produces many other minerals. These include aggregates, clays, copper, diatomite, dolomite, gypsum, lime and limestone, lithium and magnesium compounds, perlite, salt and silica. Even today, Nevada’s mining industry continues to be a major economic force in the state. The mining industry has made more than $10 billion in capital investments in Nevada since 1985. And the value of Nevada’s mineral production last year was about $2.7 billion.

Jan 1, 2000

By R. L. Castro

The extraction of ore in panel caving operations also involves the coextraction of non-economic material, known as dilution. Forecasting, avoiding, and understanding the mechanics of dilution is critical to longterm planning. The models of dilution that are currently in use in panel caving operations are those by Laubscher (1994), who postulated that dilution is due to gravitational flow and depends on the height of interaction, the column height, and the draw uniformity. This paper presents a back-analysis of extraction and dilution behaviour at Codelco?s El Salvador and Andina Divisions, which use panel caving as a mining method. This analysis was conducted in order to review the existent dilution entry mechanisms and calculation methods. Three sources of dilution were identified. The first source is ?gravitational dilution?, which is due to gravitational flow and mixing as dilution migrates by gravity from a sector located above the panel under analysis. The second source of dilution is ?caving dilution?, which occurs when an air gap is formed in a large area and a sudden propagation of a hang-up occurs, inducing early ingress of waste into the production level from a level above. The third mode observed is ?lateral dilution?, which occurs when the panel is located next to an exhausted sector and the broken material enters the draw column early during draw. In the last two cases, dilution could migrate large distances horizontally. The mine data indicated that draw and caving strategy are key for long-term planning of large panel caves.

Jan 1, 2014

By SMF Hossaini

With the aim of a clearer understanding of the applicability of existing empirical equations for blast induced ground vibration, an investigation has been conducted on three mostly applied forms of such equations. The effect of explosive type on the applicability of these equations has been assessed by analysing 44 sets of data produced by using two types of explosives, namely ANFO and slurry explosive, in an open pit coal mine. The analysis of the data has revealed that the type of explosive affects the applicability of the criteria of the three equations. All three criteria have better correlation with the data of shots in which ANFO was used than the shots with slurry explosive. However, the applicability of one of the criteria is reduced, by far, only by replacing ANFO with slurry explosive for the same ground conditions. It was also found that one of the parameters of these criteria (i.e. “k”) is significantly sensitive to the type of explosive in all the three equations. The degree of influence to the values of “k” obtained by the variation of explosive from ANFO to slurry explosive in the three equations is 76.3%, 811% and 39%. This implies that “k” is not only dependant on ground conditions, as stated in most previous publications, but is also strongly a function of the type of explosive.

Jan 1, 2004

By Michael J. Rinker, P. A. Tibble, M. Wiseman, R. V. Nicholson

Tailings, from an active copper-zinc operation, containing about 10% sulphur were investigated to assess the onset of acid production and potential lime requirements for treatment of drainage. Oxygen consumption rates were measured over two years to verify spatial and seasonal variations in sulphide oxidation rates. Shallow cores were collected to assess the quality of tailings porewater and to characterize solids that had been subjected to oxidation and depletion of neutralization potential (NP) for several years. Oxygen consumption data were used to quantify rates of NP depletion and onset of acid drainage from the near- surface tailings. Based on measured oxygen consumption rates and identification of NP remaining in the tailings, future lime use in the treatment plant was expected to rise significantly without mitigation. Geochemical modeling calculations were calibrated with observed oxygen consumption rates and the model results agreed well with actual lime use in the waste water treatment plant during operations. The modeling also demonstrated the benefits of lower lime demands and treatment costs after closure as a result of construction a soil cover on the acid generating tailings.

Jan 1, 2000

By K. S. Lackner, T. M. Yegulalp

We present a review of research and development for coal based clean energy systems aiming for zero emissions to the atmosphere. These systems can utilize all kinds of coal or other solid carbon sources such as tar sands as well as liquid hydrocarbons. The chemical energy of carbon is transferred to hydrogen and used in power generation, in fuel cells, or hydrogen combusting turbines. The waste products of these future power-generating systems are ash, sulfur compounds and CO2. We also summarize current and developing technologies for processing of CO2to produce mineral carbonates for permanent disposal, and associated byproducts.

Jan 1, 2003

By H. Linder, W. H. Dennen

The graphitic carbon content of soils may be used to detect and delimit subsurface graphitic zones. Spectrographic measurement of carbon in C horizon soils from several areas in the northeastern United States shows good correlation with known graphitic bodies. Bodies of graphite and sulfides are readily located by electromagnetic prospecting methods, but these methods cannot generally discriminate between them. Usual practice, therefore, requires follow-up work on electrically anomalous areas by trenching, drilling, or soil sampling in order to determine the mineralogical nature of the conductor. The efficiency and cost of such follow-up is consequently an important factor in prospecting. The presence of buried sulfide deposits is often reflected in concentrations of metals in the superincumbent soil. Simple chemical tests for such metal concentrations have been developed and applied with considerable success. Bodies of graphite or mixtures of graphite and sulfides are, however, very common and a means whereby buried graphite could be detected by soil testing should provide valuable additional information in the search for ore sulfide and graphite deposits. Graphite is a notably stable substance and should persist in soil above graphite-rich horizons. Microscopic examination of soil samples high in carbon, however, failed to reveal any recognizable graphite fragments indicating a grain size in the clay range. Presumably such small particles would have some mobility in a soil by a translocation mechanism similar to that proposed for the movement of clay particles in a soil profile. Experimental data supports this idea since the boundary between background and anomalous soils carbon values is quite sharp, but the anomalous zone is slightly broader than the graphitic source rock. A simple spectrochemical technique for the determination of carbon in geological materials has been described by Dennen,1 and may be directly applied to soils. A modification of this technique which employs an arcing chamber through which nitrogen is passed is recommended to decrease contributions from atmospheric carbon dioxide. Tests indicate that soils over graphitic zones may be strongly enriched in carbon. The spectrochemical determination of carbon depends upon the formation of the cyanogen molecule (CN) from carbon in a sample and atmospheric nitrogen, under the high temperatures associated with a dc arc. Samples for analysis are dried, lumps broken, and screened. A small portion of the -100 mesh fraction is packed into a copper electrode and excited as the cathode of a dc arc. The band spectra of cyanogen are recorded photographically and the density of the bandhead CN 3883A is measured. The limit of detection of the method is about 0.01 pct C and its coefficient of variation is about 15 pct. Soils, of course, contain carbon in other forms than graphite, and the amount of interference from such sources was examined. The C horizon of several soils from Massachusetts, Maine, and Pennsylvania were found to have a carbon content of 0.3 to 0.5 pct by weight. This content is chiefly due to the presence of carbonates and vegetable matter in the sample and may be readily eliminated, or at least

Jan 1, 1961

By Manqiu Xu, Joe Holmes, Peter Wells, Peter Langlois, Germain Labonté, Jim Barrett

"The flowsheet for the Voisey’s Bay mill had to meet the challenge of processing an ore containing high pentlandite and chalcopyrite values in a largely pyrrhotite/troilite matrix. In the 1994-97 period, circuit development focused on making a high-grade copper concentrate and a relatively low-grade nickel concentrate. However, in 1998 a circuit with copper concentrate, high-grade nickel concentrate and a Ni/Cu middlings concentrate was specified. Following a three year project delay, work resumed on the flowsheet in 2001, and the target for the overall grade of the nickel concentrate was raised from 14% to 20% nickel. To achieve this target triethylamine tetramine (TETA) and sulfite pyrrhotite depressants were used in an all lime circuit. It later became evident that, with appropriate selection of collector and adjustment of the circuit by the addition of a scavenger on the scavenger cleaner, it would be possible to approach the grade of concentrate required without the use of pyrrhotite depressants. The recycle of water and the contained thiosalts was also proven to be instrumental in raising the grade.Construction and commissioning of the mill were fast-tracked with start-up of the mill in September 2005 some six months ahead of the original schedule. Ramp-up of both throughput and metallurgy was faster than any other recent nickel installations with tonnage being limited mainly by concentrate dewatering due to the higher than initially planned ore grades.INTRODUCTIONNickel was discovered in the vicinity of Voisey’s Bay by Chislett and Verbiski working for Diamond Field Resources in 1993 and the Ovoid deposit was delineated in the winter of 1994/95. By the end of 1995 the Ovoid had been well explored and at that time was thought to have a reserve of at least 30 million tonnes with an average grade of 2.83% Ni and 2.0% Cu. Drilling to the east of the Ovoid had indicated the presence of significant mineralization. In June of 1995, Inco Limited bought a 25% share in the Voisey’s Bay Nickel Company (VBNC) which was a subsidiary holding company set up by Diamond Fields. Inco also bought 8% of Diamond Fields and negotiated the right to sell all the nickel produced from VBNC for twenty years as part of this agreement. In April 1996, Inco bought the 75% of VBNC shares that it did not own."

Jan 1, 2007

By J. F. Butler, H. W. Paxton

The vapor pressures of manganese in equilibrium with several alloys in the iron-manganese-carbon system between 1200° and 1275°K have been measured using the Knudsen effusion technique in conjunction with a vacuum microbalance. The effect of orifice area of the effusion cell upon the measured pressure has been determined. The binary iron-manganese system shows small negative departures from ideality, and the system of mixed carbides, (Fe, Mn)7C3, in equilibrium with graphite behaves ideally. THIS work is a continuation of the investigations in which the Knudsen effusion method has been used to determine thermodynamic activities in systems and at temperatures of interest to metallurgists. In a previous publication,' the free energy of formation of Mn7C3 was determined and some preliminary work on the solution behavior of this carbide with the hypothetical "Fe7C3" was reported. The present work deals with this latter topic and also includes data on the binary ir-on-manganese system. EXPERIMENTAL METHOD The Knudsen effusion method was used to measure the vapor pressure of manganese in both the alloy and carbide sections of this investigation. This dynamic method of vapor pressure measurement presents a problem when studying solid alloy systems in which one of the components has a much larger vapor pressure than the others. Over-all depletion of the alloy in the most volatile component will occur during evaporation so that the pressure of that component will decrease. Even more serious than the over-all concentration change is the surface depletion of volatile component in the alloy brought about by the slow rate of diffusion of this component from the interior to the surface of the solid particle. Since knowledge of this surface composition is necessary in order to relate it to the activity determined through the measurements, changes in surface composition from the analyzed bulk composition are to be avoided in dynamic vapor pressure studies of solid alloys. The system under investigation in this study presents the problem of surface depletion of manganese since its pressure at 1230°K is 105greater than iron and 1020 greater than carbon. Since the existence of a volatile manganese carbide had been ruled out previously,' the high manganese pressure relative to iron and carbon insured that the only species leaving the effusion cell was manganese. Therefore, the effusing species required no analysis so that the manganese pressure was determined directly from the weight loss of the effusion cell. In order to detect small weight losses near the beginning of effusion, a vacuum microbalance was used to weigh the cell continually. These initial weight loss data allowed the rate of manganese effusion to be determined before the surface of the alloy became depleted in manganese. The apparatus used in this investigation is shown in Fig. 1. Temperature was measured using chro-

Jan 1, 1962