Search Documents

By Jack S. Watson, Rasika Nimkar, Robert M. Counce, BRADLEY BENNETT, Patrick Zhang

This study level process design represents an economically viable method for extracting thorium dioxide and other rare earth elements from monazite ore. This paper incorporates results from the 2019 capstone project from the honors Design Internship in Green Engineering in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. In this activity, senior students in Chemical Engineering at the University of Tennessee (UT) focused on the development and study of a process for the recovery of thorium dioxide and P2O5 from monazite. While not mandated, the process offers rare earth oxides as attractive byproducts. The project focused on recovery of byproducts rather than the creation or addition to waste streams. Additionally, (1) the process economics relied heavily on recovery of rare earth byproducts, (2) thoriumhandling portions of the process could be effectively segregated from rare earth and phosphate handling portions of the process, and (3) thorium and uranium content of waste streams should be carefully managed and eliminated where possible.

May 29, 2020

By A. Nieto

This article is a review of previous discussions about underground mining method selection and classification with the purpose to clearly define and classify the two groups of variables (indicators) involved in the mining selection process: key deposit indicators (KDIs) and key mining method indicators (KMIs). This paper provides a simple and clear approach for the classification and selection of a feasible underground mining method based on a predetermined set of favorable deposit characteristics, which are defined as key deposit indictors (KDIs). This article also gives a summary of the key advantages and disadvantages associated with every underground mining method based on their key mining indicators (KMIs). The selection method given in this paper is based on defining field KDIs and comparing them to the KDIs that are favorable to every considered mining method. By cross validating a matrix of favorable KDIs, the paper presents a simple approach to rank several underground mining methods using a scale from favorable to less favorable accordingly to the ore deposit characteristics (KDIs). KMIs are used to further complement KDI rankings by analyzing every method’s KMI performance based on the expected productivity of the mining operation being considered. To further assist the reader through the selection process, this paper gives basic sketches representing each of the primary underground mining methods discussed in this paper. Each method is given using the same 3D isometric view as spatial reference to assist the reader with visual interpretation and comparison between methods.

Jan 1, 2010

By Erich K. Bender

This report summarizes work performed under Phase I of USBM Contract No. H0366024, Noise Reduction of Jumbo Mounted Percussive Drills. Four drills -Gardner-Denver D93LAR and DH123 and Ingersoll-Rand 0475 and VL120 models were measured at the two manufacturers? test sites; data are given in terms of characteristic noise and vibration levels. A survey of percussive rock drill users is reported. The rationale for the choice of a demonstration drill, the Gardner-Denver DH123, is given and a desired noise reduction goal is established.

Jan 1, 1976

By N. Kanari

The thermal decomposition studies of two zinc basic carbonate samples were carried out up to 400 "C by thermogravimetric analysis, boat experiments and differential scanning calorimetry measurements 'DSC'. The initial samples and the solid decomposition products were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction and laser particle size analyzer. The thermal decomposition of both samples started at about 150 "C and the rate of decomposition became significant at temperatures higher than 200 "C. The apparent activation energies 'Ea' in the temperature range 150-240 "C for sample decomposition were between 132 and 153 kJ1mole depending on the sample origin. The XRD analyses of the intermediately decomposed samples and the DSC results up to 400 "C suggest that the decomposition reaction probably occur in a single step.

Jan 1, 2002

By Niels Verbaan

NioCorp is developing the niobium/scandium/titanium Elk Creek carbonatite deposit. The probable reserve announced by the company in 2017 indicated significant niobium (0.79% Nb2O5), titanium (2.81% TiO2), and scandium (71 g/t), and is composed predominantly of calcite, dolomite, and ankerite. Niobium is mostly (80%) contained in pyrochlore with the balance in various Fe-Nb-Ti oxides, which also host most of the titanium. Scandium is primarily deported in dolomite, with lesser quantities in pyrochlore and biotite. The process flowsheet recovers separate niobium, titanium, and scandium products. Scandium is extracted from whole ore hydrochloric acid leach solutions using solvent extraction and is further refined through a re-leach and precipitation process. Scandium leach residues are treated in a sulphuric acid sulphation process to recover separate niobium and titanium precipitates as well as to solubilize the remaining scandium. Both hydrochloric acid and sulphuric acid reagents are recycled within the flowsheet. This paper will discuss key bench and pilot test results of the niobium extraction and recovery circuits and will present a conceptual flowsheet developed by the project team for NioCorp at SGS Minerals.

By Nicolás Ariel Zabala

During the make-up and break-out of the connections, threaded joints are exposed to intense mechanical and tribological solicitations. The connection performance is influenced by its geometry, material properties, surface treatments and thread compound. The aim of this work is to evaluate and characterize the tribological behavior of different thread compounds applied on manganese phosphated carbon steel under low speed and high pressure sliding contact. Four thread compounds were evaluated: one containing lead, zinc and graphite; other lead-free, containing copper and finally, the last two lead-free and containing non-metallic solids. The tribological behavior was analyzed by a block-on-ring tribotest. During the test, load varied linearly between 250 N and 7000 N; loading and unloading lasted 14 sec and were performed in opposite directions of rotation to simulate the make-up and break-out operations. Friction force and load as a function of time were registered. Upon completion of the test, wear surfaces were analyzed by SEM, optical microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy. The obtained results show that the lead and zinc containing thread compound displayed the best behavior, showing a wear reduction of approximately 20%. These results are in line with previously known oilfield experience. Average COF values around 0.15 were measured and no significant differences between dopes were observed; indicating that the wear behavior was influenced by the additive package.

Jul 31, 2018

By BUREAU OF MINES

This report is submitted in accordance with the provisions of the Synthetic Liquid Fuels Act of April 5, 1944 (30 U.S C. 321-325, as amended), which require that: "The Secretary of the Interior shall render to Congress on or before the first day of January of each year a report on all operations under this Act." Owing to the broad scope of the content and the diversity of interests represented, the Annual Report for 1953 has been divided into two separate publications. Each has been published by the Bureau of Mines as a Report of Investigations, and the respective titles follow: R. I. 5043, Part I - 011 From Coal. R. I. 5044, Part II 011 From 011 Shale. - Identical in each report, the introduction summarizes research progress made in 1953 under the entire Synthetic Liquid Fuels program. A free copy of each of these publications may be obtained by a written request to the Bureau of Mines, Publications Distribution Section, 4800 Forbes Street, Pittsburgh 13, Pa. The R. I. number and title of the publication desired should be indicated.

Apr 1, 1954

By David D. Walker

The purpose of the investigation was to describe and appraise tungsten deposits in Montana . The work supplements previous investigations made by Pattee ( 10 ) and Walker ( 17 ) in selected areas of the State . Scheelite deposits in tactite are the most numerous and most important economically , having accounted for nearly all of the State's tungsten production . Of the 64 deposits examined during the current study , 50 contained scheelite , 11 hubnerite , 2 wolframite , and 1 ferberite . The State's major tungsten production has been from scheelite deposits in Beaverhead County . The report lists , by counties , the type and grade of each deposit . The more important occurrences are accompanied by geological and assay maps .

Jan 1, 1963

By Thiago Vieira Lopes

O mercado siderúrgico atual encontra-se cada vez mais competitivo e exige das empresas esforços na diminuição do custo de produção para que seus produtos mantenham atratividade no cenário global. A incorporação crescente de produtos siderúrgicos oriundos da Ásia no mercado ocidental obriga as indústrias encontrarem alternativas de diminuição de custo de produção, as rotas para que tal objetivo seja alcançado geralmente estão ligadas ao aumento do rendimento metálico e diminuição no tempo de processamento dos produtos. O equipamento gargalo na linha de laminação a quente da CSN, é a cadeira reversível da laminação de desbaste, R2, e pequenas reduções de tempo no processamento de placas são responsáveis por incrementos elevados na produtividade da laminação. Visando ampliar a competitividade da CSN no cenário siderúrgico foi criada uma função, chamada RM-NECK, no modelo matemático do laminador que classifica todos os materiais gargalo desbaste por grau, espessura, largura, número de fornos de reaquecimento e comprimento de placa, permitindo assim, a diminuição no tempo de processamento na zona do VE2/R2. O estudo evoluiu para um verdadeiro trabalho em equipe, envolvendo especialistas da manutenção e operação e, consolidando anos de experiência no desenvolvimento de um algorítmo inteligente o suficiente para reduzir o tempo de processo observando os princípios da teoria das restrições.

Aug 17, 2017

By Marco Vinicio Guamán Alarcón

O modelo do Gradiente de Tensão (SG) e a Teoria da Distância Crítica (TCD) são usados para estimar o limite de fadiga de corpos de prova com entalhes alongados, e essas estimativas são testadas em C(T) modificados submetidos a tensões cíclicas de amplitude constante com uma razão de tensão R = 0.1. Os valores medidos são comparados com as previsões feitas por ambos os modelos. As previsões do modelo SG estiveram mais de acordo com os resultados experimentais. Também foi demonstrado que o modelo SG é quase equivalente à TCD no caso de entalhes com raios grandes, quando a TCD usa o método do ponto. Para o caso de entalhes afiados, os valores dos limites de fadiga previstos pela TCD são mais conservativos que os previstos pelo modelo SG.

Aug 17, 2017

By T. J. Loyd

The capabilities of the analog computer, the Mine Ventilation Simulator, installed at WHA's Safety and Health Technology Center in Denver, Colorado, are discussed. General opera- ting procedures are described showing how a mine model is produced, and how the model can subsequently be modified to produce a solution to a mine ventilation problem. A sample problem is included to illustrate the technique. The important role the Mine Ventilation Simulator plays in ventilation training is discussed, including experiences with the education of students at the Colorado School of Mines. This paper includes a summary of some of the advantages and disadvantages of the analog technique and suggests some design criteria for application to future development of analog computers, based on experience gained with the Mine Ventilation Simulator.

Jan 1, 1984

By J. N. Breston, R. V. Hughes

Conclusions drawn by previous research workers with reSPect to the relation between Pressure gradients and/or velocity and oil recovery obtained by laboratory water flood tests have been in disagreement probably due to variable procedures and unnatural conditions and materials. The Bradford Laboratory of the Pennsylvania Grade Crude Oil Association as part of its secondary recovery research program has conducted nineteen water floods on two long cores of widely differing characteristics in an attempt to clarify this relationship and make it an aid in predicting flooding pressures in the field. Unlike previous research procedures the present experiments were conducted with the aim of duplicating field conditions as closely as possible by using long unextracted consolidated cores, a live crude, and natural brines for both flooding and, connate water content. Also, the pressure gradients and flooding velocities were representative of field conditions where similar sands were being flooded. Eleven floods on one core and eight floods on the other core showed increased recoveries and lower residual oil saturation with increased flood pressure gradients and flood velocities. A marked decrease in recovery was obtained from both cores at very low flood velocities. This pressure versus recovery relationship is shown to hold up to the point of water breakthrough and also up to the 100 and 1 produced water to oil ratio point. INTRODUCTION The possibility of water flooding oil sands was suggested by Carl1 of the Pennsylvania Geological Survey in 1880. It is not known when the practice was tried intentionally for the first time, but its beneficial effects were noted in the annual production rate of the Bradford field as early as 1907. The practice was illegal in Pennsylvania until 1921. Early water floods in the Bradford field usually consisted of shooting or splitting the casing secretly to permit subsurface waters to enter the producing sands under hydrostatic head. As it was noted that the benefits of water flooding seemed to be proportional to the quantity of water dumped into the well many also began to utilize surface sources after the practice became legal. It was probably during the middle 20's before many producers realized that the pressurehead of the water upon the producing sand determined the rate and quantity of water that would enter the sand. Hence, rate and quantity of production appeared to be a direct function of input pressures. By 1927 a few producers had ventured the installation of pressure pumps in order to increase water-input rates and production through the combination of hydrostatic and hydraulic pressures. The adoption of pressure flooding and the "five-spot" drilling pattern in the Bradford field were essentially simultaneous. Water-input pressures in 1930 seldom exceeded 300 p.s.i. at the well head or 1100 p.s.i. at the sand face. Since that time, water-flood producers in the Bradford-Allegany fields have gone to higher and higher pressure until today 600 p.s.i. at the well heads is called a low pressure flood. Many high pressure floods now operate at 1300-1400 p.s.i. at the well head. The limiting and advisable pressure at the sand face has been pronounced as that pressure just under what is required to lift the overburden or to cause formation parting: According to this rule any water flood operation utilizing well-head pressures nearly equal in pounds per sq. in. to 1.1 times the average depth in feet to the top of the producing sand would be considered as a high-pressure flood. Despite the higher pressure trends in the Bradford-Allegany field operations and the results of early laboratory water flooding research, the desirability and benefits of high input pressures are still questioned by many operators, particularly in midwestern water flood operations. The present paper recounts a series of 19 laboratory water floods using two long, consolidated cores of widely differing characteristics saturated with live crude and flooded with oil field brines in an effort to simulate field conditions under • various pressure gradients and flooding velocities. For both cores, higher recoveries and lower residual oil saturations were obtained at higher pressure gradients and flood velocities. This relationship is shown to hold up to the water breakthrough point and also up to the 100 to 1 produced water to oil ratio point.

Jan 1, 1949

By R. V. Hughes, J. N. Breston

Conclusions drawn by previous research workers with reSPect to the relation between Pressure gradients and/or velocity and oil recovery obtained by laboratory water flood tests have been in disagreement probably due to variable procedures and unnatural conditions and materials. The Bradford Laboratory of the Pennsylvania Grade Crude Oil Association as part of its secondary recovery research program has conducted nineteen water floods on two long cores of widely differing characteristics in an attempt to clarify this relationship and make it an aid in predicting flooding pressures in the field. Unlike previous research procedures the present experiments were conducted with the aim of duplicating field conditions as closely as possible by using long unextracted consolidated cores, a live crude, and natural brines for both flooding and, connate water content. Also, the pressure gradients and flooding velocities were representative of field conditions where similar sands were being flooded. Eleven floods on one core and eight floods on the other core showed increased recoveries and lower residual oil saturation with increased flood pressure gradients and flood velocities. A marked decrease in recovery was obtained from both cores at very low flood velocities. This pressure versus recovery relationship is shown to hold up to the point of water breakthrough and also up to the 100 and 1 produced water to oil ratio point. INTRODUCTION The possibility of water flooding oil sands was suggested by Carl1 of the Pennsylvania Geological Survey in 1880. It is not known when the practice was tried intentionally for the first time, but its beneficial effects were noted in the annual production rate of the Bradford field as early as 1907. The practice was illegal in Pennsylvania until 1921. Early water floods in the Bradford field usually consisted of shooting or splitting the casing secretly to permit subsurface waters to enter the producing sands under hydrostatic head. As it was noted that the benefits of water flooding seemed to be proportional to the quantity of water dumped into the well many also began to utilize surface sources after the practice became legal. It was probably during the middle 20's before many producers realized that the pressurehead of the water upon the producing sand determined the rate and quantity of water that would enter the sand. Hence, rate and quantity of production appeared to be a direct function of input pressures. By 1927 a few producers had ventured the installation of pressure pumps in order to increase water-input rates and production through the combination of hydrostatic and hydraulic pressures. The adoption of pressure flooding and the "five-spot" drilling pattern in the Bradford field were essentially simultaneous. Water-input pressures in 1930 seldom exceeded 300 p.s.i. at the well head or 1100 p.s.i. at the sand face. Since that time, water-flood producers in the Bradford-Allegany fields have gone to higher and higher pressure until today 600 p.s.i. at the well heads is called a low pressure flood. Many high pressure floods now operate at 1300-1400 p.s.i. at the well head. The limiting and advisable pressure at the sand face has been pronounced as that pressure just under what is required to lift the overburden or to cause formation parting: According to this rule any water flood operation utilizing well-head pressures nearly equal in pounds per sq. in. to 1.1 times the average depth in feet to the top of the producing sand would be considered as a high-pressure flood. Despite the higher pressure trends in the Bradford-Allegany field operations and the results of early laboratory water flooding research, the desirability and benefits of high input pressures are still questioned by many operators, particularly in midwestern water flood operations. The present paper recounts a series of 19 laboratory water floods using two long, consolidated cores of widely differing characteristics saturated with live crude and flooded with oil field brines in an effort to simulate field conditions under • various pressure gradients and flooding velocities. For both cores, higher recoveries and lower residual oil saturations were obtained at higher pressure gradients and flood velocities. This relationship is shown to hold up to the water breakthrough point and also up to the 100 to 1 produced water to oil ratio point.

Jan 1, 1949

By Z. Xingrong, L. Jiongtian, Z. Yangge, C. Yijun, L. Liang, H. Yangjia, H. Long

In this present research, a polymer poly (acrylamide-allyl thiourea) (PAM-ATU) with an average molecular weight 1.66 × 104 g/mol was used as a depressant in the flotation separation of molybdenite from chalcopyrite and galena. The micro-flotation experimental results showed that PAM-ATU exhibited a strong influence on the flotation performances of chalcopyrite and galena, but had little effect on that of molybdenite within a pH range of 9.0~11.0 at a dosage of lower than 6.0 mg/L. The flotation results of bulk flotation tests illustrated that PAM-ATU showed a stronger depression power than sodium thioglycollate (TGA) and sodium sulfide. The comparison results demonstrated that PAM-ATU and TGA had an advantage in reducing galena and chalcopyrite impurities in the molybdenum concentrate, respectively. With the combination of PAM-ATU and TGA, a good flotation separation result was achieved through one roughing operation where the recovery of molybdenum in the froth product was over 75.0%, while the recovery of copper and lead were less than 22.0% and 15.0%, individually. It was also found that a molybdenum concentrate with Mo grade of 46.32%, Cu grade of 0.16%, Pb grade of 0.06%, was obtained by a closed circuit flotation flowsheet of one roughing-three scavenging-five cleaning with a Mo recovery of 77.67%. Keywords: PAM-ATU, molybdenite, depressant, chalcopyrite, galena

Jan 1, 2020

By Sergio Quiñones Manga

En los circuitos de molienda de la Concentradora Toquepala fue implementado el Sistema Experto con el objetivo de optimizar la capacidad de molienda. En este sentido, el presente texto describe la operación de este sistema en dicha concentradora, así como sus beneficios en la minería. El Sistema Experto se basa en una plataforma proporcionada por un software, al cual ha sido integrada en forma de modelos matemáticos y lógicas de control, la experiencia operativa de profesionales y técnicos de la Concentradora Toquepala. De forma que las acciones del Sistema Experto están orientadas a maximizar el tonelaje procesado, manteniendo en la pulpa producida para la flotación, así como las condiciones de calidad adecuadas para optimizar las recuperaciones de los elementos valiosos.

Sep 14, 2009

By J. W. Davis

The storage stability characteristics of a diesel type fuel were determined to evaluate the effect of the polar compounds in the fuel. These compounds, comprising most of the nitrogen and oxygen containing compounds and many sulfur containing compounds, were separated from the fuel with a chromatographic column. This fraction was further separated into three polar extracts by graded elution through the column. Each extract was characterized. A storage program using the depolarized fuel, the fuel as received, and blends of the extracts with both fuels, was conducted. Results showed that the removal of the more polar components stabilized the fuel. Blending the polar extracts with the original fuel and with the depolarized fuel in the same ratio as they existed originally and at two and three times the original ratio increased the amount of gum present before storage, but had little effect on the formation of additional gum during storage. Distillate fuels produced by commercial refining of petroleum contain traces of organic nitrogen, sulfur, and oxygen compounds that are more polar4 than the remainder of the fuel. Recent laboratory studies by the Federal Bureau of Mines (1),6 in which these compounds were removed from a fuel, have shown that they influence its storage stability. The objective of this work was to determine the amount of these compounds present in a fuel and their effect upon its stability in storage. To evaluate the role of these polar compounds, it is necessary to remove them from the distillate fuel. Many can be removed by chemical treatment (2), but such treatment precludes reblending the polar components to approximate the original fuel composition. Solvent extraction is free of some of the criticism of chemical treatment, but it is more difficult because of the complex mixture from which compounds must be removed.

Jan 1, 1961

By A. C. Richardson

The mine of the Porter Coal Co. is located at the town of Porter in the northwestern part of Jefferson County, Ala., about 20 miles west of Birmingham. The operations in this mine are confined to the middle and bottom benches of the Mary Lee bed. The coal from the Porter mine is handpicked and washed before being placed on the market. The handpicked lump coal and the washed egg and nut coal are sold chiefly as domestic and steam-raising fuel. The coal finer than 1 inch is washed in 2-compartment jigs and utilized in the manufacture of metallurgical coke. The coal company has found that, when coal ranging in size from 1 to 0 inch is washed in jigs, a considerable amount of high-ash material finer than 3/16 inch remains in the washed coal. This paper gives the results of an investigation which was conducted for the purpose of determining the washing characteristics of the through 3/16-inch raw coal and the extent to which the ash might be reduced by means of coal-washing tables. This investigation has been made in connection with an extensive study of the coal-washing problems now being conducted by the United States Bureau of Mines and the University of Alabama, with the cooperation of the coal-mining companies of the State.

Jan 1, 1933

By W. L. Sherwood

Present conventional techniques for primary steelmaking in both integrated and non-integrated plants are outlined. 'Direct reduction' alternatives are reviewed and categorized according to the nature of the product produced, with particular emphasis on the limited number designed to yield steel as the end product. A proposed new technique, referred to as the Sherwood Process, is described in some detail as a new combination of selected features from the prior technology. This process is in-tended to realize, in integrated operations, the result of continuons steelmaking directly from the ore in a single plant and, in non-integrated operations, continuons steel-making from a metallic charge of scrap, sponge iron or pig iron. Prominent features are continuons processing in elongated, horizontal, rotary furnace equipment, controlled direct heating of each process stage and, for the over-all integrated process, a size separation for removal of excess solid reductant and other waste just prior to the melting step. Material and energy balances are presented as well as exemplary cost data. Reasons for selecting this particular combination of process elements are dis-cussed.

Jan 1, 1968

By J. Kabuya Mukendi, F. Brunet, J. Hadjigeorgiou, P. Matte, D. Leblanc, M. Grenon

La stabilité des bancs miniers est un élément important de la conception des fosses. Il n’y a pas de consensus sur les critères à utiliser pour évaluer la fiabilité des bancs miniers. Lors de la conception des fosses, la fiabilité des bancs miniers est analysée à l’aide d’un ou deux critères. L’objectif de cet article est d’analyser l’efficacité de la conception des bancs miniers de la fosse Tiriganiaq du projet minier Meliadine par rapport à des critères de fiabilité rencontrés dans la littérature et la pratique. L’article présente les similitudes et les différences entre les résultats obtenus pour les différents critères et propose une approche multicritère systématique pour évaluer la fiabilité des bancs miniers à l’aide de cartes de susceptibilité.

Jan 1, 2012

By J. Burrows

The Chamber of Mines of South Africa is an association of major mining corporations, gold mines, coal mines, diamond mines and other metalliferous mines. It looks after those interests of its members which can best be handled on a co-operative basis. The Chamber's activities include the engagement of labour; the negotiations of all labour matters, including minimum wage rates, with recognised trade unions and associations; the carrying out of advanced technological research; representing the industry in dealings with the government and the administration of miners' training colleges and rescue training stations. Subsidiary companies of the Chamber handle matters such as the refining of gold and other metals; the processing and marketing of uranium and the marketing of Krugerrands. The thirty-two gold mines members of the Chamber of Mines of South Africa produce approximately 694 tons of gold per annum. To achieve this they employ 430000 persons and break about 8400 kilotons of rock per month. The working revenue is approximately 4 225 million US dollars per annum and the annual working profit is approximately 2 050 million US dollars. The electric power consumed by the gold mining industry is 1650 MW, about 20% of the total power produced in South Africa, and the annual costs of this power is approximately 200 million US dollars per annum. It is estimated that about 25% of this power is used for ventilation and refrigeration appliances. Thus the annual power costs for ventilation and refrigeration is approximately 50 million US dollars. The gold bearing reef is a narrow tabular deposit situated at varying depths throughout the gold fields. The weighted mean rock breaking depths and, virgin rock temperatures range from 1 700 - 9 000 ft (520 - 2 740 m) and 68 - 113°F (20 - 45°C) respectively. The maximum virgin rock temperature at which mining currently takes place is 130°F (54.5 C). Obviously at such depths and temperatures and with such a large labour force the provision of an acceptable environment is critical and to achieve this 59 000 000 cfm (28 000 m3/s) of air is downcasted during the main shift and 122500 tons (430 MW) of refrigeration are provided. Legislation in South Africa requires that on metalliferous mines when more than 1000 persons are employed underground during any one shift the manager shall appoint one or more ventilation officers. The legal responsibilities of the ventilation officers are concerned mainly with the measurement and control of dust. In practice, this is not the main part of their work and ventilation personnel perform many other duties such as measuring and controlling the distribution of air, checking the performance of fans and cooling plants, planning air and refrigeration requirements and, more recently, measuring and controlling noise and illumination levels. Ventilation personnel are specialists who provide management with advice on all matters relating to the mine environment. At the present time there are 506 persons engaged as ventilation personnel in gold mines and a further 1744 persons are employed in gold mine ventilation departments in a non-technical capacity, for example as construction workers, filter cleaners, fire patrollers, etc.

Jan 1, 1980