Search Documents

By J. Weertman

The paper of Gifkins and Snowden considers the interesting but difficult problem of determining the stress dependence of secondary (steady-state) creep at low stresses. These authors have concluded that at stresses below 250 psi (2 x 107 dynes per sq cm) the secondary creep rate of lead is proportional to the stress (viscous creep) and is not proportional to the stress raised to about a fifth power. The experimental data considered by them were obtained on tests conducted at room temperature and at 50°C. The lowest stress employed was 50 psi (3.5 X 106 dynes per sq cm). The authors pointed out the main difficulty in determining the stress dependence of creep at low stresses. The creep tests must be run for very long lengths of time. However they made no estimates of when an experimental creep rate determination must be rejected because it does not represent a true steady-state or minimum creep rate. In order to be certain that a creep curve is within the steady-state region, the total creep strain should be of the order of 0.1 to 0.2. For a creep test of a year's duration this requirement implies that a secondary creep rate smaller than about 10-3 per hr cannot be measured reliably. The corresponding creep rate for a 10-year test is 10-6 per hr. The creep rates of the tests that were considered by the authors to prove the existence of viscous creep were of the order of or less than 10-6 per hr. One can conclude reasonably that this data does not prove unambiguously that large strain steady-state creep rate of lead is proportional to the stress in the stress range of 50 to 250 psi (3.5 x 106 to 2 X 107 dynes per sq cm). Another technique can be used to obtain the stress dependence at low stress levels. The creep rate is a very sensitive function of temperature. The creep rate can be increased by very large amounts merely by increasing the temperature. We carried out steady-state creep tests on lead single crystals25 at temperatures up to 320°C. We were able to obtain creep rate data down to stresses as low as 35 psi (2.5 x 10' dynes per sq cm). Our smallest creep rate was 8 x 10-5 per hr. Thus we obtained large strain, steady-state creep rates to even lower stresses than were considered by Gifkins and Snowden. No evidence was seen for viscous creep. The creep rate was proportional to the stress raised to about a 4.5 power down to the lowest stresses. Since there is no reason to believe that changing the temperature should change the stress dependence of steady-state creep, we feel that large strain viscous creep does not occur in the stress range quoted by the authors for lead single crystals or large-grain polycrystalline samples of lead. This conclusion does not imply that viscous creep may nat occur in a lower stress range or in the same stress range for fine grain material or at creep strains very much smaller than 0.1. Support by the U.S. Office of Naval Research is acknowledged. Authors' Reply R. C. Gifkins and K. U. Snowden We thank Dr. Weertman for his discussion and although, as we hope to show, we do not agree with his reservations, we do concur in stressing the importance of ensuring that creep rates are reliably obtained. Dr. Weertman appears to be content to accept n = 1 for low stresses with fine-grained material but not for single crystals. We believe our results show that the former result cannot be accepted without also accepting the latter. We will also show that the probable errors in our minimum creep rates are insufficient to alter our conclusions, that the criterion proposed by Dr. Weertman is arbitrarily restrictive and his alternative experimental approach possibly invalid. 1) A principal result of our Fig. 1(a) is that n = 1 for polycrystalline specimens at room temperature and 50°C for stresses below -250 psi. There was evidence that crystal slip and grain boundary sliding contributed approximately equaily to the overall strain in this low-stress regime. This implies that either a) grain boundary sliding controls slip within the grains or b) both grain boundary sliding and crystal slip independently occur according to mechanisms which give n = 1. Alternative a does not seem acceptable, so we were forced to consider b. This led us to reexamine work on bicrystals by Strutt and Gifkins and plot curves Fig. l(b). Previously Strutt et al. (loc. cit.), had merged these points with others using the Zener-Holloman parameter and thus, we now believe, had been led to overlook the behavior where n = 1. Curves C and D in Fig. l(b) did appear to confirm the hypotheses that n = 1 for crystal slip at these low stresses and the sliding curve F was similarly of the expected form. It was comparatively easy to find a quantitative theory to account for n = 1 for sliding and the similarity of curves C and D to curve F (all obtained from the same set of specimens) led us to feel that the single-crystal curves were valid. 2) We believe the secondary creep rates for both the polycrystalline and single-crystal specimens to be in error by factors c2. In Fig. 6 creep curves for polycrystalline specimens of lead(1) and lead(II) are reproduced as curves a and b, respectively, and curve c is for a single crystal at 100 psi. It is clear that, although the attainment of secondary creep rate takes 2 years for a and 150 days for b, thereafter the curve is linear for periods of 7 and -1 year, respectively. The single crystal has a linear portion commencing after 20 and extending to 90 days. Creep extension was measured directly using a traveling microscope reading to 0.01 mm on gage lengths marked on the specimens; the gage lengths

Jan 1, 1968

By G. R. Leverant

RECENT investigations1,2 of the low-cycle fatigue behavior of pure copper under strain cycling conditions have shown that a unique saturation stress level is eventually attained for each value of applied plastic strain amplitude. The dislocation substructure of copper at the saturation stress level is in the form of cells whose diameter decreases with increasing saturation stress level, i.e., plastic strain amplitude. In addition, both the saturation stress level and the cellular substructure are completely reversible. That is, the saturation stress level and accompanying cell size are determined solely by the present conditions of testing and are, therefore, independent of any previous cyclic history. The mechanical and substructural reversibility observed in pure copper, which has a relatively high stacking fault energy, is not observedz for Cu-7.5A1 which has a much lower stacking fault energy. This implies that easy cross slip (wavy slip) is a prerequisite for reversible fatigue behavior. A dispersion of fine, nondeformable particles of a second phase in a metal matrix tends to stabilize substruc- tures introduced by forming operations during subsequent elevated-temperature heat treatments.3 This raises the question as to whether a finely dispersed second phase can induce an element of irre-versibility into the cyclic deformation behavior of a wavy slip material at room temperature, due to partial stabilization of the initially introduced substructure. Since nickel has a higher stacking fault energy than copper,6 pure nickel should be characterized by cyclic reversibility. Therefore, TD-nickel* (Ni-2ThO.r) was

Jan 1, 1968

By R. L. Bell, T. G. Langdon

A technique was developed- for determining the grain strain, and hence the grain boundary sliding contribution, occurring during the high- temperature creep of a magnesium alloy, from the distortion of a grid photographically printed on the specimen surface. The results were compared with those obtained from measurements of grain shape, both at the surface and interrwlly, and it was concluded that the grain shape technique may substantially underestimate the grain strain and overestimate the sliding contribution due to the tendency for migration to spheroidize the grains. ALTHOUGH a considerable volume of work has been published on the role of grain boundary sliding in high-temperature creep, many of the estimates of Egb (the contribution of grain boundary sliding to the total strain) have been in error due to the use of incorrect formulas or inadequate averaging procedures.' One of the most easy and convenient measurements from which to compute Egb is that of v, the step normal to the surface where a grain boundary is incident. Unfortunately, this parameter is also the one associated with the treatest number of pitfalls. Values of v have been used to calculate Egb from the equation: egb =knrVr [1] where k is a geometrical averaging factor, n is the number of grains per unit length before deformation, v is the average value of v, and the subscript ,r denotes the procedure of averaging along a number of randomly directed lines. If the dependence of sliding on stress were assumed, it would be possible, in principle, to calculate k from the known distribution of angles between boundaries and the surface. This in itself is difficult because the distribution depends on the history of the surface,' but the problem is even further complicated by the fact that v depends on other factors such as the unbalanced pressure from subsurface grains.3 However, the great simplicity of the measurement procedure for v makes it highly desirable that this problem of k determination should be overcome. In the present experiments, this was achieved by the use of an indirect empirical method in which the grain strain, eg, at the surface was determined by the use of a photographically printed grid. The assumption here is that the total strain, et, is simply the sum of that due to grain boundary sliding, egb, and that due to slip or other processes within the grains, eg. SO that: Et = Eg + Egb [2] Thus k is given by: In practice, it is customary to indicate the importance of sliding by expressing it as a percentage of the total creep strain; this quantity is termed y (= 100Egb/Et). The determination of Eg from a printed grid within the grains avoids the difficulties due to boundary migration which should be considered when the grain strain is calculated from measurements of the average grain shape before and after deformation. As first pointed out by Rachinger,4,5 however, this latter technique has the particular advantage that it can also be applied in the interior of a polycrystal. Recently, several workers have produced evidence on a variety of materials6-'' to support the observation, first made by Rachinger on aluminum,4,5 that 7 can be very high, 70 to 100 pct, in the interior, even when the surface value, determined from boundary offsets, is very much lower.10'11 Although there have been criticisms both of the shortcomings of the grain shape technique'' and of the different procedures used to determine y at the surface,' it seemed important to check whether measurements of sliding by grain shape gave values of y which were truly representative of the material. In the present experiments, grain shape measurements were therefore made both at the surface and in the interior for comparison with one another and with the independent measurements of grain strain using the surface grid technique. EXPERIMENTAL TECHNIQUES The material used in this investigation was Magnox AL80, a Mg-0.78 wt pct A1 alloy supplied by Magnesium Elektron Ltd., Manchester. Tensile specimens, about 7 cm in length, were prepared from a 1.27-cm-diam rod, with two parallel longitudinal flat faces each approximately 3 cm in length. The specimens were annealed for 2 hr in an oxygen-free capsule, at temperatures in the range 430° to 540°C, to give varying grain sizes, and, prior to testing, the grain size of each was carefully determined using the linear intercept method. This revealed that the grains were elongated -0.5 to 5 pct in the longitudinal direction. Testing was carried out in Dennison Model T47E machines under constant load at temperatures in the range 150" to 300°C. At temperatures of 200°C and below, tests were conducted in air with the polished flat faces coated with a thin film of silicone oil to prevent oxidation; at higher temperatures, an argon atmosphere was used. To determine v,, each test was interrupted at regular increments of strain and the specimen removed from the machine. At the lower strains, when v, was less than about 1 pm, measurements were taken on a Zeiss Linnik interference microscope;

Jan 1, 1969

By R. O. Williams

Analytical representation of the thermodynamics of solutions is highly desirable from the standpoint of accuracy, compactness, and numerical manipulations. In particular, computer calculations are greatly implemented. Mathematical considerations show that previous expressions have one or more serious defects. This investigation shows a Fourier series to be satisfactory but that it is also possible to derive a new series which fits certain additional conditions. Included examples show the value of analytical expressions in giving a simple characterization of each system using some two to five parameters, the elimination of the Gibbs-Duhem integration, and the es timation of the error for the experimental function as well as derived functions. It is further shown that the present characterization provides easy comparison between systems. IN the past, thermodynamic calculations have depended to a considerable extent on tabular and graphical methods. As the volume and precision of such data increase such methods become less satisfactory. Specifically, the selection of the optimum representation and the estimation of errors require statistical methods which in turn require analytical representation. The utilization of such data require further manipulations which are best done analytically for maximum precision. For example, phase equilibria are determined by common tangents to free-energy curves: a graphical determination is normally of low accuracy. As computers are increasingly used analytical representations become almost mandatory. Insufficient mathematical consideration has been given previously to the selection of empirical expressions. Those expressions having some theoretical justification are generally too inflexible and mathematically unattractive. We consider the problem in some detail and show that a Fourier series can be effectively used. Also a new series is defined which has certain advantages. ANALYSIS We wish to consider the analytical representation of the heat of mixing, AH, the excess free energy, ?Gxs, and the excess entropy, ?sXS, as a function of composition, X, for binary solutions relative to the pure components in the same state. When a distinction is not required, we use W to denote any one of the above functions. One may use a Taylor expansion around X = 0 to generate a power series. As the derivatives are un- known we represent the series as W = A + BX + CX2 + DX3 + EX4 + ... [l] where the constants A , B, C , ..- are to be selected to provide some optimum fit. For the extremes of composition W is necessarily zero so it follows that A = 0 [2a] B +C + D + E +••• = 0 [2b] Nonelectrolytes, which we are considering, appear to satisfy the condition that d3W/dx3 = 0 [3] in the terminal regions. This is the basis of the a, ß, and Q functions used by Hultgren et al.' and others. While this condition does not have a strong theoretical basis it does appear desirable that any analytical relation should satisfy this condition. Darken2 and Turk-dogan and Darken3 have shown that many systems exhibit this behavior over an extended range from each terminal region, departure being restricted to a limited intermediate region. Since we have no a priori knowledge as to where this transition occurs we can require that this condition be satisfied only as a limit at the extreme compositions as a general condition. We will show later how more restricted conditions can be included in specific solutions. Darken2 has called this behavior the quadratic formalism; we call our application the limiting quadratic formalism, LQF. This condition applied to the above power series requires that D = 0 [4a] 4-3-2E +5-4-3_F + 6 • 5 . 4G + ••• =0 [4b] The form of the power series normally used, due to Margules,4 is W=X(1-X)(A + BX + CX2 + DX3 + EX4 + •••) [5] where A, B, C, --. are a new set of constants. (Guggenheim5 has given a variation of this expression in a more desirable form. Since, however, it is contained in the above expression it does not require separate consideration.) This form is precisely what results by incorporating the conditions in Eq. [2] into the power series and regrouping the constants. The LQF requires that B =C [6a] and 4.3.2(D-C) +5-4-3(E-D) + ••• =0 [6b] Thus, the correct form of the Margules expression with two adjustable parameters is w =X(1-X)[A + B +X2-2/3x3)] 171 and the EX4 term must be included before three adjustable parameters are permitted.

Jan 1, 1970

By M. D. Flavel

Research programs conducted by Allis-Chalmers Corporation are showing that the most efficient energy use in crushers is achieved when the forces applied to particles undergoing breakage are increased. Laboratory bench scale tests have been developed to confirm this phenomena, which was first observed in the field using HYDROCOME crushers with automatic setting controls. A new testing machine is described and methods of maximizing such benefits are postulated. FOREWORD Allis-Chalmers Corporation was founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1847 as the E. P. Allis Company, which had an initial interest in manufacturing components in the grinding of flour. As such, its roots were started in reducing material size, which is covered by the generic term, comminution.

Jan 1, 1981

By Sunil K. Tripathy

Particle characteristics such as size, density, liberation and magnetic susceptibility play vital role in magnetic separation technique. To understand the performance of magnetic separation process for chromite beneficiation industry, particle characteristics need to be analysed. However, to date, this has been an expensive and time consuming task, thus only minimal amounts of this type of data are available in the literature. Several new methods are being developed, that will produce the required mineralogical and liberation data to provide processing information rapidly and inexpensively. Among these, QEMSCAN is a unique and advanced characterisation equipment used for liberation analysis for different ore whereas S.G. Franz Isodynamic Separator for determining the magnetic susceptibility. In Indian chromite deposits, the content of iron bearing minerals in the ore is typical which controls the Cr:Fe ratio in the product while treating in gravity based beneficiation plant. In the present investigation, detailed characterisation of two distinct chromite ore samples from Sukinda chromite deposit, India, was investigated which includes advanced mineral characterisation using QEMSCANand magnetic susceptibility measurement by using Frantz Isodynamic separator, etc.. Presence of haematite and gibbsite along with chromite mineral were identified as major gangue minerals in the high grade ore from XRD pattern whereas Goethite, Quartz, Haematite, Kaolinite, Ringwoodite identified in the low grade ore. The mass magnetic susceptibility of low grade ore is very high 5.2 cm3/g compared to 2.7 cm3/g for high grade ore, due to the presence of abundant quantity of iron bearing minerals. Subsequently, these two types of ore were subjected for magnetic separation for improving Cr:Fe ratio by using different magnetic separators viz. induced roll magnetic separator, wet high intensity magnetic separator, rare earth roll magnetic separator, rare earth drum magnetic separator. The results of magnetic separation studies indicated that, Cr: Fe ratio of the chromite ores can be improved to 3.99 and 1.97 from the feed assaying 3.09 and 1.29 respectively. Studies on rare earth roll magnetic separator indicated that both the ores were upgraded to a maximum Cr:Fe ratio level at optimised condition. Keywords: characterization, QEMSCAN, magnetic separation, rare earth roll magnetic separator, industrial mineral, chromite

Sep 1, 2012

By B Stump

Reliable particle size analysis in minerals processing plants is a critical factor to the economic return of a plant. As recovery of valuable minerals is compromised for particles outside the optimal size range, effective and reliable particle size analysis is more crucial than ever, particularly in the current upswing of the global commodities market. Inefficient particle size analysis can lead to excessive over-grinding, thereby significantly increasing energy consumption and reagent costs, whilst negatively affecting process operation, thickening capacity, water recovery and tailings disposal.Australia’s first installation of a particle size analyser in Iron Ore has been monitored with great interest by the industry. Previously, manual size sampling at Rio Tinto’s Paraburdoo fines processing plant involved off-site sample analysis, with a turnaround measured in days. The Outotec PSI® 500 particle size indicator, commissioned in July 2009, takes approximately three minutes per line at site.The paper will include details on the following:• plant description,• sampling design,• PSI® 500 analyser functionality description, and• key learnings from site.

Jul 11, 2011

By I. O. Otunniyi

The natural hydrophobic response flotation method for beneficiation of printed circuit board comminution fines (PCB CF) still requires many studies to further basic understanding of the process and the flotation traits that the PCB CF presents. Varying particle size distribution (PSD) and water recovery under the scheme show that higher mass pull, obtained at the finer PSD, gave lower water recovery but higher value loss. The reverse also holds: the least mass pull at the coarsest PSD used, -106 + 75 µm, gave the highest water recovery per unit mass pull with the highest reverse recovery. This is unlike what obtains in primary resources processing, where higher water recovery is often with increased fines entrainment. The reverse recovery loss here is, therefore, more due to entrapment with the heavy mass pull characteristic of the method than to the entrainment of value with water. Other peculiarities of the system observed are discussed, with the goal of improving the performance of the process, and broadening the general knowledge of flotation systems.

By E. J. Karges

[For reasons well known to Mining Engineers, fine grinding in the wet form is quite universal inn plants engaged in the traction of metallic values from crude ore In the processing, of non-metallic and industrial minerals, however, fine grinding in dry form is the more common method. The crude materials generally contain less moisture than required for wet grinding, and the products are usually marketed or used in the dry form, most of them as powders. To grind wet would therefore entail the addition of water and the expense for drying the product, which is not justified. This paper will concentrate on the particle size reduction or fine grinding of materials to produce a dry powder]

Jan 1, 1963

By Wenjun Duan, Zongliang Zuo, Qingbo Yu, Qin Qin, Junxiang Liu

Moving bed has been widely used in the field of heat and mass transfer and reaction between solid particles and gas. In order to enhance the heat exchange coefficient, there will be tube banks inserted in the moving bed. In the process of drying ammoniates particles or heat recovery from high-temperature particles with moving bed, the particles flow behavior around the tube banks is significant. In this paper, the particles flow behavior around the tube banks is investigated, and all the results can provide guidance for the design and operation of a moving bed.

Jan 1, 2016

By A. Noble

"In coal and mineral processing, several numeric parameters are used to quantify the separation performance of unit operations. For density-based separations, the partition curve is used as the starting point for many stages of diagnostic analyses. The curve is often quantified by its midpoint slope sharpness, and this single value is subsequently used for technical evaluation, benchmarking, and comparison. While this analytical approach does depict misplacement by relative density class, it inherently prioritizes middling separation and does not consider process economics or the micro-price value of individual classes. An alternative parameter, the organic efficiency, does indirectly consider process economics, but it does not reveal information on the root cause of lost revenue or misplacement. In this paper, a new analytical approach, the partition moment of inertia, is introduced. This parameter reconciles the technical misplacement data derived from the partition curve with the economic data derived from micro-pricing. The result is a new analytical procedure that promises better use of performance data. IntroductionPartition curves are commonly used in the characterization, evaluation and simulation of various physical separators. In mineral processing, partition curve analysis is routinely applied to hydrocyclones, screens, density separators and other beneficiation technologies that are based on intensive physical properties. Graphically, the partition curve depicts the recovery of particles as a function of the physical property on which the separation is based, such as particle density, size or magnetic susceptibility. Given the probabilistic nature of many real separators, the partition curve often exhibits a characteristic S shape (Fig. 1), similar to a cumulative normal distribution. Other geometric features of the curve are also depicted in Fig. 1, including the high and low closeout, or bypass, values; the midpoint slope; and the separation cut point, defined as the property value with 50 percent recovery.Partition curve analysis was originally proposed to evaluate coal washability (Tromp, 1937). Given the limited computational resources at the time, the analytical methods relied heavily on graphical construction and interpretation of the curve. Owing to the simplicity of calculation and interpretation, many of these graphical approaches are still widely used for performance analysis today. The most common calculations are based on the slope of the partition curve at the midpoint. Increased slopes correspond to enhanced separation performance, as a perfect separation exhibits a stepwise transition from 0 to 1 at the desired cut point, that is, an infinitely large slope. One common formulation of this slope, the Ecart Probable, Ep, is derived by evaluating the slope between the 25 and 75 percent recovery points:"

Jan 1, 2016

By Pierre Lacombe

"The operation of the Louvicourt Mine will have to rely on stringent grade control and on the optimization of the amount of blocked ore made available per given development effort. All of the above being necessary to obtain the highest throughput at the lowest mining cost.To assist in achieving these objectives, the need for production of a competent fill with short curing time was recognized early by the project partners. As well, operating costs associated with the selected method should be as low as possible while meeting the technical criteria.A feasibility study comparing filling methods showed potential benefits in all aspects of the paste fill use, except for its higher capital costs and increased operational complexity. This last consideration was tackled by the conservative design approach adopted in the flowsheet development of the paste fill plant.Since commissioning of the plant has just been completed at this time, the paper will focus on the feasibility study and its background, the design of the plant and testwork results at pilot plant and plant scale.RésuméLe succès de l 'opération de Louvicourt Mine dépendra d' un contrôle serré des teneurs du minerai et de la maximisation de la quantité de minerai développée par effort uni ta ire. Ces critères devant etre respectés afin d'obtenir le taux de production le plus élevé au coût le plus bas.De façon à satisfaire ces contraintes, les partenaires du projet ont reconnu tôt la nécessité de produire un remblai de qualité tout en maintenant un temps de curage court. De plus, les coût d'opération associés a cette opération se devaient d'être des plus avantageux sans sacrifier l'atteinte des objectifs techniques.Une étude de faisabilité comparant différentes méthodes de remblayage a démontré que le remblai en pâte offre des aspects positifs sous taus les angles, si ce n'est de son coût en capital initial élevé et de sa complexité relative d'opération. Ce dernier point fut considéré de près par l'adoption d' une approche conservatrice lors de la conception de l'usine de rernblai.Puisque la mise en service de l'usine n'a été faite que les détails de l 'étude de faisabilité et ses fondements, 1 'usine et des résultats d' essais obtenus a l'échelle de l'usine seront discutés."

Jan 1, 1995

By André Carlos Silva

Dewatering stage is among the most important industrial unit operations, and is wide adopted in many different industries, due the fact that a large portion of industrial products is produced using suspensions of solids in liquids. Nowadays the mineral processing tailings disposal is a big problem due the environmental degradation produced. The phosphate rock processing in Anglo American Phosphate Brazil, situated in Catalão/Go/Brazil, generates around 180 t/h of tailings for a plant feed of 480 t/h (approximately 37,5% of the processing plant feed), with 5 to 10% of solids and approximately 14% of P2O5. Nowadays the tailings are sent direct to the tailings dam. The present work proposes the paste production using with the tailings from phosphate rock processing plant divide in two different stages. The first one composed by the free settling of the material in presence of industrial flocculants in a graduated cylinder with 2.0 L of internal volume for one hour, in the same way it must occur in conventional thickeners. After that time, the clarified liquid was drained and the remaining pulp was sent to the second stage consisting in the tailings vacuum filtration. Ten different flocculants and nine different filter media were tested. The found results were satisfactory for paste tailings production with solids percentage around 65%.

Aug 8, 2018

By J. M. Mutmansky

This paper outlines patterns of methane emission in both longwall and room-and-pillar operations and the effects that these patterns have on the decision as to whether the methane is most economically handled by ventilation alone or by means of a methane drainage system in addition to ventilation. The costs of handling the methane in the ventilation system and the costs of implementing the methane drainage system will be discussed as well as the costs related to the production of coal. The important issue of production slowdowns and gas outs will also be discussed as well as the proper response of mine management to such a situation. Suggestions concerning the keeping of production records related to methane problems will be made as well as justification for more intensive economic analysis of coalbed methane extraction and utilization.

Jan 1, 1998

By T Christie, A Swain

Patterns of quartz veining in epithermal gold-silver deposits at Wharekirauponga, Neavesville and Ohui in the Hauraki Goldfield, have been analysed to determine the effects of different lithologies on vein distributions. At Wharekirauponga, quartz veins are hosted in rhyolite and minor andesite, with the andesite containing slightly higher gold grades. Local basement andesite, rhyolitic tuff and silicified black shale host gold-bearing quartz veins at Neavesville. At Ohui, quartz veins are hosted in rhyolite, rhyolitic tuff and andesite. Fractal analysis was used to quantitatively describe the distribution of veining. The fractal dimension (D) of veining in silicified tuff is 0.25, moderately silicified rhyolite has D = 0.23 - 0.26, clay-altered andesite has D = 0.3, strongly silicified rhyolite has D = 0.3 - 0.39, silicified andesite has D = 0.4, and silicified black shale has D = 0.43. The D values are related to the composition of the host rock, and appear to be controlled by its competency. Hydrothermal silicification results in increased competency and higher D values. Vein thickness frequency plots for different lithologies show that andesite at Ohui, and to a much lesser degree at Wharekirauponga, contains more thick veins than rhyolite and tuff. Gold grades show a strong to fair correlation with higher vein density in three drillholes at Wharekirauponga. The fractal dimension of veining is an important control on fluid flow and gold deposition within an active epithermal system. Vein systems with higher D have a greater density of veining which would have favoured increased fluid-rock interaction. Lower D vein systems have more clustered arrays. The increased fluid-rock interaction induced by a high D vein system, when combined with a reactive host rock, results in an environment which is highly favourable for gold deposition. This situation is seen in the andesite at Wharekirauponga.

Jan 1, 1994

By Jan Krull

A high productive coke making process in connection with stringent emission control has clearly become a demand of plant operators and stakeholders. Further to this, availability, quality and coal costs are key concerns for the iron and steel industry in its efforts to optimize raw material cost. Today, the optimization of raw material cost in integrated steel works has further gained priority. Coking coal reflects up to 20% of the cost of steel. In top charged batteries coal preparation and blending is one of the concerns to lower coal cost by maximizing the percentage of non-coking coals in the blend. Stamp charging technology is technologically and economically an effective solution in the process of pre-carbonisation. Paul Wurth’s jumbo top charged oven as well as proven stamp charging technology have recently set new benchmarks in Europe, India and Brazil in terms of productivity, stability and emission control.

Aug 1, 2018

By C T. Senra, A Souza

Increasing fuel prices, unavailabilty and high prices of tyres have imposed tremendous challenges for large open pit operations. Carajßs open pit mines, one of the largest iron ore projects in the world, has been particularly affected due to the high amount of giant trucks operating in this site. On the other hand, environmental constraints push the mining industry towards reductions in fossil fuels, noise and waste generation. As a feasible response to these requirements, an alternative mining method for open pit mining, aiming to reduce or even eliminate the need for trucks has been developed, based primarily on coal opencast continuous operations. This innovative approach for open pits involves the replacement of trucks by fully-mobile crushers, bench conveyors and ramp conveyors. Two different applications have been developed for exploiting waste and ore at Carajßs largest pit, named N4E. To make it possible, mine planning paradigms should be replaced leading to new conceptual design of open pits. This paper shows two case studies (waste and ore conceptual design) carried out at Carajßs mines to anticipate and put forward the future of open pit mining, proving that our industry would be greatly affected by this new way of exploitation, reducing thousands of tons of fossil fuels. Productivities can be enhanced and environmental performance greatly improved. In this approach mine automation can be easily implemented reducing operating costs and man's fatigue.

Jan 1, 2009

By Donald R. Simon

Money... not many subjects are as personal or as emotional. Hessiod said it well in 700 B.C. "Money is life to us wretched mortals". Are you getting paid enough? Does your company reward its top people? Does coal or copper pay more? Production or engineering? How is the synfuels industry going to influence mining salaries? Do high salaries attract and retain the best people? Do modern compensation systems ensure fairness or destroy entrepreneurial spirit? With our tax system and high standard of living why are we so salary conscious? Salary is not only important for what it can purchase but it is also a yardstick, measuring how well we are doing. We all need money to pay the bills and maintain our standard-of-living, but once we reach a certain point the psychological ramifications become more important than the purely practical side. Even necessary payments like the mortgage and the car are a function of our egos. Are our choices of cars and homes based on simple transportation and shelter?

Jan 1, 1980

This paper presents an overview of a program PC-BC developed for application to the design and evaluation of block cave operations. Conventional mine planning software tools are not well suited to the evaluation of this type of deposit. The paper looks at the modelling approach as applied to a block cave mining project. The following steps are described:Initial preparation of data including block models, draw point footprint geometry and draw cone geometry. Computation of individual draw point reserves. Procedure for modelling of vertical mixing of material within each draw point and subsequent determination of the best height of draw for each draw point based upon an economic cut-off value. Smoothing of draw heights amongst neighbouring draw points to produce a realistic draw envelope. Mineable reserves within the envelope are then computed. Tools for preparation and evaluation of various production schedules. This includes definition of draw rates, and rates for commissioning new draw points. In an operating mine, the capture and analysis of daily draw tonnages is important. How PC-BC accommodates this is described as well as the processes for depleting the draw column reserves. In the 12 years since the program was first developed, it has been used on a number of projects for feasibility studies and operating mines. Some practical examples of the use of the program in these projects are presented. Finally, some commentary on the sensitivity of various parameters is presented. Particular emphasis is placed on the overall footprint design.

Jan 1, 2000

By W. A. Weimer

Coal and coal mining is no longer the mighty king of industry and in our daily lives and homes that it once had the privilege of commanding. Many of you will remember that one of the chores of your youth was to bring in the scuttles of coal, morning and night, to feed the heater or stoke the furnace in the morning and bank it at bedtime. Growth of gas and oil have displaced coal in home furnaces and commercial buildings, and have taken over some segments of industrial markets. The coal burning locomotives have virtually disappeared in favor of the more efficient diesel engine. However, coal as a prime mover still holds its strategic position as is evidenced by act that the electric power industry almost entirely depends upon coal for its generation.

Jan 1, 1961