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By J. K. Mudge, T. Allen, P. B. Johnson

Approximately 6 years ago, Newmont Mining Corporation (Newmont) initiated reclamation/closure at its’ Hollister operation in Nevada. Reclamation/closure challenges existed at three primary areas within the operation. One the open pits had a small, low pH lake. The primary waste rock dump had a collection system for seepage of low pH solution. The heap leach had a typical inventory of process solution. In each of these three areas water quality and water quantity challenges existed. Reclamation/closure techniques were employed that utilized run-on controls, re-sloping, capping/topsoil placement, pit backfilling and vegetation for water quantity control. Water quality controls included installation of passive, anaerobic systems. These mechanisms have effectively limited water volumes that require treatment and effectively treated the water to meet standards.

Jan 1, 2003

By Kevin Erwina, Rajiv Chandramohana, Connor Meinkea

This paper explores prevalent operational challenges encountered globally in SAG mills, including suboptimal throughput, liner wear, excessive energy consumption, and SAG mill load stability. The paper delves into the root causes behind these issues, such as ore variability, poor operating strategy, or inadequate process control. Drawing on industry experience and case studies, the paper highlights the significance of addressing these challenges to enhance overall mill performance and efficiency. It underscores the necessity of tailored strategies, encompassing improved monitoring, optimized liner designs, and refined control techniques to mitigate these challenges and promote sustainable SAG mill operation.

Feb 1, 2024

By F. Cappel

Except in a few special cases, it is necessary for solid fuel direct reduction in rotary kilns that iron-bearing materials be charged with a minimum grainsize of approx. 5 mm. For fines not usable in such form, the combination of sintering - as agglomeration step - and direct reduction were investigated. During reduction of sinter in rotary kilns prevail dependencies on sinter quality and varying reaction parameters, owing to the use of different coals, which led to a definite statement as to what quality sinter must have and which coals can be used.

Jan 1, 1983

By J. H. McNamara

A process has been developed for the successful hydrometallurgical extraction of copper from sulfide ores. The extracted copper in the form of a salt is converted by reduction to copper metal. Purification of the metal is described which includes a description of the casting of ETP quality copper wire bars.

Jan 1, 1978

By V. O. Tenorio

The implementation of autonomous technologies for production in surface mines demands changes in the existing monitoring and control systems. The present study deals with the concepts involved in the development of a decision support system (DSS) for the supervision of a combined fleet of manned and unmanned equipment operating in a surface mine. The project was carried out as part of an autonomous mining program that lasted from early 2006 until the end of 2008. The objective of the DSS was to achieve short-term planning goals while maintaining safe working conditions. Supervisory tasks become more complex when several autonomous vehicles operate simultaneously alongside manned equipment. The operation center where the DSS was installed allowed autonomous vehicle operations to be controlled while tracking technology reliability experiments performed on control display interfaces and interaction provided design parameters for more complex supervisory systems for autonomous mines. Mining Engineering, 2011, vol. 63, no. 11, pp. 80-86. Official publication of the Society for mining, metallurgy and exploration, Inc.

Jan 1, 2011

By R. E. J. Putman

The, principle purpose of applying control to any process is to improve -its profitability. Even when considering the impact of a plant on its surrounding ecology this is still, true, since the sanctions felt most immediately from violations of the regulations are the economic penalties or fines which result. 'Economic performance can be improved within a plant in several ways. Steps can be taken to cut the cost or quantity of resources (power, water, steam, reagents) consumed per ton of throughput. Alternatively the operation of the plant can be changed so as to increase product yield per ton of throughput. Or the cost of labor and plant overhead per ton of product can be reduced by raising the total 'throughput, assuming-that the increased amount of product can be sold for the same unit price. In designing a program to improve plant performance, all three routes should be borne in mind. To maximize the return on investment over a longer period, it is also desirable to set up a comprehensive plan of improvement, equipment being specified at each step in the implementation so as to ensure that it fits in with later requirements later implementation being either by means of modular additions or by having the necessary interfaces built into the original equipment. It is much cheaper in the long run to buy features which have been factory-installed, than to have to make provision for their later addition in the field. This paper examines some ways of improving plant performance by the application of various process control techniques using both analog and digital con¬trol equipment. A general philosophy of application is suggested and specific examples described.

Jan 1, 1972

By R. W. Lai

Cyclic voltammetry (CV), flotation response, evolved-gas analysis (EGA), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were employed to evaluate the major differences in the surface property and surface reactivity of coal pyrite and mineral pyrite.

Jan 1, 1989

By L. T. Larson

Had the blank on the Abstract form been sufficiently spacious a more appropriate title for this paper would be: Neogene Tectonism, Magmatic Activity and Hydrothermal Precious Metal Mineralization in Anatolian Turkey; an Analog with the Basin and Range Province of the Western U.S.? Like the alternative title no thing in Turkey is simple. Its history is long and convolute; its culture fascinating; its metallogeny diverse and its geology very complex. This paper will focus only on the geology of western' Anatolia and the precious metal potential of this third of Turkey. The argument is in the article but to save the reader time and suspense I'll put my conclusions up front- the potential is great and the possibilities exciting.

Jan 1, 1989

By S. P. Chong, Peter V. Avotins

The iron and steel industry continues to operate at depressed production levels due to the low level of demand for steel and foundry products. Crude steel production in the Western world dropped by 13.7% from 459.3 Gt (506 billion st) in 1981 to 396.4 Gt (437 billion st). The reduction was particularly severe in North America where the industry suffered a loss of 37.3% from 123.6 to 77.5 Gt (136 to 85 billion st). This reduced level of production severely affected iron ore and agglomerates output. Substantial curtailment was made in both sintering and pelletizing plants to meet reduced demand. The pressure on these plant operators shifted from quantity to quality. With energy cost becoming an ever increasing part of production costs, conservation was a major area of emphasis. Iron Making Sinter has continued to be the favored burden for blast furnaces overseas. As hot metal production declined and excess sintering capacity developed, many of the overseas operators that have been using pellets found it advantageous on hot metal production cost to increase the ratio of sinter at the expense of pellets. This was the case despite the depressed price level of pellets in the world market. In North America where pellets have been the predominant burden material-mainly because it is necessary to pelletize the fine grain iron ores available domestically-there was also increased interest in sinter usage. Bethlehem Steel Corporation's 13.6-m (44.5-ft) furnace at Sparrows Point experimented with a burden with more than 70% of sinter during the second half of the year and indicated some favorable results as compared to its previous 50% super flux sinter and 50% acid pellet burden. The blast furnace operators continued to press for improved burden quality. In addition to the emphasis on the importance of burden chemistry and quality, uniformity, much emphasis was placed on improving reducibilitiy and high temperature metallurgical qualities. These burden properties were recognized to hold further promise in reducing fuels rates. Sintering With reduced consumption caused by the cutback in hot metal production, many sinter plants sat idle while others operated at greatly reduced rates. The deemphasis on production in many plants allowed them to experiment with various means to reduce operating costs. The most notable action was the introduction of low cost South American pellet feed fines into the sinter ore mix. These feed fines, which are finer than 150 µm (100 mesh) ore, were previously thought to be too fine for sintering. However, when the full production rate is not required the use of up to 40% in the ore mix was reported to be successful with the aid of burnt lime and adequate premixing and granulation of the sinter mix before sintering. The emphasis on quality and tighter cost control also has resulted in a further breakthrough in sintering technology. It was recognized that good feed preparation-including selection of compatible ores, good blending, good pseudo-particle formation, additive size control increased bed depth, and closed control of the sintering bed heat pattern-could allow the production of high quality sinters with much lower heat input and FeO level. Bed depth of more than 600 mm (23.6 in.) was practiced in a number of operations. Total heat input of better than 1.3 GJ/t (290,300 kcal per st) has been achieved. Kawasaki Steel's Chiba Works has also achieved a 5.3% SiO2 in the sinter with good quality. The low heat input approach allowed production

Jan 5, 1983

By C. Patrick

Longwall face-to-face transfers can cost over $100 per minute in lost production potential and $100,000 for personnel and supplies. Such high cost makes extensive planning and control of the transfer process a critical necessity for the economic feasibility of longwall operations. This paper reports operations research techniques used for the analysis and modeling of longwall face-to-face transfers. Transfer data has been collected from companies who operate over 30% of the total U.S. longwall faces. Comprehensive sequence networks of existing longwall transfers were developed; simulation models of transfers under varying conditions were generated; and, the economics of general transfers and time-cost tradeoffs in the transfer procedure were investigated.

Jan 1, 1993

By Wedam Nyaaba, Edward Wellman, Angelina Anani, Eduardo Cordova, Sefiu O, Cluber Rojas, Adewuyi

This study aims to investigate the optimal method for ore pass construction in incompetent rock masses. We evaluated the conventional and raise boring methods based on safety, efficiency, excavation control and ground support for ore pass construction. A stability analysis using analytical Q-raise (QR method) and kinematic analysis methods for ore pass construction with a raise borer before and after grout injection of the rock mass was performed. As a case study, an ore pass (diameter of 3 m, depth of 100 m) within an incompetent rock mass was considered to gain further insight. The rock mass was characterized according to the classification methods Q Barton, rock quality designation (RQD), rock mass rating (RMR) and geological strength index (GSI). The grout intensity number (GIN) method of grout injection was used. The safety factor of less than 1.075 obtained before injection was lower than the acceptance criteria. However, grout injection before raise borer excavation resulted in a safety factor greater than 1.5. Using a raise borer without pre-grouting indicated that the maximum unsupported diameter (MUSD) of the ore pass was less than the required 3 m and equal to or larger than 3 m post-grouting.

Dec 1, 2024

By J. R. R. Bowling, A. McFadden, M. Francoeur

The abstract discusses the increasing use of extensive duct-fan systems in underground hard-rock mine development. It highlights the challenges of designing these systems, particularly the risk of partial vacuum and the need for careful booster fan positioning. The paper explores factors influencing the design of these systems, including component limitations, operational wear margins, and power constraints. It also defines the concept of partial vacuum and its impact on ventilation ducts. The authors propose an algorithmic approach for specifying the location and blade pitch of in-line booster fans to prevent system failure.

Mar 17, 2022

By L. P. Meade

Dimension stone and salt are two of the oldest industrial minerals utilized. Salt has been and still is a necessity to the well being of man. Dimension stone on the other hand has been utilized by man to glorify conquests - both in the battlefield and corporate arena. Both commodities are important, but dimension stone has an additional use in that the survival lessons learned by the domestic industry can be applied to other contemporary industrial minerals, Specialization in the market place and customer service have allowed domestic producers to survive: subsidized foreign competition, obsolete equipment, and lack of capital.

Jan 1, 1986

By Philip-Mark Spanidis, Christos Roumpos, Francis Pavloudakis

This paper presents a quantitative research (QNR) methodology, collaboratively conducted with a group of mining experts, to assess the knowledge management (KM) landscape in the Greek mining industry. The methodology involves a framework for structured data collection using questionnaires, statistical analysis, discussion on critical methodological aspects, and interpretation of results focusing on key aspects of interest for designers of KM systems. The paper concludes by summarizing the methodology’s outcome and proposing perspectives for further research.

Aug 1, 2024

By John A. Wolfe

The concepts of sea floor spreading and plate tectonics provide more logical explanations of some geologic processes than were possible a few years ago. I plan to premise my discussion of the regional features of Philippine porphyry copper deposits on this tectonic basis, recognizing that parts of the picture can be explained in other ways, but in the belief that this is the best explanation of the whole. The sequence of events which results in the formation of Porphyry deposits (Figure 1) can be summarized as the result of collision of crustal plates, subduction of the oceanic plate, emplacement of a serpentine ultrabasic diapir, formation of a dioritic magma at depths of 300 to 500 km, rise of the magma to a sub crustal or intra-crustal chamber, eruption of andesitic volcanoes, emplacement of diorite or differentiation of the magma into more acidic products, multiple intrusion of hypabyssal rocks and hydro-

Jan 1, 1973

By S. D. Bearden

The world's reserve base is adequate for at least 100 years at the current consumption rate. China, India, and the U.S. are expected to remain the leading producing countries. The U.S. will continue to be the largest consumer of the production. None of the known substitutes for barium sulfate are expected to impact existing applications. World production in 1995 was 4,410Mt. This is about 50% of the projected capacity. Consumption is directly proportional to hydro-carbon well installation activity. Imports are expected to continue to supply more than half of the U.S. requirements.

Jan 1, 1997

By Robert A. Irvine

Traditionally, cost effective gains in the capacity of material handling systems were a result of increases in equipment size. In general, the use of maximum capacity components in a system optimizes the production "costs per ton." The trend-"Bigger is Better" will continue in material handling equipment. Since it is rare for plant operators to lament an over abundance of screening capacity, one can safely predict that vibrating screens will follow this trend. Large Vibrating Screens - The Challenge Large vibrating screens represent a unique challenge for Manufacturers, Plant Designers, and Plant Operators. The inherent mode of operation for vibrating screens is self-destructive. More often than Manufacturers admit, Designers plan for, or Operators staff for, a vibrating screen succeeds and self-destructs. This is a problem. It can magnify with larger vibrating screens.

Jan 1, 1983

By R. Addison

This is the story of the Carlton Mill. But first-a little geography. For those who do not know where the Carlton Mill is, or, perhaps, have only a vague idea, its location is indicated in Figure 1. The plant is situated on the road between the two old mining towns of Cripple Creek and Victor, 10 the west of Colorado Springs. From Denver, it's about 110 miles by road. The story of the Carlton Mill began with the discovery of gold at Cripple Creek in 1890. This discovery set off a major boom such that, by the turn of the century, there were 450 separate operating mines in the district. Gold production boomed early and declined rather rapidly as indicated by the graph in Figure 2. Significant factors affecting production are shown on the graph-the raising of the gold price in 1934 from $20.67 to $35.00 per ounce and the government executive order L-208 in 1942 requiring the closure of all gold mines.

Jan 1, 1983

By Mokhinabonu Mardonova, Yosoon Choi

Open-source technology to support Industry 4.0 has become the target of academic research in many sectors. This study reviews the trends of open-source technology, its forms, and some industrial applications. As a case study of the use of open-source hardware and software in the mining industry, this study proposed a low-cost environmental monitoring system for nonmetallic underground mines to support mine safety and occupational health. The system was developed using open-source hardware, Arduino and 3D printer, to design the monitoring device, and open-source software, MIT App Inventor, to develop an Android application for smartphones to enable remote communication with the system. Field experiments were conducted at an underground tunnel and a nonmetallic underground mining site to assess the performance of the system in mobile and static modes, respectively. Although a few limitations related to the precision of the low-cost dust and gas sensors exist, the findings of the experiments show that the mining industry can benefit from open-source technology deployment when considering cost factors.

By J. A. Herbst, Z. Rogovin, Lo. Y. C., K. Rajamani

Knowledge of the amount of time material spends in a continuous mill in a closed grinding circuit is essential for circuit performance analysis and scale-up design. A convenient method for acquiring this information involves the use of pulse tracers in residence time distribution (RTD) experiments. In typical grinding circuit experiments, RTD measurements are done by injecting a pulse tracer into the mill inlet and detecting it in the circuit exit. In this article, an easy mathematical method for calculating mean residence time and the degree of mixing of material in a mill present in a closed grinding circuit is developed. There are no restrictions on the location of the tracer injection or detection points with this method. Any convenient location in the circuit can be chosen without affecting the residence time distribution measured. The analysis of impulse response data obtained from several commercial grinding circuits using this method is presented.

Jan 1, 1988