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By F. F. ESPIE

Giving the keynote address in the final session of a conference dealing with closely related topics has a disadvantage in that much of what can be said has been said. It also has an advantage, however, because it presents the speaker with the opportunity to integrate and analyse the material presented by the various speakers. I would like to look to the near future in Australia and the United States of America, to the risks, problem areas, and changes of a rapidly evolving post-industrial era-an era we are beginning to experience where industry no longer 'calls the tune'. We miners have been quick to point out and emphasize, that ours is a 'high-risk' industry in the world of business and commerce. Yet, clearly those who have survived, and been successful, have learned to anticipate and cope with risk and change. This ability has been a 'distinguishing feature of the industry's leaders who, in market studies and commodity selection, exploration and development, mine planning, metallurgical pro- cessing, and general administration and operation 1. identify areas-of risk or inevitable change, 2. analyse, test and quantify those factors of risk or change, and 3. design methods, systems, equipment to eliminate, moderate, or control or economically compensate for predicted risks or changes.

Jan 1, 1978

By Ulrich Maidl, Jamal Rostami, Ulf Gwildis

Tunnel Boring Machines (TBM) have more or less become the preferred method of tunneling in various ground conditions and Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC) or microprocessors are standard features on TBMs to monitor and record various sensory systems on the machine providing the possibility for machine automation and control. The data collected from these sensory systems and channeled through PLC is stored for real-time analysis or use by the operators. Based on typical construction specifications, part of the information collected in the process is shared with the project management team representing the owner. Machine data automatically acquired during TBM advance is typically processed by specialized software to offer the project team data visualization and evaluation options. Interfacing with Geographic Information System (GIS), Computer-Aided Design (CAD), 3-D geologic model, instrumentation data bases, and Document Management Systems (DMS) allows for developing Building Information Models (BIM) of the tunnel’s as-built condition. Application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) processes such as Machine Learning (ML) have already been used for analysis of data, including performance prediction of hard rock TBMs, and exhibited the potential of big data analytics in improving the productivity of the operations. This paper outlines anticipated disruptive technological advances with implications on geotechnical exploration, TBM operation, face condition tracking, subsurface risk allocation, and claims management in the future.

Jun 13, 2021

By Charles E. Heinrichs

IN the last decade one of our oldest and largest non-metallic metallic mineral industries has been the subject of persistent technical research, the results of which are another example of the benefits following the systematic application of scientific principles. The consequent improvement in the technique of phosphate recovery represents the greatest material advance in the industry since the discovery of phosphate in Florida in 1881. Moreover, these successes have stimulated interest and development in numerous other nonmetallic industries. Strange as it may seem, and despite the fact that the phosphate deposits of Giles County, Tennessee, together with those of Polk and Hillsborough Counties, Florida, have yielded more than 50,000,000 long tons in the last twenty years, the mineralogy of phosphates has been given scarcely any space in our technical literature. For many years it was the general consensus that these so-called phosphate rocks represented a physical mixture composed principally of tri-calcium phosphate, together with smaller quantities of calcium carbonate, calcium fluoride, iron phosphate, aluminum phosphate and other less important constituents. More recent investigations, however, led to the conclusion that these phosphates really represent a complex mineral in which calcium, iron, aluminum, phosphorus pentoxide, carbon dioxide, and fluorine all form a definite part of the molecule. Colony, after a careful study, utilizing chemical, microscopic, and X-ray diffraction methods, reported that American phosphates consist principally of calcium-carbono-phosphate of the staffalite type.

Jan 1, 1933

By F. W. Lee

A GREAT CURTAILMENT of field activities among the geophysicists occurred last year, especially in prospecting for the common metals. In gold, however, an "outstanding achievement . . . was made by the engineers of Consolidated Goldfields. Here the suboutcrop of the Main Reef Series was traced from Middelvlei through properties of the westward area, a distance of from 30 to 40 miles. Here Drs. Reineche and Krahman prospected with the aid of a sensitive magnetometer and established the singularities of the various beds which heretofore had not been sufficiently appreciated. Several underlying shale beds were used to determine this suboutcrop under the dolomite. This area promises to be the equivalent of one-half the size of the present gold fields and to rank in value with the Far East Rand." The present temperature compensated magnetometers permit accurate field observations to less than 5 gammas. Since magnetic anomalies may have their origin due to a change of elevation as well as to the outcropping of a bed of another magnetically different material, intimate geological knowledge is of great assistance in the interpretation of these measurements. To what extent magnetic measurements reflect the basement when the material is homogeneous, consisting primarily of red granite, was determined by members of the Bureau of Mines and described by Dr. J. H. Swartz. Because of the diverse causes of magnetic anomalies, some of which were discussed and correlated by Stratton and Joyce upon known conditions, magnetometer measurements are often difficult to interpret.

Jan 1, 1933

By E Wargem

The conventional method of underground mining involves a process known as drilling and blasting to excavate valuable ore bearing minerals through the load and haul process. Drilling and blasting processes are completed for both the development of the tunnels used to access the orebody and for mining out the orebody itself. The former being called development drilling and blasting, and the latter production drilling and blasting. In either development or production drilling and blasting, the effective recovery will be largely reliant on the extraction of the initial void created in each blast cycle. In development tunnelling, the initial void is commonly known as a Burn Cut. The initial void created in production drilling and blasting has many names such as a Slot, Winze, Rise or Raise. There are drill patterns and charge designs used to create these initial voids in the production cycle. This paper discusses common slot or winze designs for production drilling and blasting; and various critical design criteria for these. The document also aims to provide a process for completing desktop reviews of current patterns employed on-sites and provides an initial guide in a process for improving the recovery of a slot, winze, rise or raise in underground mines.

Mar 29, 2023

By S H. Burgmans, B Anderson

This paper aims to define the specific challenges relating to dredging fine tailings from an above ground storage facility for transferral to a mined-out pit. In addition, it compares dredging and mining perspectives on dredging of fine tailings.

Jul 1, 2021

By A. Ignatow

"A review is made of some of the principal factors and conditions that are, and will be, important to the over-all market climate for asbestos fibre and for the future of Canada's asbestos industry: - health hazard associated with asbestos exposure;- uncertain international regulatory environment for continued asbestos use;- adverse public reaction to asbestos;- product liability/litigation costs (U.S.A. primarily);- promotion of substitution by governments and asbestos user industries; and- minimal product and market development efforts by asbestos producing and consuming industries.In addition, Canadian producers, who export some 95 per cent of their production, face additional constraints:- dramatically reduced integration with asbestos-consuming industries;- 60 per cent of exports to most rapidly declining markets (U.S.A., Europe);- increased competition from offshore producers favourably located to growth markets in developing countries;- increasing production costs;- a strong dollar;- disadvantageous freight rates; and- loss of price leadership and price erosion.Future market trends, as well as prospects for Canada's asbestos industry, will be projected in this paper.Economic FactorsTable 1 presents asbestos fibre production in all countries for the period 1980-82. In certain instances, e.g. U.S.S.R. and China, these are capacity estimates as production statistics are not officially published. The U.S.S.R, by far, is the world's largest producer accounting for some 50 per cent of world production, though most production is consumed internally or by COMECON countries. It is estimated that some 700 plants produce asbestos-containing products within the U.S.S.R.Canada accounts for some 25 per cent of world production though it ranks first in world trade. Other important producers are South Africa Zimbabwe, Brazil and Italy. Since 1979, Canada's asbestos mining industry has experienced a dramatic drop in production and exports of asbestos fibre, as demonstrated in Table 2."

Jan 1, 1985

By Herbert Hoover

I HAVE been greatly honored as your unanimous choice for President of this. Institute, with which I have been associated during my entire professional life. It is customary for your new President, on these occasions, to make some observation on matters of general interest from the engineer's standpoint. The profession of engineering in the United States comprises not alone scientific advisers on industry but, in great majority, is comprised of the men in administrative positions. In such positions, they stand midway between capital and labor. The character of your training and experience leads you to exact and quantitative thought. This basis of training in a great group of Americans furnished a wonderful' recruiting ground for service in these last years of tribulation. Many thousands of engineers were called into the army, the navy, and civilian service for the Government. Thousands of high offices were discharged by them with credit to the profession and the nation. We have in. this country, probably, one hundred thousand professional engineers. The events of the past few years have greatly stirred their interest in national problems.' This has taken practical. form in the maintenance of joint committees for discussion of these problems and support to a free advisory bureau in ,Washington. The engineers want nothing for themselves from Congress.. They want efficiency in government, and you contribute to the maintenance of this bureau out of sheer idealism. This organization for consideration of national problems has had many subjects before it, and I propose to touch on some of them this evening.

Jan 1, 1920

By D Beck

Open access to forecasts of mine geotechnical performance in the form of open databases of model results has been considered risky in the past, with a concern that the results will not be understood or will be misused. However, some modelling techniques allow very high similitude modelling of mine deformation and the results can be presented as deformation, damage and other parameters which are unambiguous and which all engineers can be more easily trained to understand. With some effort, sufficient reliability and quantifications of error are possible to overcome many of the issues.Allowing more members of the planning team to have direct access to forecasts of mine deformation will promote awareness of geotechnical issues and will act as a mechanism for improving mine designs. The models will also be more easily integrated into quality assurance programs, by providing a framework for understanding measurement results.The sufficiency requirements for undertaking simulation aided mining engineering will be presented, included some conclusions about requirements for training, quality standards and software development.

Mar 21, 2011

Apr. 9, AIME, Chicago Section, Chicago Bar Assn., 29 S. La Salle St., Chicago. Apr. 11-12, Geological Society of America, Cordilleran Section, annual meeting, University of Arizona, Tucson. Apr. 15, AIME, Morenci Subsection, Longfellow Inn, Morenci, Ariz. Apr. 15-17, AIME, South West district meeting, Jefferson Hotel, St. Louis, Mo. Apr. 17, AIME, Utah Section, New House Hotel; Salt Lake City. Apr. 21-22, American Zinc Institute, annual meeting, Hotel Statler, St. Louis. , Apr. 21-23, Chemical, Metallurgical, and Mining Society, and Diamond Drilling Research Laboratory, symposium on diamond drilling, Johannesburg, South Africa. Apr. 22, Assn. of Consulting Chemists & Chemical Engineers, Inc., general symposium, Hotel Belmont Plaza, New York. Apr. 25-26, AIME, New England Regional Conference, Kenmore Hotel, Boston. Apr. 26-May 11, Liege International Fair, Liege, Belgium. May 4-8, Electrochemical Society, Inc., Spring meeting, Benjamin Franklin Hotel, Philadelphia.

Jan 1, 1952

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 B. Aydin, A. S. Aloglu, S. Kahraman, E. Saygin

"The coal strength parameter is used in operations such as the selection and design of mechanical excavators and coal crushing/grinding equipment. However, coring or cutting prismatic specimens from coal for the standard strength tests is difficult, and sometimes not possible. For this reason a method for the indirect determination of coal strength from easy tests would be useful. In this study, the predictability of coal strength from the needle penetration test was investigated. This is a very easy and practical test method. Point load and needle penetration index (NPI) tests were carried out on coal specimens from Çayirhan coalfield in Turkey. The point load indexes were converted to the uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) values by using the general conversion factor. The UCS and NPI values were evaluated using regression analysis. A strong linear relationship was found between the two parameters. The conversion factor for the UCS-NPI ratio is 0.35 for the tested coal samples. It is concluded that the UCS of coal can be predicted from the NPI.IntroductionKnowledge of coal strength is important for the selection and design of mechanical excavators and coal crushing and grinding equipment. Uniaxial compressive strength of coal is used in designing pillar dimensions in room and pillar mining. Coals always contain bedding planes and cleats; they are also brittle and fragile. Therefore, coring or cutting prismatic specimens from coal for the standard strength tests is difficult, and sometimes not possible. For this reason, a method for the estimation of coal strength from easy tests would be useful.The needle penetration test is a nondestructive index test that is applicable both in the field and the laboratory and does not require any special sample preparation. The test has been used for the estimation of physical and mechanical properties of weak or soft rocks (Okada et al., 1985; Yamaguchi et al., 1997; Takahashi, Noto, and Yokokawa, 1988; Uchida et al., 2004; Aydan et al., 2006; Aydan, Watanabe, and Tokashiki, 2008; Aydan, 2012; Erguler and Ulusay, 2007; Park, Obara, and Kan, 2011; Ulusay and Erguler, 2012; Aydan and Ulusay, 2013; Aydan. Sato, and Yagi, 2014). This study investigates the predictability of coal strength from the needle penetration test."

Jan 1, 2017

By Alessandro Francelino Nogueira

A utilização de lasers de pulsos ultracurtos é uma alternativa para a realização de microusinagem em superfícies de metais, com aplicações diversas em inúmeros segmentos industriais, além das áreas aeronáutica, aeroespacial e naval, onde há crescente preocupação com a eletrônica embarcada. Neste trabalho foram realizadas microusinagens em superfícies de titânio utilizando laser de pulsos ultracurtos de femtossegundos. Tal processo resultou em mínima transferência de calor para o material, evitando assim e deformação superficial da chapa de titânio e a formação de material ressolidificado na região ablacionada, que são inconvenientes presentes na utilização do laser chaveado de pulsos longos da ordem de nanossegundos. Foram executados três tipos de microusinagens, com variações nas distâncias entre as linhas usinadas. Foi verificado ainda que a molhabilidade aumenta quando há o aumento da distância entre linhas usinadas. Finalmente, para a alteração da superfície com uma ínfima remoção de material, constatou-se que a utilização de lasers de pulsos ultracurtos proporcionam grandes benefícios para a integridade do material ablacionado.

Oct 30, 2017

By Bianca Harue Ueharar

Os métodos de pré-concentração, dentre os quais podemos destacar o gravimétrico, magnético, peneiramento e ore sorting, eliminam grande parte da massa a ser alimentada na usina, o que consequentemente impacta nas características do material que irá alimentar a moagem. Assim, este trabalho busca fazer uma comparação no desgaste de circuitos de moagem com e sem a pré-concentração em minérios de baixo teor. Através de ensaios laboratoriais de AI de Bond, foi obtido o valor da abrasividade e com isso é possível estimar o consumo de material de desgaste e revestimento dos circuitos. O estudo indica que o resultado é benéfico pois, eliminando-se mais da metade da massa, o desgaste dos equipamentos decai de forma proporcional, com um ganho maior no caso do ensaio em que a abrasividade do material pré-concentrado é menor. Portanto, do ponto de vista econômico, além da pré-concentração ter baixo custo operacional, a redução nos gastos com revestimento e bolas na moagem diminui de forma muito significativa.

Oct 30, 2017

By Paulo Henrique da Silva Gomes

O tráfego rodoviário de cargas está em franco crescimento, se diversificando nas rodovias e também nos grandes centros urbanos. O uso de novos implementos (carretas maiores e com maior capacidade de carga) resulta no travamento das vias urbanas, causando grandes transtornos à população. Em muitas cidades, o tráfego exige um novo planejamento urbano e construção de vias alternativas. Em Volta Redonda, RJ, estão sendo desenvolvidos projetos com alternativas de fluxos rodoviários, que buscam soluções para o transporte coletivo, bem como, para fluxo de veículos pequenos, médios e de cargas da cidade. O fluxo de caminhões que abastecem e escoam os produtos da CSN - Usina Presidente Vargas, tendem a crescer com o aumento de produtividade da planta de Cimentos e startup da planta de Aços Longos, com início de suas operações em Janeiro/14. Alternativas como a intensificação do uso de ferrovia são foco do trabalho da área de logística da CSN, porém não eliminam o uso do modal rodoviário.

Jul 29, 2018

By Fabiane Leocádia da Silva

Cristais da família cristalográfica do sal de Tutton A2B(XO4)2.6H2O, A=K, NH4, Rb, Cs, Tl, B=Mg, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, V, Cr, X=S e Se tem sido investigados por diversas técnicas experimentais com o objetivo de compreender suas propriedades físicas e potenciais aplicações tecnológicas. Investigações sobre o comportamento estrutural têm sido realizadas por difração de raios-x a fim de compreender suas propriedades estruturais, principalmente a distorção Jahn-Teller presentes nos cristais com cromo e cobre. Soluções sólidas destes sais na forma A2B'xB”(1-x)- (SO4)2.6H2O, têm sido relativamente pouco investigadas embora possam apresentar distorção Jahn-Teller. A estrutura dos cristais desta série à temperatura ambiente é monoclínica, grupo espacial P21/a com duas moléculas por célula unitária. Bons monocristais da série (NH4)2NixCu(1-x)(SO4)2.6H2O com 0

Aug 16, 2017

By Harold J. Bennett

This study was performed by the Bureau of Mines to evaluate the potential supply of primary copper from domestic resources. A tonnage-price relationship was developed indicating the quantity of copper that could be produced economically from known deposits at various copper prices and at various rates of return on the required capital investment. Costs of production are based on estimated capital and operating costs for mining, concentrating, smelting, and refining the copper. Total known recoverable copper resources are 189 million short tons of which 83 million tons could be economically recovered assuming a price of $0.50 per pound of copper, credit for the recovery of byproducts, and a 12-percent rate of return on capital investment. The quantities of recoverable byproducts associated with the 83 million tons of recoverable copper are molybdenum, 1.8 million tons, gold, 43 million troy ounces, and silver, 740 million troy ounces.

Jan 1, 1973

By Manoel Farias Martins

A utilização de antracito na produção de pelotas de minério de ferro é uma prática utilizada pelas mineradoras para reduzir custos com combustíveis e melhorar a qualidade física do produto. Objetivando uma melhor compreensão dos efeitos ocasionados pela adição de carvão na mistura (pellet feed moído e aditivos) sobre a resistência a compressão das pelotas queimadas, foram confrontados os resultados dos ensaios de resistência à compressão obtidos através da rotina de ensaios da mineradora VALE SA, com as seguintes variáveis: percentual em massa de carbono (%C fixo), porosidade e granulometria do antracito. Com a elevação de carbono, observou-se a redução nos valores da resistência à compressão, sobretudo, nas pelotas de redução direta. No que diz respeito à porosidade, a resistência à compressão das pelotas aumentou com a diminuição dos poros no interior das mesmas. Analisou-se também a granulometria do carvão, todavia, constatou-se que a mesma não teve influência significativa sobre os resultados da resistência à compressão.

Oct 30, 2017

By Walter Luiz Corrêa Junior

O fósforo é um dos elementos mais importantes do processo de produção de aço em convertedores a oxigénio, devido à dificuldade de remoção durante o processo de sopro de oxigénio e depois do vazamento para panela de aço. Este trabalho mostra resultados obtidos através da alteração em variáveis de processo como o consumo de cales, teor de FeO na escória e uso de fluorita, durante o sopro e a avaliação da partição de fósforo com base em modelos de autores como Healy, Turkdogan, Basu e Suito, foi realizada utilizando os dados industriais da aciaria da ArcelorMittal Tubarão, com objetivo de comparar estes dados com as abordagens citadas. Um software termodinâmico foi usada para cálculo das atividades, da fração de líquido e do fósforo em equilíbrio, com a finalidade de auxiliar a identificação das principais diferenças termodinâmicas entre os dados experimentais e correntes. O resultado final mostra que as alterações realizadas no processo foram significativos para melhorar a taxa de partição de fósforo.

Jul 30, 2018

By Ana Beatriz Ferreira Sousa

Compósitos são hoje uma importante vertente para o desenvolvimento de produtos com propriedades específicas. Quando compósitos são produzidos a partir de materiais renováveis e biodegradáveis, estes se tornam sustentáveis, devido à sua fonte de matéria prima. As fibras naturais vegetais são abundantes em todo o mundo e responsáveis pelas propriedades mecânicas das plantas, que representam um potencial alvo de estudo no desenvolvimento de materiais “verdes”. Baseado nisso, o objetivo desse trabalho é produzir compósitos de matriz polimérica termoplástica reciclada com fibras naturais de bambu longas, provenientes de biomassa regional, e analisar a influência das fibras como reforço nos compósitos. Realizaram-se os processos de lavagem, mercerização e acetilação para tratar quimicamente as fibras. Os resultados, quando comparados com a literatura disponível, indicaram que o compósito reforçado com as fibras longas de bambu modificadas apresentou melhores propriedades mecânicas que sua matriz polimérica. Por consequente, constata-se que se obteve êxito a partir das técnicas utilizadas.

Oct 30, 2017