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By R. Bruno

The problem of testing different production strategies has been studied in relation to reserves selection and a computer programme for ore production management has been developed. The case study presented concerns an underground rock salt mine in Sicily with different product lines and variable ore characteristics. A geostatistical block model of the deposit was constructed on the basis of the physical and chemical parameters that ultimately determine the type of end-product in operations according to different selection strategies were simulated using the model and taking account of both technical and 'commercial constraints. The structure of an ore production management programme running on a PC to select both the mining unit and the end-use of the ore is described.

Jan 1, 1989

By Jon C. Volkwein

The U. S. Bureau of Mines investigated a method of using inert gas to prevent the formation of explosive gas mixtures in auger highwall mining of coal. A combination of gasoline and diesel engine exhaust gases was introduced into the auger drill hole using a short section of pipe located at the collar. Gas samples were taken and analyzed on site with infrared detectors for oxygen, carbon dioxide, methane, and carbon monoxide. Evacuated bottle samples were also taken and analyzed by gas chromatography at the Pittsburgh Research Center. These gas results were analyzed for explosibility. Personal exposure to carbon monoxide was also monitored. The highest methane level observed was 9.55 pct. The Inert gas levels, (carbon dioxide and nitrogen) were sufficiently high to prevent any ignition of the methane. Results showed that for all conditions during mining, gas concentrations were non-explosive. The maximum personal time weighted average sample for carbon monoxide was 20 ppm. This system provides a safe, inexpensive, simple method for preventing explosions during auger mining. INTRODUCTION The auger highwall mining method is an effective method to recover coal from a reserve when removal of the overburden by surface mining equipment becomes uneconomical. In this method of mining, a horizontal auger enters the coal seam from the surface mine bench under the highwall and the coal is drilled in a series of parallel holes. Historically, coal mined from the surface is relatively shallow, and over time, methane associated with the coal has dissipated through the surface. In most circumstances, little methane has been found associated with auger mining. However, mining technology has enabled surface mining of deeper reserves of coal. Furthermore, environmental constraints have forced the highwall extraction method to be used to remove coal under wetlands, further increasing the chances of encountering methane. Recently incidents of methane explosions at a few auger mining operations have resulted in injuries and increased testing for methane at the collars of auger holes. The fuel source of the reported explosions was not necessarily limited to methane, but may also have involved coal dust. The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) met with the Bureau to discuss what technology might be available to enable the safe resumption of mining. The discussion included the difficulty of ventilating through the solid shafts of the augers, that steel bits probably created the ignition source, and that perhaps inerting the holes with low oxygen and high carbon dioxide concentrations from the machine's diesel exhaust was a potential solution. Considering the ventilation aspects of the problem, it was not clear If ventilation could be reliably established. If some degree of ventilation to the front of the mining head is achieved, it may combine with methane to bring the hole atmosphere from a rich, nonexplosive mixture to an explosive mixture. Furthermore, it may not prevent a dust explosion in such a mining configuration. Lack of access through the shafts of auger type mining machines further limits the ability to add water or air to cool bits to prevent an ignition source from developing. Either of these approaches would also be expensive. The process of mining coal In an inert atmosphere has been considered in the past, but to our knowledge, never implemented (Department of Interior, 1970). Clearly, implementation in underground mining would be more complicated. On a mine bench open to the atmosphere, however, adding inert gas to the mining head could provide a quick, feasible method to prevent explosions at auger highwall mining operations. Also the problem of how to move the inert gas to the cutting head of the machine had to be considered. Preventing explosions on auger mining machines using inert gas requires three primary considerations: first is the source of inert gas; second, placing the inert gas at the cutter head; and third, monitoring the hole atmosphere. Any gas source having an effective inert gas concentration of 34 volume pct or greater will prevent methane from Igniting (Zabetakis, 1965). Sources of inert gas considered for this application included liquid nitrogen, modified shipboard inert gas generators (for hydrocarbon shipping and transfer), jet turbine engine (Paczkowski, et. al., 1982), the auger's diesel engine and a gasoline engine. Operation cost, purchase cost and availability limited our testing to the diesel and gasoline engines. This work tested each engine, separately and combined. To ensure effectiveness, both company and enforcement personnel need to know how to monitor the condition of the inerted hole. Measurements at depth inside the hole are possible by remote sampling through rigid tubing, but this method is Impractical for routine monitoring. Continuous monitoring of the exhaust gas stream is an alternative. The U. S. Bureau of Mines evaluated an inert gas system at an auger mining operation at a surface mine near Owensboro, KY. Coal was mined from the Number 9 Coalbed in Henderson Co. KY. Tests were conducted in January and March of 1992.

Jan 1, 1993

By Dale R. Ralston, Roy E. Williams, Gerry V. Winter, George L. Bloomsburg

The purpose of this section is to demonstrate the development of a method that we believe can be used for simulating and predicting mine water inflow. It will also show how important it is for personnel who model mine water inflow to have considerable experience with this subject, and with the conversion of hydrogeologic frameworks to conceptual models. Several of the models described previously are said to be three dimensional. However, closer examination reveals that there is considerable limitation in the variation possible in the third dimension. A true three-dimensional analysis would require a very large program. Therefore, it seems more reasonable to develop a procedure by which information from a two-dimensional model can be used for analysis of a three-dimensional problem. For a vertical mine shaft this is relatively easy because most two-dimensional models have an option for axisymmetric flow. If it can be assumed that axisymmetry exists about the centerline of the shaft it can be modeled easily as has been illustrated previously. For a horizontal drift or tunnel the analysis is not nearly as straightforward. However, the flow can be divided into two parts as indicated in Fig. 59. Part 1 considers the flow into the side of the drift while part 2 considers the flow into the end of the drift. To calculate the flow rate into the entire drift from the unsteady flow into a unit length the instantaneous flow per unit length may be integrated over the total length of the shaft. This procedure is shown in Fig. 60. The radial flow through any incremental length of the shaft is q. The total flow rate, Q, into the drift at any particular time is given by: The discharge q is a function of the time during which a particular segment has been draining that is dependent on the location x. In other words, a location at x = 0 has been draining during the entire time of expansion while a segment at x = L has only started to drain. Therefore, the time of draining at any point, x, is given by: [ ] where t' is the time over which the mine has been expanded. To determine the relationship between q and t it is necessary to refer to Polubarinova- Kochina (1962, pp. 566-569) and the equation given for the unsteady flow problem. This is: [ ] where q is the steady flow, q,, q, are the coefficients, and t is the time since drainage began. The expressions for q0, q1, and q2 are given as:

Jan 1, 1986

By Zbigniew Hladysz

INTRODUCTION In the Polish coal mining industry, the Upper Silesian coal basin has an important position. It contributes over 98% of the total coal production of Poland which reached 193 mt in the year 1979. In view of the significant urbanized area in this region as well as the industrial potential, it is important to protect the surface by stowing the mined out underground workings. Approximately 18% of the total production is mined from longwall faces with stowing. However, caved longwall faces are most popular. In the upper Silesian coalfield, approximately 337 highly mechanized longwall faces are in operation. Out of these 337 faces, 301 longwall faces are caved. One of the main requirements for effective and safe coal extraction is a suitable method for strata control. We can divide the complex process of strata control into four steps: 1. Strata investigations 2. Selection of supports for roadways 3. Selection of supports for longwall 4. Rock bursts and other hazards protection STRATA INVESTIGATIONS Estimation of the structure and physico-mechanical properties of the rock mass surrounding the workings is an important constituent of strata control. These factors definitely influence the rock stability, support load, working conditions as well as the mining technology. Complex methods of strata investigations involve a set of indicators enabling the estimation of the stability of the roof rock, strength of the coal seam and load bearing capacity of the floor. The basis for the evaluation of roof stability for a coal seam is the classification according to the resistance to bed separation (1). The bed separation resistance is equal to the strength of the rock in tension perpendicular to the bedding plane. In order to properly classify a rock, it is indispensable to make continuous profiles of the bed separation resistance from the immediate roof up to a distance of three times the thickness of the coal seam. The profiles are developed by utilizing mine roof investigations with the hydraulic borehole penetrometer. (Fig. 1) The penetration resistance is determined by the critical pressure required to cause crushing of the rock by the penetrometer indentor (2). The classification of roof rocks and their ability to cave spontaneously during longwall mining is shown in [Fig. 2]. The measurement of the critical pressure also allows for the determination of the compressive strength of the rock, the index of workability and roof fissuration.

Jan 1, 1982

By Peter J. Szabo

Many mining engineers tend to think of the economic analysis of mining ventures and projects on an f.o.b. mine basis. This is especially true of mines that are operated in an established domestic mining district. Here, transportation costs are many times smaller in comparison to overall delivered prices. One has only to consider the development economics of taconite mines in Minnesota with production destined for lower lake ports to see the truism of this statement. In the international arena, however, with consumers such as Japan and Europe located thousands of miles from source countries such as Brazil and Australia, the situation is different because mineral transportation is often a critical factor in determining project viability. This article is being presented to provide a basic understanding of the factors that govern ocean transportation of the three largest bulk mineral commodities shipped around the world: iron ore, coal, and phosphate. The major dry bulk commodity trades as a percentage of volume shipped are iron ore, 45%; grain, 25%; coal, 20%; phosphate rock, 5%; and bauxite and aluminum, 5%. Most of these commodities are carried by bulk carriers rather than tankers. These are vessels that have cargo, usually in solid form, loaded directly into the hold of a vessel by shore-side materials handling facilities or, in the case of a geared bulk carrier by the vessel's cranes and derricks. Gearless bulk carriers are used in most cases for iron ore and coal. Geared bulk vessels are mainly used for minor dry bulk trades such as ore concentrates (copper, lead, zinc, etc.), fertilizers (phosphate, potash, etc.), cement, petroleum, and coke. There has been, however, a trend toward using more self-unloading ships in both iron ore and coal ocean transport. And large vessels, such as the Universe Kure of Japan, have been designed with a cargo capability of 157 kt (155,000 dwt (deadweight tons)). Trade patterns of major bulk commodities are influenced by the Panama and Suez canals. Both of these canals have draft limitations that prohibit large, deep-draft, ocean-going vessels from using them for shorter trade routes used by Panamax and Suex vessels. The shipping industry has developed two widely used vessel classes; the Panamax and Suex vessels. The former is the maximum size vessel that can pass through the Panama Canal, usually 51-61 kt (50,000 - 60,000 dwt), depending on the season and draft of the vessel. The Panama Canal is usually 0.6-0.9 m (2-3 ft) deeper in the winter than in the summer. Thus, less cargo can be carried by the same size ship in the summer through the canal than in the winter. The Suex vessel is in the 71-81 kt (70,000-80,000 dwt) class. This larger vessel is able to transit the Suez since Egypt deepened the canal following the Seven Days War. Recently, the Suez Canal has been deepened to accommodate vessels with drafts as deep as 152 kt (150,000 dwt).

Jan 10, 1982

By Paul Schmidt, John Barber

This paper discusses the determination of cutoff grade (COG), including all revenue and cost factors and how to apply the COG in the world of engineering studies and mine planning for underground mines. It provides the engineer with important considerations and practical methods to establish COG and methods of using the COG in the work of mine planning, including the application of Mineable Stope Optimizer (MSO) software which is available on several 3D mine planning packages.

Feb 1, 2024

By William Hustrulid

INTRODUCTION The Idarado mine lies high in the San Juan Moun¬tains on the divide between the Uncompahgre and San Miguel Rivers and consists of a consolidation of a number of old and prominent mining properties through which course some famous and very produc¬tive veins. Among the better known are the Smuggler, Tomboy, Montana-Argentine, Black Bear, Liberty Bell, Virginius, Flat, Barstow, and Japan, as well as many others. Most of these veins have been extensively mined over the past century and in the last three decades the Montana-Argentine and Black Bear veins have been the backbone of the Idarado mine; therefore, the descrip¬tion of the veins is limited to them. Access to the mine is through either the Treasury tunnel, whose portal is below Red Mountain Pass on US Highway 550 at an elevation of 3244 m (10,643 ft), or the Mill Level tunnel entrance 3.2 km (2 miles) east of Telluride, CO, at an elevation of 2761 m (9060 ft). The Treasury tunnel intersects the Black Bear vein 2643 m (8670 ft) from the portal and the Mill Level tunnel intersects the Argentine vein 2179 m (7150 ft) from the portal. Mining is by shrinkage stoping from slusher sublevels. The size of the scope blocks varies somewhat, but the standard size is 67 to 76 m (220 to 250 ft) long and 61 to 76 m (200 to 250 ft) high. The mine ranks either first or second in Colorado in yearly production of gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc. It is 9.6 km (6 miles) from the Red Mountain plant to the Pandora plant, via interconnecting drifts and raises. There are engineering offices at both plants as a matter of convenience. The Red Mountain plant in¬cludes the company general offices, warehouse, carpen¬ter and machine shops, and mine change room. The Pandora plant consists of the mill and assay office, ma¬chine shops, and mine change room. The flotation mill has a capacity of 1632 t/d (1800 stpd), making a bul¬lion product and separate concentrates of lead, copper, and zinc. HISTORY OF THE MINE The Montana-Argentine vein was first extensively worked by the Tomboy Gold Mines Co., Ltd., a British concern. This company mined the stoped areas above the Ophir level between 1910 and the late 1920s and most of the stoped areas above the 2100 level between 1900 and the late 1920s. Gold was the principal ore metal mined. The area between the Revenue and Ophir levels was mined chiefly by the Revenue Mines Co. between 1900 and 1910. The ore was worked from the Revenue tun¬nel, which portals in Canyon Creek. Gold and silver were the chief metals recovered. The stopes between the 1700 and Revenue levels, as well as some higher stopes, were mined by Telluride Mines Inc. during the 1940s. The Mill Level tunnel was driven by that company from 1945 to 1948. Lead and zinc then became economically more important than the precious metals. In 1953, Idarado purchased Telluride Mines, which merged with the parent company in 1956. The Black Bear vein was first extensively worked by the Black Bear Mining Co. in the 1900s and by the Colorado Superior Mining Co. from about 1914 until snowslides at the mine camp [altitude 3750 m (12,300 ft)] terminated the company's operations in 1924. Leasers operated at intervals until 1934. The Treasury tunnel, formerly the Hammond tunnel, had been started before 1900 and reached the 1646-m (5400-ft) mark early in the 1900s, at which time activity lagged until the late 1930s. In the early 1940s, Idarado extended the Treasury tunnel from its heading at 1646 m (5400 ft) to the Black Bear vein and established a raise connec¬tion with the 600 level, the lowest level in the old mine. Since completion of initial work in the mid-1940s, systematic development of the mine, both in the driv¬ing of new headings and the utilization of older open¬ings, has resulted in the present extensive network of workings. GEOLOGY Introduction The oldest rocks of the area are the Precambrian metamorphic rocks, the Uncompahgre formation which are massive quartzites, some phyllites and slates, and dolomitic or limestone beds. West-dipping Paleozoic and Mesozoic strata lie on the Uncompahgre formation. These units are separated by a major angular uncomformity from overlying, essentially horizontal, Tertiary formations that include the basal Telluride conglomerate and several thousand feet of overlying volcanic rock. Intrusive rocks, mostly Tertiary in age, are common in the area, and are in the form of dikes, stocks, and sills. Dikes are very closely associated with some of the ore veins (Mayer). Description of Veins The Black Bear and Argentine veins range from 0.6 to 7.6 m (2 to 25 ft) in width, but in most places are 1.5 to 2 m (5 to 7 ft) wide. They vary in character from a well-defined tabular structure between sharp "frozen" walls, or gouge seams, to an irregular zone of quartz and quartz-sulfide stringers. Many gouge seams within the veins make the veins blocky and loose. Common gangue minerals in the veins include quartz, pyrite, rhodonite, chlorite, sericite, clay minerals, epidote, calcite, adularia, rhodocrosite, fluorite, and specularite. Quartz constitutes 60 to 70% of the veins and varies widely in character, ranging in color from clear through white, gray, and green, to amethyst. Chlorite, sericite, the clay minerals, and fine-grained quartz are common alteration products of the vein walls and of wall rock fragments in the veins. Epidote is an altera¬tion of the dike or, less commonly, of tuff-breccia. Calcite, adularia, fluorite, and rhodocrosite, which are wide¬

Jan 1, 1982

By J. B. Gwiazda

Introduction Thick seams constitute a considerable portion of Polish coal reserves. In producing mines and those under construction, the reserves where the height is more than 4.5 m (15 ft) total about 24v0 of all the hard coal reserves. The reserves that are under urban and industrial areas can be extracted using stowing methods for surface protection. About 50v0 of thick seam reserves can be extracted by caving methods. Thick seam mining methods Thick seams are usually extracted by multilift methods. There are some methods of thick seam mining that generally can be divided into caving and stowing methods. The stowing method is more expensive, but must be used when mining to protect surface features. The more known methods of thick seam mining include: • extraction of thick seam in ascending order with stowing; • thick seam mining in descending order with consolidated stowing; • thick seam mining with gob consolidation; • thick seam mining in descending order with roof caving; • sublevel caving thick seam mining system; and • thick seam mining system using an artificial roof. • Thick seam mining with introduction of an artificial roof The most advantageous method of thick seam mining is the method using an artificial roof. The artificial roof usually consists of wire mesh. Such wire mesh must be durable and must prevent small rock fragments from passing through. The mesh is usually made of steel properly protected against corrosion. The artificial roof is placed on the coal floor of the top slice (Fig. 1). Caving rock falls on the artificial roof and is thus separated from the coal. The next slice is extracted under the artificial roof. The producing face of the next slice must progress within 10 m (33 ft) behind the front of the first slice. As the second producing face progresses, the wire mesh moves down on the coal floor and may be used as an artificial roof for the next slice. Thus, one artificial roof allows the extraction of several consecutive slices. Application of the artificial roof allows for clean extraction and reduces coal losses. It also eliminates the hazard of spontaneous combustion. Introduction of the artificial roof has been limited due to a lack of artificial roof laying equipment. Manual laying of wire mesh is a labor-intensive operation, and it delays face progress, resulting in poor productivity. To eliminate these problems, artificial roof laying equipment was designed at the Polish Central Mining Institute. The support and the method of laying operation is covered by a patent. Artificial roof laying powered support To extract thick seams using an artificial roof; four-leg shield supports with lemniscate linkage were developed (Fig. 2). This shield is used in the first top

Jan 1, 1988

By John D. Morgan

Introduction The US Bureau of Mines' (USBM) world reserve/consumption ratios (Table 1) indicate that, if the world is relatively peaceful in the next two decades, there should be ample world supplies of minerals to permit rising standards of living for increasing world population. But it must be remembered that most mineral reserve estimates are conservative and that normal mining practice is to develop a ton of ore reserve for every ton mined. It should be noted that "reserve," as used in this paper follows the definition given in US Geological Survey (USGS) Circular 831, 1980; "that part of the reserve base which could be economically extracted or produced at the time of the determination." In addition to accurately determining the geologic parameters of mineral deposits, a judgment as to whether that deposit is a "reserve" per se involves consideration of many other factors. These factors were recognized nearly a century ago by a well-known mining engineer and later President, Herbert Hoover. In "Principles of Mining," 1909, Hoover wrote: "Unfortunately for the mining engineer, not only has he to weigh the amount of risk inherent in calculations involved in the mine itself, but also that due to fluctuations in the value of metals. If the ore is shipped to custom works, he has to contemplate also variations in freights and smelting charges ...In a free market, the law of supply and demand governs the values of metals as it does that of all other commodities. So far, except for tariff walls and smelting rings, there is a free market in the metals under discussion. The demand for metals varies with the unequal fluctuations of the industrial tides. The sea of commercial activity is subject to heavy storms, and the mine valuer is compelled to serve as weather prophet on this ocean of trouble. High prices, which are the result of industrial booms, bring about overproduction, and the collapse of these begets a shrinkage of demand, wherein consequently the tide of price turns back." Current supplies and use There have been ample supplies of most mineral materials to permit several-fold increases of world production of common major mineral based minerals (steel, aluminum, copper, and cement) over the past three decades. Motor vehicle production is a major consumer of mineral materials. However, in the last decade, down-sizing to facilitate improved fuel efficiency and reduce harmful emissions has reduced the weight of the average US-made automobile 15%, to 1.5 t (3200 lbs). Also in the US, there are 92 million dwelling units, or on average, fewer than three persons per dwelling unit. Construction is another major consumer of materials in the industrialized developed countries. It will also be a major consumer of materials worldwide as less developed nations seek to improve their infrastructures by adding roads, bridges, railroads, airfields, ports, and housing. Fortunately, a large number of traditional common materials, many of mineral origin and also many of agricultural origin, are readily available for construction. Traditional construction materials such as steel, aluminum, copper, and cement, are being replaced in many applications by engineered plastic and ceramic

Jan 4, 1986

By Steven J. Stokowski, Frederick M. Bodycomb

This chapter deals with the use of industrial minerals in insulating materials used to control our thermal and acoustical environment. There are numerous products on the market used for thermal and acoustical insulation; they consume substantial quantities of a variety of industrial minerals. Following is a brief review of the theory and function of insulating materials. Acoustics is the science of sound, and architectural acoustics deals with sound in buildings. If this definition is broadened to include transportation vehicles, it is this end use for which acoustical insulations are primarily manufactured. Sound is defined as the auditory sensation in the ear, or the disturbance in a medium which causes this sensation. Acoustical insulation is used to reduce or eliminate noise, defined as unwanted sound. Noise control may be accomplished by the reduction of sound radiation at the source, by utilizing sound reducing construction methods such as staggered studs, etc., to control sound transmission, or by using sound absorbing material on walls, ceilings, and floors (Rossing, 1985). Acoustical insulation functions by absorbing the energy in sound waves in a porous material. As the sound waves penetrate the pores, they are dissipated by reducing the amplitude of vibration of the air molecules by contact with the pore walls, with subsequent conversion of the sound energy to heat energy. Acoustical insulation is generally highly porous, 1.3 cm or greater in thickness, and has interconnected pores. Acoustical insulating materials include fibrous vegetable or mineral matter and cellular organic and inorganic material, such as natural or manufactured foams (Sabine and Moulder, 1979). Acoustical materials are most commonly porous boards and tiles, which are often composite materials with perforated facing. Roof insulation board and lightweight concrete can also contribute to the absorption of noise. Thermal insulation is defined as material used to control the flow of heat. It may be used for heat control from low cryogenic temperatures (below -100°C) to in excess of 2 200°C for applications such as ablative shields for spacecraft. Heat transfer occurs by conduction, convection, or radiation. Conduction is the transfer of heat without the movement of the conducting medium, as through a metal. Heat convection through a liquid or gas takes place by movement of the medium. Forced convection is the basis for heating and cooling equipment, utilizing pumps or blowers to transfer the thermally conditioned fluid. Free or natural convection occurs due to density differences in the fluid. Radiation is the transfer of energy in space (Eckert, 1985). Conduction of heat through a solid is reduced by insulating the body with foams, or fibrous or small celled granular material. Heat transfer through a gas (convection) is controlled by creating many small pores which inhibit the movement of the fluid, substituting a gas of low thermal conductivity, or evacuating the space. Heat radiation can be reduced by the use of materials that reflect or absorb the energy (Glaser, 1967). Thermal insulating materials may be vegetable or mineral fibers, organic or inorganic particles, or foams with small pores, generally used to form a low density thermal barrier. They may be blocks, poured lightweight cementitious materials, bricks, etc.

Jan 1, 1994

By L. F. Moran

Rod Mill Grinding is an important and fundamental step of the concentrating process in Marcona Mining Company's plants at San Nicolas Bay, Peru. This Paper summarizes experience in regard to consumption and specifications of grinding rods based on twelve years operation of the grinding circuits. Marcona operates a Plant complex producing 10 million tons per year of beneficiated iron ore products including pellets, sinter feed concentrates, high grade concentrates as slurry and filter cake. Processing capacity is 15 million tons per crude ore per year of which 13 million are around in rod mills. A continuous testing program was carried out over the years. Initial studies of daily production operations gave indications of poor grinding rates in relation to mill size and power consumption, with a high rate of broken liners and rods. The broken nieces of rod were not automatically expelled and further interfered with grinding efficiency, while replacement of liners caused unwarranted do n tire. Objectives were to improve all phases of the Process by studying the effects of changes in rod diameter, length, alloy constituents, and volume and weight of rod charge.

Jan 1, 1975

By Ray E. Harris

All of the major raw materials (silica, soda ash, limestone, and feldspar) needed to manufacture most grades of glass are found in Wyoming. Additional advantages for the manufacture of glass include the state's geographic location, a well-developed transportation network, a favorable tax structure (no corporate or personal-income tax), and low energy costs. Inadequate local markets and prohibitive transportation costs to other markets have been the major obstacles to developing a glass industry in Wyoming, the least- populated state in the nation. The Rocky Mountain region only recently became a major market for glass, especially for the Colorado Front Range and Utah's Wasatch Front. Currently, changing costs of the production of glass, an increased market for con- tainer glass in the Colorado Front Range, and innovative production and transportation ideas (e.g., production of selected types of glass and bulk shipments of specification-glass pellets) favor developing a glass plant in Wyoming. Thus, the Wyoming State Geological Survey (WSGS) and other state agencies have been conducting studies and contacting investors in an effort to attract a glass-manufacturing plant to the state. Between 1987 and 1993, three locations of silica-sand and -rock deposits were studied in Wyoming (Cassa, Plumbago Creek, and John Blue). Funding was provided by the WSGS operating budget and local and state Department of Commerce economic- development grants. The reports on these areas were released between 1988 and 1993. In 1988-89, a California-based company conducted additional drilling and feasibility studies and prepared to construct a glass plant in Cheyenne, using the Cassa silica source. However, due to losses incurred by some of their other investments, the company did not proceed. In 1997, the Wyoming Science, Technology, and Energy Administration (STEA) contracted a market study for glass manufactured in Wyoming, using information provided by the WSGS. The STEA contacted several major glass producers, and a major glass-producing company began feasibility studies in January 1998, for the construction of a glass plant. In June 1998, bids to supply brown beer bottles to the Budweiser brewery northeast of Fort Collins, Colorado, were submitted by at least two companies that were considering glass-plant sites in Wyoming.

Jan 1, 1999

By M. J. Virnig, J. M. W. Mackenzie, M. W. Johns

The properties of Henkel's Aurix® resin which uses a guanidine functionality to recover gold by ion exchange have been described in publications of the International Mineral Processing Congress and Randol International (1)(2). The purpose of this paper is to provide an update on the results of further testwork using Aurix®. Specifically, this paper presents the first results of resin in pulp testing, all the results previously reported were for testwork carried out using synthetic gold leach solutions.

Jan 1, 1995

By Earle J. Klohn

Tailings disposal has rapidly become an area of increasing importance to both existing and planned mining operations. In recognition of the significance of this topic, MINING ENGINEERING is presenting a series of articles on tailings disposal. The first, published in June, outlined some site criteria that influence tailings disposal and some of the design options available to meet these criteria. The following article explores in more detail important design criteria for tailings dams and provides several case study illustrations.

Jan 7, 1981

By Vanessa M. Torres, Renato S. Costa

This work presents the experience of Cia. Vale do Rio Doce in using Diagnostic Leaching tests to characterize refractory ores and CIP tailings. With the diagnostic leaching results of the highly refractory gold ore from Maria Preta Mine (Brazil), a process flowsheet was defined for a feasibility study of possible process modification on the existing plant. With CIP tailings from its Fazenda Brasileiro and Caué operations the amount of cyanidable gold was determined to aid plant optimization.

Jan 1, 1995

By G. A. Goller, Y. C. Lo

Microscale studies involving an ultrafast load cell have been shown to provide direct and accurate measurements of particle strength, particle fracture energy and particle breakage functions under different loading geometry conditions. The effect of grinding media size, shape, density and surface properties on the energy efficiency can be quantitatively determined for different materials to be ground. The applications of microscale comminution studies have been demonstrated to provide good predictions of grinding mill performance with different grinding media.

Jan 1, 1995

By M. J. Hrebar

Surface coal mine design has traditionally relied on graphic and analytic approaches for pit layout and equipment selection. A number of interactive graphic microcomputer programs have been written that aid in the design process in the academic arena and should also have industrial applications. The programs described include a drag-line cut diagram and production index calculation program, a downslope load scraper cut diagram and volume program, and an overburden volume and coal tonnage sequencing program.

Jan 1, 1988

By J. C. Stankus, S. Guo, S. S. Peng

In this paper, a model is developed for a resin anchor bolt system in which the smooth bar is modeled by using one-dimensional truss elements, and the resin annulus is modeled by using axisymmetric elements. These two submodels are combined and then incorporated into an existing computer code called Roofbolt. After this development, all of the components in the resin anchor bolt system, including smooth bar, bearing plate and resin annulus, can be correctly modeled.

Jan 1, 1997

By Matthew J. Hrebar

Dragline stripping operations account for over one-half of the U.S. bituminous coal production mined by surface coal mining methods. The dragline is a popular stripping tool because of its flexibility in varying overburden depths and relatively low operating costs per cubic yard of overburden. Because of the relatively high capital costs of the machines and their use as a primary stripping tool, the selection process is an important step in the mine planning procedure.

Jan 1, 1979

By Heinrich Schubert

In many unit operations, there are more or less developed turbulent flow conditions. Then, macroturbulence influences the transport phenomena of the particles and microturbulence controls the stresses acting on fluid and solid particles or agglomerates as well as the collisions between particles. Consequently, these conditions have to betaken into consideration for modeling and optimization. The results of corresponding approaches are demonstrated taking classification and flotation as examples. But, at present, extensive simplifying assumptions have to be made.

Jan 1, 1989