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By M. B. Truehaft

Expectations for coal in the early to mid-1970s prompted the government and industry to pursue research and development programs to increase underground and surface mining coal Productivity and net coal recovery. Several programs concerned advanced surface mining methods for thin seam coal recovery. Three such programs, along with related areas of interest, presented in this paper are: extended depth augering for trench-strip applications; high recovery auger heads for enhanced recovery; and variable wall mining in low cover longwalls. Conceptual development is examined, prototype testing is discussed, and potential operations are considered.

Jan 1, 1985

By Regis Chauvenet

I have been requested to sketch the iron resources of the State of Colorado, with reference both to existing, i.e., working mines, and to prospects more or less developed, but not contributing anything as yet to actual shipments. I should mention, though disliking apologies, that there is one region of the State which I believe to be important, and which has been assigned to me (with reference to its iron-deposits particularly) in the field-work of the present year for the School of Mines, which has not been systematically explored, and whose data are not in such shape as to enable me to give them in this paper. The region in question is Pitkin county and part of the adjoining country. Regarding the geological positions of the veins or deposits, they are sufficiently varied. In Boulder county there is a well-defined vein of titaniferous magnetite in ancient granite or gneiss, while in Park county there may be seen a deposit now under construction, as will later be described; when finished it will belong, let us say, to the post-quaternary. Between these, in Cambrian, Silurian, and Lower Carboniferous formations, are various deposits, and even the

Jan 1, 1890

By James Chapman

THE observations here presented are those, not of an expert accountant, but of one who, while he has seen considerable service in the accounting departments of large companies, has spent more time in engineering and operating. This paper is intended to cover, in a measure, mine accounting for small mines, as distinguished from the elaborate systems, requiring many persons ;n the accounting department. I shall attempt to outline a system embracing the essentials of accounting, and simple enough in form to permit one or two persons to carry it on from month to month, in sufficient detail to be able to tell quickly the grade of ore, the prices received for metals, costs per ton for mining and milling, costs per foot for development, upward or downward tendencies in costs, ore settled or in transit, cash on hand, stocks of supplies on hand, efficiency of' labor, etc. As in all accounting, there are two main divisions: that of revenue received for what is sold, and that of disbursements made for what is bought, so in mine accounting we have to consider chiefly the income derived from sales of ore or concentrates, and the expenses incurred in producing the said ore or concentrates in a marketable condition.

Jan 3, 1916

By John Sherbourne

Much valuable scientific research has been performed in recent years on the subject of phase behavior of hydrocarbons. ? 1-11 Engineers employed in petroleum production are interesting themselves in this work as well as in methods of applying the fundamental data available to the solution of their various problems. Recently a number of papers have been published in which applica-tions of phase behavior have been made to specific cases pertaining to critical phenomena.)12-16 Little effort, however, has been made in the literature to show the relation between changes occurring in the critical region and the more common phase behavior, therefore it is believed that a presentation of the fundamentals of phase behavior with reference to hydrocarbons is timely. Study of phase behavior is not new. In the metallurgical field, knowledge of heterogeneous equilibria has advanced tremendously, particularly with reference to solid-solid and solid-liquid behavior. Much is known about vapor-liquid equilibria too, but few engineers are familiar with this subject. ?

Jan 1, 1940

By Thomas MacFarlane

During the last fifteen years the progress made in the science of lithology has been of a very marked character. From being a miscellaneous collection of facts and observations regarding certain mineral aggregates seemingly incapable of systematic arrangement, it has become a most interesting and orderly department of science. The investigators who have brought about this great change have recorded the results of their labors, and placed at our service an extensive and varied literature on the subject. To this I have paid some attention, and partly from studying it,, partly from my own observations, I have wrought out a classification of original or crystalline rocks, which I venture to bring under the notice of the members of this Institute. The practical importance of the subject will be acknowledged when it is considered that rock species are not without their influence on the contents of the mineral veins which intersect them. Besides, the Institute has been doing good service in defining terms in metallurgy, and no doubt in mining and geology we might

Jan 1, 1880

By D. D. Porter, C. Fairhurst

Crack propagation in the region of a statically pressurized borehole is investigated to determine a role of the sustained borehole pressure following detonation in a blast. The case of a single-hole bench blast is reduced to a plate model, which is considered both theoretically and experimentally. Based on the principle of least work, it is hypothesized that the path of any crack in the plate will coincide with one of a family of maximum principal stress trajectories. These trajectories were computed, and critical experiments in glass, designed to test the effects of controlled crack origin and of changed trajectories from different loading configurations, confirm this hypothesis. It is concluded that under ideal conditions the crack path can be predicted and that cracks can be produced in the absence of either high-amplitude stresses or stress waves. Energy considerations for crack extension are discussed, and, based on the strain energy distribution, a relationship between hole burdens and spacings is revealed, a critical burden is demonstrated, and a maximum crater width is shown to exist.

Jan 1, 1971

By Robert H. Merrill, Raymond M. Stateham

Recently, the Denver Mining Research Center of the U.S. Bureau of Mines began tests to detect hazardous or potentially hazardous conditions in or around mines with infrared measurement devices. Among the many potential uses of infrared detection techniques are the location of misfires, underground mine fires, combustion in waste dumps, underground water courses and loose rock. However, the primary emphasis has been placed upon the detection of loose rock in roofs, pillars and faces in underground mines. The rock along the edge of an underground opening is subject to two temperature environments: the temperature of the air in the opening, and the temperature of the rock surrounding the opening. Assuming that the rock on the edge of the opening is solid, the rock will reach an equilibrium temperature that depends upon the temperature and flow of the air, the thermal conductivity of the rock and its ambient temperature. Presume that a loose rock exists among this solid rock; because there is a temperature barrier, to some extent, between the loose and the solid, the loose rock will be affected more than the solid rock by the temperature of the air. Therefore, depending upon the temperature differences between the rock and the air, the loose will be warmer or cooler than the solid.

Jan 1, 1970

By Harold J. Bennett

A comprehensive knowledge of the availability of mineral resources to evaluate and assure a dependable supply is a prerequisite in establishing and maintaining a viable national economy. Since no nation is self-sufficient in all its mineral needs, its prosperity depends to a great degree upon its developing and maintaining an effective national minerals policy. This must be preceded by a systematic inventory of mineral resources that may be available to that nation. The U.S. Bureau of Mines is implementing a mineral deposit inventory program of domestic and foreign mineral occurrences, with initial emphasis on the domestic. In order to provide an in-depth appraisal of minerals availability, the approach includes not only realistic estimates of quantity and quality, but other essential factors such as costs, technology, environmental constraints, and development-time requirements. Analysis of this information provides usable relationships of quantity, price, time, and associated degrees of confidence of the occurrence of identifiable mineral resources. Keeping pace with a changing minerals industry and handling the large volume of information required in this undertaking demands that computer methods be employed.

Jan 1, 1977

By T. W. Watson, D. R. Flynn

,Measurements are reported for the thermal conductivity of four heat-resistant alloys which were measured at the National Bureau of Standards. Data are given for two samples of AISI Type 316 stainless steel covering a combined temperature range from -150° to + 800°C. The thermal conductivities of three samples of AISI Type 347 were measured over the temperature range from -150° to +150C. Thermal conductivity values are given for Carpenter 20 stainless steel from 100" to 800" C. Data are given for Inconel 702, in both the solution-annealed and the age-hardened condition, over the temperature range from -150" to +800C. SINCE 1958 the National Bureau of Standards, at the request of other government agencies or private laboratories, has carried out measurements of the thermal conductivity of a number of metals and alloys. This paper presents available thermal conductivity data obtained in this way on samples of four heat-resistant alloys. The data presented for Carpenter 20* stainless steel are, to the best of our knowledge, the only thermal conductivity values which have been reported for this alloy to date. Although thermal conductivity values for AISI stainless steels 316 and 347 have been reported by previous investigators, the present data are believed to be of particular interest because, for each alloy, the effect on thermal conductivity of small changes in chemical composition can be observed. The data on Inconel 702' are of interest, not only for

Jan 1, 1969

By Howard L. Hartman, Burke O. Trafton

There is a fruitful area of computer competence which has gone virtually unnoticed by the mining industry. This is in the solution of its numerous fluid-flow distribution problems, involving the circulation of air, water and other fluids in conduits through mines. Typical of these is the mine ventilation system, which circulates air through mine openings to the working faces. The networks of interconnected airways in large mines-often resembling a tortuous maze or labyrinth defying representation by schematic, let alone solution-must somehow be resolved and analyzed, if effective and safe control of the ventilation is to be maintained. These are admirably suited to programming for solution by high-speed electronic computer. Not only can direction of flow be determined but quantity and head loss as well. EARLIER EFFORTS AT NETWORK SOLUTION The only prior attempt to solve mine ventilation networks by digital computer methods was made by a Japanese investigator1 in 1958 whose work went unpublished. Unfortunately, he employed a method of network analysis little used in the United States and one which could accommodate a maximum of only 30 airways. While his analysis seems unnecessarily cumbersome and involved, it did suggest that a digital computer approach was feasible.

Jan 9, 1963

By W. Rutledge

As is well known, the Sydney coal-field comprises an area of about 200 square miles, being about 32 miles from the month of Big Bras d' Or, on the northwest, to Mira Bay on the southeast, by about 6 miles in width. The whole of this area is underlain by

Jan 1, 1886

By James R. Grage

The lead deposits of Missouri may be divided into three districts, the southwest, middle, and southeast. As too much time would be required to devote a detailed account to each district, only a description of the modes of occurrence of the lead ores in the southeast district will be given. The lead mining region proper of Southeast Missouri is embraced in an area of about twenty-five miles in width by about one hundred in length. The country embraced in this district is very broken, and traversed by ridges from one hundred to three hundred feet; in height, with an occasional knob rising higher. Porphyry forms almost the entire substructure of the region, with here and there outcrops of granite. The crystalline rocks were eroded into ridges and valleys before the deposition of the limestone took place. These porphyries are older than the Silurian limestones, and " belong (according to Pumpelly) to the Archaean (Azoic) formation, of which they may be the youngest member in Missouri. They are the near equivalents, in point of age, to the great iron-bearing rocks of Lake Superior, New Jersey, and Sweden."

By John W. Rushton

What role does maintenance play in the design of a new mineral processing facility? Consider the fact that most new plants never reach design capacity the first year-or the second, third, or fourth years. The fact is, according to data collected from several plants which have started up in the last ten years, mill throughput and equipment availability doesn't peak, on the average, until the fifth year.

Jan 3, 1978

By W. D. Grundy, Frances Wahl Pierce, Jean-Paul Marbeau, Carol Waite Conner

Resource and coal quality estimates of three coal deposits in the Western United States were estimated by kriging, a geostatistical method that yields unbiased estimates with maximum achievable precision. Derived geostatistical models were used in kriging to estimate the tonnages of the deposits and to derive contour maps of thickness, structure, and sulfur content. Where data were available on quarter-mile spacing, kriging was used to obtain detailed information applicable to mine planning and design. Where data were sparse, kriging was used to do a preliminary evaluation of total resources. Geologic studies were required to correlate the individual coal beds and to identify complicating conditions such as the presence of faults, burnt zones, channels, and regional changes in thickness and elevation. Where these conditions were identified, they were explicitly integrated into the estimation procedure.

Jan 1, 1983

By Thomas Elliott

It is now clearly evident that 1963 is witnessing a record year for prospecting and exploration in British Columbia and Yukon Territory, as substantiated by the following facts: ? About 60 large mining companies and many smaller ones are active in the search for new ore deposits. ? More than 500 prospectors and exploration geologists have been in the field this season. ? It is estimated that $10 million has been spent this year on the search for new ore deposits. ? Claim staking in B. C. to July 31, totalling 14,250, is up 2000 over 1962. ? Helicopter companies report a record total of 25 aircraft chartered to mining groups, with additional numbers used in oil-gas exploration. ? Leading assayers state that business with the industry is double that of the previous year. ? Diamond drillers report an increase of approximately 25% in the amount of contracts now on hand. The question is often asked, "Why is mining so active in Canada's Pacific Northwest?"

Jan 12, 1963

By Robert D. Coale, Reinhart P. Ehrlich, Terry L. Thompson

The copper concentrate slurry pipeline and pumping system of the Bougainville Copper Ltd. facilities on Bougainville Island in Papua New Guinea, is discussed. Development work necessary for the pipeline design is dealt with including a description of the 17-mile by 6-in. pipeline and pumping system as it was installed. The commissioning of the pipeline is reviewed as well as current operating performance, including data on corrosion, pump parts life, and manpower requirements.

Jan 1, 1977

By Philip B. Dettmer

Up to now we have spoken optimistically of the many potential savings in capital and operating costs to be obtained from the selection of larger diameter and horsepower grinding mills. Such mills may well be the correct choice for one grinding plant but could be absolutely wrong for another plant. It is emphasized here that many significant factors other than the capital cost, labor, grinding media and power savings are involved in the sizing and selection of the optimum grinding circuit. The following discussion covers some of these factors and their relationship to larger mill design. The first consideration is: What is the grinding circuit supposed to do? In most instances it is one or both of the following: 1. Grind the feed material fine enough to liberate the desired minerals but with a minimum of over- grinding. Examples are preparation of ore for flotation, gravity separation, etc. 2. Grind to some pre-specified particle size or particle surface area. Examples of this are cement manufacture or the preparation of feed material for pelletizing; other examples are preparation for chemical reactions or ceramic manufacture.

Jan 5, 1965

By G. J. Borbely, E. A. Devuyst, V. A. Ettel

Introduction Of the techniques reported for cyanide removal from effluents, alkaline chlorination is the most common (Fisher and Wasser, 1969; Reidt, 1969). Shortcomings with this technique are the high reagent costs, chlorine contamination, and potential formation of cyanogen chloride. Chemical oxidation methods are also not suitable to remove cyanide from effluents containing sulphides in suspension, such as flotation tailings. An inexpensive method for removing cyanide, combined cyanide and related species from waste waters has been developed in Inco laboratories. The method is based on the use of sulfur dioxide (or a sulfite), lime, and air as the reagents. The decomposition reactions of cyanide, combined cyanide, and related species are catalyzed by copper in solution. Complete removal of cyanide species, most of which are oxidized to cyanate, is obtained by treating copper containing cyanide effluents with sulfur dioxide-air mistures while maintaining the pH between 6 and 10 with addition of lime. The new approach can also be applied to selective destruction of cyanide and combined cyanide in effluents containing sulphides in suspension, such as pyrrhotite. Again, a sufficient amount of dissolved copper must be present or added. Metals and precious metals present in the effluents are recovered as hydroxides by adjusting the pH of the treated effluents to about 9-10. Using the new method, the anionic species are removed in the following order: Free CN- > Complex CN- > Thiocyanate The above removal sequence is unusual as oxidants such as chlorine and ozone oxidize thiocyanate preferentially over the combined cyanide.

Jan 1, 1985

By David J. Dunn, Richard G. Martin

Of many physical parameters critical to design of grinding processes, impact of grinding media is among the most difficult to measure or predict. Yet impact of falling grinding balls, pebbles, or rods accomplishes the fine grinding essential to metallurgical recovery of most important minerals. Unfortunately, the same impacts that break ore fragments deform or crack grinding mill liners. A project was undertaken at Climax Molybdenum Company to measure impact forces in operating ball mills so that they might be used to calculate stresses in liner materials and be correlated with service performance of mill liner alloys. Towards that end, a method of measuring impact forces on ball mill liners using an instrumented grinding ball has been developed. Preliminary tests show that impact forces and contact stresses imposed on bare mill liners are quite high but are greatly reduced by cushioning when coarse ore particles are crushed between balls and liners.

Jan 4, 1978

By Henry N. McCarl, John J. Dran

The academic community and the larger and more sophisticated mining companies have largely rejected the older mineral valuation methods such as the Hoskold and Morkill concepts and replaced them with "discounted cash flow" (DCF) techniques. The relevancy and usefulness of the older methods have been questioned primarily on the basis of their underlying assumptions that mining companies do not have numerous alternative investments and must use sinking funds deposited at market or "safe" rates of return to recover the purchase price of mineral reserves. The ability to reinvest in numerous (often nonmining) alternative business ventures, the changing purchasing power of the dollar, corporate income and other taxes, depreciation and depletion allowances, and modern financial management practice all militate against the continued use of the older valuation methods, especially for the larger mining companies. Small mining companies and individuals still use these methods largely out of habit and familiarity. The Hoskold Mineral Reserve Valuation Method The Hoskold method was developed prior to the evolution of modern accounting practices and before the days of the corporate income tax. At the time of its development, annual earnings of the firm were represented by the difference between cash revenues and cash expenses and were not subject to taxation by the government. Thus, earnings at that time were equivalent to what is today known as cash flow.

Jan 7, 1974