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By Ron Ketterling

Donna Summer wrote and recorded a song in 1983 with Michael Omartian called, “She Works Hard for the Money.” The song was inspired by her encounter with an exhausted rest room attendant, Onetta Johnson, who is mentioned in the song by name, and featured on the album’s back cover. ISEE President James Daley, in the May/June 2019 in The Journal of Explosives Engineering discussed the Six Pillars related to the ISEE. We will use the Internal Processes pillar to frame this discussion. The Internal Process Pillar includes five separate sub-committees – we will see how this concept applies to both ATF Explosives record-keeping compliance and business process compliance in general. We will discuss electronic and paper record keeping, what works and what doesn’t. We’ll review record keeping in light of those five sub-committees: Audit, Awards, Constitution, Ethics and Planning. You’ll come away with concrete steps you can use to improve your record keeping processes. This paper will show you how to make the hard work of inventory management and ATF record keeping work hard for you.

By Ron Ketterling

We will discuss electronic and paper record keeping, what works and what doesn’t. We’ll review record keeping in light of those five sub-committees: Audit, Awards, Constitution, Ethics and Planning. You’ll come away with concrete steps you can use to improve your record keeping processes

Feb 1, 2020

By R. P. Smith

IN 1937 the employees of the Hollinger Consolidated Gold Mines Ltd., at Timmins, Ont., Canada, approached organized medicine for a plan to provide themselves and their families with a complete medical service including hospitalization. This approach was made because of two conditions: (1) the necessity for some organization whereby contributions could be made in instalments to offset the sudden and large expense connected with illness for which the average employee is not prepared, and (2) the need for a more cohesive quality of service to replace a contract practice then in vogue, which did not take care of the employee's family or dependents. In different parts of the United States and Canada similar plans were in force, not only for employed groups but for numbers of people in circumscribed areas. In Europe different countries had adopted various forms of health insurance plans. It then was no surprise that these employees as a group should ask for some similar plan. With the cooperation of the management, a plan was instituted. The plan has one object only-the provision of medical services, including the accessory services such as hospitalization, X-rays, nursing, and necessary drugs and medicines. It is not concerned with cash benefits, sickness and accident payments, or any form of monetary return as the result of illness, but is simply an organization to provide medical services and pay for them from a central fund. It is a nonprofit organization and the only shareholders are the employees and their families who contribute and who in turn receive services. The Hollinger plan is limited to the employees of the Hollinger mine, who live in Timmins and the immediate vicinity. At first, the membership was voluntary. In the third year, it was made a condition of employment, with the proviso that at the end of any Association financial year an employee may withdraw if he wishes to do so. After withdrawal, he cannot again become a member until the end of the next Association year, and then only by the payment of the back dues. This step was taken to ensure continuity, and to prevent employees from withdrawing when well and reentering when faced with impending illness or operations. The employee himself is subject to medical examination on application for employment, and if accepted is subject to further examination by a specialist in chest diseases under the Workmen's Compensation Board of Ontario. Thus it is possible to exclude those who have heart disease, tuberculosis, or other disabling conditions when first employed. Wives and families of employees are not subject to medical examination but other dependents of an employee-mother, father, or other relative-who are declared by the employee to be wholly dependent upon him must be examined. The employee

Jan 1, 1944

By AIME AIME

ON MAY 22 the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers will commemorate the sixtieth anniversary of its founding at Wilkes- Barre, Pa., in May, 1871. The Directors have transferred the May meeting of the Board to Wilkes-Barre, and the Pennsylvania Anthracite Section has invited as many members of the Institute as can to be present at this time and to join with their fellow-engineers at Wilkes-Barre in the inspection trip through a portion of the anthracite district that has been planned. Ac- cess to Wilkes-Barre is easy, from nearby points, over excellent automobile roads, or by train. The distance from New York is only about 140 miles. , It is hoped to engage a special car for those travelling by train from New York, which will leave the Pennsylvania Station over the Lehigh Valley Railroad at 11:50 p.m., arriving in Wilkes-Barre the next morning. Return can be made from Wilkes-Barre by sleeper the same evening, arriving in New York Saturday morning. Other trains are available for those who prefer a daylight journey.

Jan 1, 1931

By L. Gao, X. Gui

Fine coal obtained from Kailuan mine served as the processing object of this study. This material was difficult to separate. A flotation rate experiment was designed to investigate the process distribution characteristics of size and density during fine coal flotation. Size and density analyses of five clean were studied. The mineral morphology of flotation rate experiment cleaning was observed through scanning electron microscopy. The fractions -0.074+0.045 mm and -0.045 mm exhibited the best practical floatability and presented the highest combustible body recovery rates, but the selectivity and natural floatability of these two fractions were the worst. The - 0.074 mm fraction has contaminated the clean coal from the early stage of flotation, and the cumulative clean coal ash of -0.074 mm reached up to 17.20%. The low and middle-density classes displayed varying flotation behavior, but the flotation yield difference was only nearly 3%. The middle-density class caused the clean coal to have high ash content. The poor selectivity of fine coals, middle-density fraction, and fine mud resulted in high-ash clean coals during flotation. Thus, improving the selectivity of fine coal, restraining the flotation of fine mud, and grinding the coal to decrease the middle density mass fraction to liberate clean coals can yield high-quality clean coals through flotation.

Jan 1, 2014

By J. H. Wilhelm

Continuous thickeners can be sized either from previous experience, continuous pilot-scale test results, or from batch settling tests. Although it is a relatively simple process to size full-scale thickeners when previous experience or pilot-scale operating data are available, batch testing is often the only realistic method for sizing thickeners due to time restrictions, budget limitations and availability of sample material. Many authors have, therefore, suggested means of running batch tests and analyzing the resulting data. Fundamental thickening theory had its beginning with the work o£ Coe and Clevenger(1). In order to determine the size of the thickener settling area, they proposed that a series of batch settling tests be run at various initial concentrations. The solids handling capacity at each concentration can then be determined and the lowest capacity (maximum area requirements) used to size the thickener. Kynch(2) developed a mathematical analysis in which the relationship between solids concentration and settling rate can be obtained from a single batch settling curve. Talmage and Fitch(3), Yoshioka(4)(5) and Dick(6), have enlarged upon these works to give a basis for methods of sizing thickeners.

Jan 1, 1979

Coal losses and dilution are among a coal mine operators everyday problems. These losses and unwelcome additions are generated primar- ily by the stripping operation and secondly by the coal mining opera- tion. Losses in yield due to preparation plant efficiency are a separate issue although they may be related to the coal mining operation. The losses and dilution can be traced to the following operations: (A) Overburden or Interburden Removal (1) Removal of coal edge by blasting operations. (2) Removal of top of seam by drilling/blasting. (3) Removal of top of seam by stripping equipment. (4) Removal of coal edges by stripping equipment. (5) Dilution due to stripping equipment. (B) Coal Mining (for the case where seams are ripped rather than shot) (1) Coal rib losses. (2) Coal rib dilution. (3) Coal left in floor. (4) Coal left in fault areas. (5) Floor material picked up whilst loading. (6) Spoil material picked up. (7) Spoil material from poor surface clean up. (8) Top of coal losses from final clean up. (9) Dilution from ripping too deep, i.e. into floor below seam. (10) Dilution from interseam parting. The losses apply to both the single seam and multi seam oper- ations although they are more pronounced in the multi seam mines than in a single seam mine due to the position of the coal which is lost. For example in the multi seam case the top seam coal edge loss is final. There is little chance of recovery with the subsequent pass even if the extra rehandle is done. However conversely the lower seam is relatively easy to locate as it has nowhere to go being contained by the lowwall bench.

Jan 1, 1988

By M G. Shaw, M A. Rhamdhani, S P. Singh, A R. Duffy, B Eisenbart, A K. Shukla, G A. Brooks

The field of astrometallurgy is a growing area of study. Metal production on the Moon is likely to begin in less than a decade as major space agencies such as NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) and CNSA (China National Space Administration) are preparing to construct permanent lunar bases. The utilisation of regolith to generate oxygen and metals is expected to be important in the development of a sustainable lunar habitat. This paper provides an overview of potential metallurgical processing methods for lunar conditions, emphasising the impact of lunar factors on slag chemistry. The interaction between regolith and the extracted metals, as well as their impact on slag composition and refractory performance, are critical considerations in metal production on the lunar surface. The initial research on lunar metallurgical technologies is focused on oxygen extraction and Fe-Si alloys are reported as the by-products of these processes. This paper delves into the fundamental thermodynamics associated with the carbothermic reduction of lunar regolith. Thermodynamic analysis using the FactSage™ ver 8.2 software package indicates that the Fe-Si alloy can be produced as a metallic product from the lunar regolith at temperatures ranging from 1400°C to 1600°C under terrestrial conditions. However, under ultra-high vacuum conditions (3 × 10-15 bar) on the Moon, the required operating temperature for producing ferrosilicon would be significantly reduced. Thermodynamic modelling results indicate that under lunar vacuum conditions, Fe-Si alloys only exist as solid phases at lower temperatures below 650°C. At higher temperatures, both Fe and Si are expected to be present in the gas phase. In this work, the carbothermic reduction of the Lunar Mare Simulant (LMS-1) is conducted under terrestrial conditions. The findings indicate that the process can readily yield Fe-Si alloys with 7–10 wt per cent Si at 1600°C. Additionally, energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis of the resulting Fe-Si alloy indicates the presence of phosphorus up to 1 wt per cent.

Aug 21, 2024

By Arthur W. Cooper

This paper contains a review of the development of blast furnace? slag handling and processing technology in the Ironmaking industry over the past 30 years, with an emphasis on economic and environmental factors. The requirements and practice of air-cooling slag for use as aggregate and of pelletizing and granulating slag for use in cement manufacture are described. The operation of slag pits, slag pots or ladles, the slag pelletizer and early granulation systems are compared with the new continuous .granulation, dewatering and handling systems developed in the past decade.

Jan 1, 1992

By Clebson Joel Mendes de Oliveira

Sulfur control in steel have been challenging process experts since the discovering of it deleterious effect on most of steel product properties. To separate this slag from hot metal is mandatory to complete desulfurization process. The preferred method is to skim hot metal surface physically removing the contaminated slag, attributing to the operator the evaluation of skimming efficiency. Thus, we present a new lower cost system using image processing methods foreseeing a future full automation skimming process.

Aug 16, 2017

By Florian Kongoli

Slags and fluxes are important interchangeable dimensions of pyrometallurgical processes. They can increase the efficiency of the smelting, converting and refining processes and improve the quality of the final products. A good slag should have appropriate physicochemical properties such as low liquidus temperature, optimal viscosity, maximum ability to attract undesirable elements, minimum potential of attracting valuable elements, etc .. A good flux, on the other hand, when properly used, can considerably improve the physicochemical properties of the slag since by modifying its chemical composition it could decrease the liquidus temperature, improve viscosity etc.. Consequently, the choice of a good slag and the corresponding fluxing strategies has become indispensable in most of industrial processes. However, the properties of multicomponent slags as well as the effect of several fluxes are known only empirically and confusion exists in the literature and in the industrial practice. In today's reality of frequent changes in the composition of raw materials and that of the fluxes themselves, in the existing or new developing technologies, the quantification of the thermophysicochemical properties of multicomponent slags and the effect of fluxes becomes indispensable. This paper reviews some of the work carried out by the author's group during the last ten years on the quantification of the thermophysicochemical properties of multicomponent slags and on the effect of fluxes in several smelting and converting processes in close relation to their individual characteristics. Several examples have been given in order to demonstrate the fact that when taken outside the context some fluxes can become in fact anti-fluxes.

Jan 1, 2003

By Florian Kongoli

Slags and fluxes are important interchangeable dimensions of pyrometallurgical processes. They can increase the efficiency of the smelting, converting and refining processes and improve the quality of the final products. A good slag should have appropriate physicochemical properties such as low liquidus temperature, optimal viscosity, maximum ability to attract undesirable elements, minimum potential of attracting valuable elements, etc .. A good flux, on the other hand, when properly used, can considerably improve the physicochemical properties of the slag since by modifYing its chemical composition it could decrease the liquidus temperature, improve viscosity etc.. Consequently, the choice of a good slag and the corresponding fluxing strategies has become indispensable in most of industrial processes. However, the properties of multi component slags as well as the effect of several fluxes are known only empirically and confusion exists in the literature and in the industrial practice. In today's reality of frequent changes in the composition of raw materials and that of the fluxes themselves, in the existing or new developing technologies, the quantification of the thermophysicochemical properties of multicomponent slags and the effect of fluxes becomes indispensable. This paper reviews some of the work carried out by the author's group during the last ten years on the quantification of the thermophysicochemical properties of multicomponent slags and on the effect of fluxes in several smelting and converting processes in close relation to their individual characteristics. Several examples have been given in order to demonstrate the fact that when taken outside the context some fluxes can become in fact anti-fluxes.

Jan 1, 2003

By L. Holappa

Ferroalloys like FeCr and FeMn are mostly produced in submerged electric arc furnaces. Typical for these processes is that the amount of slag is quite high. The role of slag for the process is thus very essential and specific chemical, physical and electrical properties are required. Slags in FeCr process are Al2O3-MgO-SiO2based with minor contents of CaO and CrOx. Slags in FeMn process are principally similar originating from silicate minerals but can have quite a large composition range depending on the manganese ore and its gangue minerals. Characteristic for FeMn process is that the slag is rich in manganese oxide up to above 30%. A common feature is that the ?ore oxides?, CrOx and MnOxin slag are not only divalent oxides but also containing some higher valent of Cr3+ and Mn3+, respectively. In FeMn production conditions the slag consists mainlyMn2+. This is a clear difference from CrOx containing slags in which both two and three valent coexists in slags in FeCr process conditions. Oxidation state of the slag depends on the ambient oxygen partial pressure and temperature in the examined process. Thermodynamics of slags in ferroalloys production are discussed in terms of phase diagrams, activities and oxidation state of chromium and manganese oxides. Further, slag properties influencing reduction kinetics and furnace operation i.e. viscosity and electrical resistivity are discussed. Keywords: review, slags, ferroalloys, ferrochromium, ferromanganese, thermodynamics, physical properties.

Jan 1, 2004

By Lauren M. Roberts, Ralph R. Sacrison

Pipeline or borehole free-fall transfer of material has long been done in support of underground mining. This paper addresses some characteristics and design elements in selecting systems suitable to the transferred media and the mine requirements. Though aspects of overall systems are discussed, principal attention is directed to the slickline/dropline/transfer line and the discharge diverter/rockbox/energy dissipator/boot. These terms are common to these systems, often used interchangeably, and will be used as appropriate to the material, equipment and construction. Following several design sections, fabrication and construction, and system operating and maintenance procedures are discussed.

Feb 1, 2025

By Klaus Gamweger

"This paper introduces an innovative solution to open and close the tap hole of different furnace types in the copper industry with a slide gate system. Two plates with defined drilled holes are slid against each other, which enables effective starting and stopping of the copper flow as well as throttling. Typically, the copper is poured via a tap hole into a launder system by rotating the furnace into an appropriate position. Control of the casting rate is also performed in this manner. Or, in case of stationary furnaces the tap hole is opened by oxygen lancing and closed manually with a clay- or copper-cone. These procedures show a lot of disadvantages including splashing, oxygen pick-up, and energy losses as well as a severe danger for the working staff. All these problems can be overcome with an appropriate slide gate system.IntroductionThe control of the casting rate of a copper anode furnace usually is performed by rotating the furnace into an appropriate position. This implies that the taping starts with the tap hole at a very high position. Copper splashing and an uncontrolled oxygen pick up are - with several more disadvantages - the consequences. RHI AG has developed an innovative solution for copper applications to open and close the tap hole with a slide gate system which allows also an accurate control of the flow rate. By using this system it is possible to start the casting procedure with the tap hole at the deepest position, directly above the launder. This paper presents this new slide gate system in detail and shows the advantages in production and safety issues."

Jan 1, 2012

By Roswell Johnson

THE principle of sliding or graduation in royalties is accomplished either by the block, period, cumulative, or class method. The block method calls for a very low royalty rate on all oil produced up to. a certain amount. This amount would normally be that which is believed to suffice to repay the cost of the well. A higher rate would be charged after the well is making a profit. This method, common in many industries, is peculiarly inadaptable to any industry such as this where the productivity per day of the units gradually and inevitably decreases. This, for reasons given later, is because it forces an early abandonment of the well and so offends against conservation. In the period method, the royalty rate is changed by some definite amount when the well produces less than a specified quantity per day or other given unit of time. While simple to explain, it operates badly because a great deal is made to depend upon a small reduction in production, whereas the reduction as a matter of fact declines rather erratically owing to the exigency of lease management, connecting of tankage, and vagaries of the gaugers. These disadvantages are obviated by the cumulative method. In this method, all the production less than a certain amount per week has one rate of royalty, or none at all, and the oil produced in excess of that amount pays an additional rate of royalty. In the long run the calculation is probably no greater than with the period method, for simple tables will be published and printed in the oil papers that can be cut out, enabling quick readings to be made. Even without the table the calculation is easy with the few royalty rates, two or three, which would be used. In this method, the amount paid in royalty declines gradually, rather than suddenly as in the period method.

Jan 6, 1915

By Xiong Dahe

"SLon vertical ring and pulsating high gradient magnetic separator utilizes the combined force field of magnetism, pulsating fluid and gravity to beneficiate weakly magnetic minerals with the advantages of large beneficial ratio, high recovery, matrix not easy to be blocked and excellent performance.We have developed SLon-750; SLon-1000; SLon-1250; SLon-1500; SLon-1750 and SLon-2000 VP HGMS. Now more than 200 of them have been successfully applied in China.Application in Qi Dashan Mineral processing Plant of Anshan Iron and Steel Company: The iron ore consists of magnetite and hematite. In 2001, six SLon-1750 magnetic separators are applied to control the tails grade of fine hematite. The results of flowsheet is: feed grade 30.15%Fe, concentrate grade 67.00%Fe, iron recovery 75.86%. The results set up the historic high record of this plant and the processing coast is greatly reduced.Application in Gushan Iron Mine of Ma Anshan Iron and steel Company: There are 6 SLon-1750 and 4 SLon-1500 magnetic separators applied in this mine to treat refractory hematite ore. The feeding grade is about 45%Fe. The final iron concentrate grade is about 60%Fe and the iron recovery is about 76%. The results are much better than the previous gravity flowsheet.Application in Meishan Iron Mine of Shanghai Baoshan Iron and Steel Company: The mined ore consists of magnetite, hematite and siderite. Because of a relatively high content of phosphorus, the iron concentrate could not meet the market requirements. Now 18 SLon-1500 magnetic separators are applied to reduce phosphorus, which is reduced from about 0.4%P to 0.246%P. The quality of iron concentrate is greatly upgraded.Application in Panzhihua Ilmenite Processing Plant: In the past, the -0.045mm ilmenite fraction was discarded in to the tails because of lack of high efficient equipment. In 2001, the plant built up a magneticflotation flowsheet to recover the fine ilmenite from the -0.045mm fraction with 6 SLon-1500 magnetic separators. The total results are: feed grade 11%TiO2, concentrate grade=47% TiO2, recovery 44%. Each year the flowsheet recovers 60,000t fine ilmenite concentrate."

Jan 1, 2003

By E Shilov, R Dixon, L Tovey

BHP Western Australian Iron Ore (WAIO) operations use a suite of slope monitoring systems which are deployed to operational areas based on the ground control risk. Slope Radars are one system used within WAIO, having recently deployed and integrated a network of 22 radar systems across the operations. The integration required the development of supporting network architecture, infrastructure, virtualised hosting, security protocols and a technology support model. This has enabled data transfer between the physical radar systems located in open pits, to on-site offices, a vendor supported remote control room in Indonesia and the WAIO Integrated Remote Operations Centre for data analysis and monitoring of system and displacement alarms 24/7. The typical technical skillset of a Geotechnical Engineer does not include the knowledge and capability to understand and develop the supporting IT infrastructure required for establishing an integrated radar monitoring network. This paper will provide a discussion of the technology considerations for integrating radar systems and highlight the importance of the developed partnerships between internal geotechnical and technology teams and the external vendor team to ensure a reliable, robust and scalable slope monitoring solution.

Nov 29, 2022

By Dan Mahrt

"In June of 2009, a slope failure occurred along River Road in Bismarck, North Dakota. The slope failure affected approximately 300 feet of River Road with vertical displacements up to 3 feet, resulting in closure of the road. River Road travels along the Missouri River in Bismarck in a geologic area riddled with historic slope failures of varying sizes. River Road is a city roadway which travels along the Missouri River. The toe of the failure extended into the Missouri River, therefore methods to repair the slope needed to be constructed within United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) requirements, and be acceptable to the City of Bismarck. As this is a scenic area along the river, the stakeholders desired to maintain the scenic landscape along the roadway as a part of the slope stabilization.Due to the magnitude movement of the failure mass, the geometry of the failure was relatively easy to evaluate. In evaluating remediation options and collaborating with the USACE, the team determined that the scarp was situated primarily within the navigable portion of the Missouri River. This required USACE approval for any repair or remedial work downslope of the roadway. The City of Bismarck wished to reopen the roadway as soon as possible, therefore stabilization options were limited to working within the road right-of-way to avoid permitting for working within the navigable waterway.The remediation solution for this project involved a combination of driven H-pile and placement of lightweight fill to re-construct the roadway at the original grades, and avoid impacting the navigable portions of the Missouri River. This paper discusses the unique project constraints and the innovative solution using multiple technologies to successfully stabilize the slope.BackgroundIn June 2009, Bismarck, North Dakota experienced two consecutive days of significant rain resulting in over 5 inches of precipitation in a 36-hour period. Shortly after these rain events, a slope failure was noted on River Road, a city street along the Missouri River in Bismarck. Initial findings noted the slope failure affected about a 300-foot long portion of the roadway, with vertical displacements of about 2 feet. The city of Bismarck closed the roadway and began evaluating repair solutions for the road."

Jan 1, 2016

By J. L. Workman

The stability of spoil and highwall slopes are important to successful strip mining. This paper discusses soil parameters of importance in stability analysis. The common mechanisms of spoil failure are discussed. Modes of highwall failure are also outlined. The importance of water to stability is presented. Dragline mining methods most suited to creating spoil and highwall profiles that address stability needs are provided. It is concluded that groundwater and surface runoff must be well controlled, and that it will often be necessary to modify spoil and highwall configurations to achieve a stable overall slope angle.

Jan 1, 1996