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I am a partner in a minerals' development company called A.B.F. Limited, that does minerals development in Africa and Asia. I have read your very fine magazine often at the Colorado School of Mines Library in Golden, Colorado. I would like to ask your assistance in trying to locate a South African smelter; preferably on the coast, but not totally necessary for the project, that can separate the first four metals (Au, Ag, Cu, and Pb).

Jan 1, 1980

NOTICES The Institution of Mining and Metallurgy The Institution is to hold a one day meeting entitled "Sampling in the mineral and metallurgical processing industries" at Imperial College, London, on 2nd July, 1973. International Conference on Air Pollution This Conference is organised by the Department of Health and the National Association for clean air. Consas 74 The Fifth Conference of Southern African Surveyorswill be held in Salisbury, Rhodesia, from 3rd to 9th February, 1974.

By P. Greenfield

The German steelmaking industry has come up with a novel solution to the problem of waste plastics-grind them into particles and use them in the steelmaking process. Plastics make ideal agents for removing oxygen from iron ore in blast furnaces, and save on oil and coal as well. The aim of replacing heavy oil and coal with plastics in blast furnaces is to use them as reducing agents as well as an additional energy source.

Jan 1, 1996

By M. A. von Below

Environmental activists have targeted the mining industry in an attempt to prevent development, which has resulted in the industry's becoming defensive and retro-active. This paper argues that mining managements should go on the offensive and champion the environment through leadership in environmental policy and research and development, rather than reacting to anti-mining campaigns. In the formulation of an environmental policy for the mining industry, a clear understanding of the concept of sustainable development is of paramount importance.

Jan 1, 1993

By H. T. Clausen

This paper gives a brief review of the main environmental and ecological problems of slimes dams, both those created in the immediate vicinity of the dams and those influencing the region or catchment. Methods of dealing with these problems and influences on existing dams are described. The difficulties encountered in the growing of grass on steep slopes are explained, and, after an analysis of the conditions, a plea is made for flatter slopes on the sides of dams.

Jan 12, 1973

By J. C. Steinhobel

Answers to questions raised at the Symposium on Trackless Mining in Metal Mines Questions by J. O. Steinhobel (1) When rubber-tyred equipment is used for the delivery of stores and items of equipment, how is heavy material-pipes, rails, timber support, ventilation columns, etc.-dealt with? Termination of Membership In accordance with By-Law 7.6.1. of the Constitution of the Institute, the names of the undermentioned members have been removed from the membership register.

Jan 9, 1973

Notices EIGHTH WORLD MINING CONGRESS The Eighth World Mining Congress will be held in Lima, Peru, from 3rd to 8th November, 1974. The theme of the Congress is 'Prognosis of mining development up to the year 2000', with the following subthemes: INF ACON 74 Readers are reminded of the International Ferro-alloys Congress being organized by the National Institute for Metallurgy, in conjunction with the Ferro Alloy Producers' Association of South Africa and the South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.

In mid-1984, SAIMM reached an agreement with the South African Region of what is now the Institute of Metals to combine the physical-metallurgical activities of the two organizations. This was the outcome of several years of informal collaboration, and followed the recognition in 1982 by the SAIMM Council that applied physical metallurgy had grown in importance to South African industry and should have a place alongside the two areas already well-established for SAIMM commitment and support-mining and extractive metallurgy.

Jan 1, 1986

By D. I. Hoyer, M. F. Dawson

The results obtained from the operation of a batch centrifugal ball mill are reported, together with the development of a model for the behaviour of a particle in free flight within the mill, and the introduction of a cumulative breakage rate function. Schumann and Rosin-Rammler plots show the change in particle-size distribution with time at various configurations of the mill. Graphs showing the rate of production of fines and the rate of breakage of coarse particles are included.

Jan 1, 1982

By D. D. Marsden

The paper briefly outlines the history of the successful development of vegetating techniques for mine-residue deposits. It seeks to place on record the major roles played by M.J. Mrost, who initiated and systematically developed the concept, and W.H. Cook, who continued the trials and successfully directed a stupendous large-scale project. The vegetating techniques currently practised are outlined, and it is concluded that vegetating is still the only surface-stabilizing technique of any significance that is employed throughout the world.

Jan 1, 1987

By B. N. Soutar

The design and operation of a double- V compartment vertical-flow settler by B. N. SOUTAR, B.Sc. (Mech. Eng.) Wits. (Visitor) This paper describes the development of a vertical-flow settler for underground pumping installations in the mines of Gold Fields of South Africa Ltd. The recommended settler employs the principle of 'dynamic filtration': the solids that are in suspension in mine water are filtered through a stable horizontal bed of flocculated particles, a technique that was established in about 1958.

Jan 3, 1977

The South African Institute for Mining and Metallurgy celebrated its 95th anniversary with a banquet at The Carlton on Friday, 2nd June, 1989. This event was attended by 600 people, including the Presidents of AS&TS, constituent societies, and other kindred bodies, together with members and their guests. The guest speaker was Mr Muray Hofmeyr, Chairman of the Johannesburg Consolidated Investment Company Limited, who gave an interesting and thought-provoking talk entitled 'Will we still be the best in the year 2001'

Jan 1, 1989

By K. A. G. Blendulf

The paper describes tests on horizontal-belt filters for the filtration of gold and uranium. The promising results led to the installation of 17 such filters (ten of them 120 m2 in size) in the mine's metallurgical plants, and their operation is discussed. Although several problems were encountered both in operation and maintenance, it is concluded that, with correct operation and suitable filter cloths, exceptionally good metallurgical recoveries can be achieved at filtration rates twice to three times higher than those on rotary filters.

Jan 1, 1997

By P. J. Barton, N. F. Peverett

A brief review of the development and ultimate design of the Model 16 Photometric Sorter is given, including the differences between it and its predecessor, the Model 13, which is currently in operation at Doornfontein. A description of the West Driefontein sorting plant is given, together with the rationale of its design. The installation programme for the sorters is described, and current operating and maintenance procedures are discussed. Operating results are tabulated and compared with the original test results. Operating costs are also discussed.

Jan 1, 1980

By N. T. Halgreen

The use of coal for combustion, carbonization, and the production of synthetic fuel is discussed briefly, highlighting the effect of certain physical and chemical properties of coal on these processes. The effect of consumer specifications of properties such as calorific value, ash content, moisture content, and size consist on the planning and operation of a mine are discussed, including the influence of coal degradation through time or mechanical means. The effects of various mining methods on these parameters and on the utilization of coal reserves are discussed.

Jan 1, 1984

By W. L. Van Heerden

In situ complete stress-strain characteristics of large coal specimens by W. L. VAN HEERDEN, B.Sc. Hons. (Pret.) (Visitor) The significance of ;n situ tests on large coal specimens is briefly reviewed. Tests aimed at obtaining complete stress-strain characteristics of large coal specimens with high width-to-height ratios are described. A formula for the relationship between strength and width-to-height ratios of coal pillars is proposed, and the influence of width to- height ratios on the deformation characteristics of pillars is discussed.

By P. A. Botha

The production of iron and steel generates various types of waste materials containing oxides, carbon, and flux material. Usually, these materials are land-filled at the plant site or are hauled away for disposal. Some of these waste materials are hazardous, and they must therefore be recycled or disposed of properly. The influence of different waste materials in iron-ore sinter blends on the quality and operational parameters in sinter production is described. The recycling of waste materials such as dolochar, scrap fines, mill scale, electric-arc furnace slag, basic-oxygen-furnace mud via the sintering process can achieve a saving in the cost of the raw materials (for example, fuels and flux) and a reduction in pollution. A comparison of a typical sinter with a sinter produced through the utilization of waste materials shows a distinct correlation between certain types of waste material and some metallurgical properties and operational parameters. Dolochar (and arc-furnace slag) in a sinter blend acts as part of the fuel and flux that are normally added to a sinter mix. In general, dolochar improves the quality of the sinter and decreases the consumption of coke. Other waste materials adversely influence the quality of the sinter, but not necessarily the operational parameters such as the production rate. At Vanderbijlpark, approximately 15 kt of various waste materials per month are successfully recycled in the sinter plant. Investigations into the handling and recycling of other waste materials may indicate that even more waste materials can be utilized.

Jan 1, 1993

By S. L. Crouch

This paper describes a numerical procedure for the computation of the displacements and stresses induced by the mining of a tabular ore deposit in faulted ground. The numerical procedure is based on the displacement discontinuity method, which can be regarded as an application of Salamon's 'face element principle' to cases in which the reef plane is faulted into several sections, or even folded in an arbitrary way. An element of a fault is modelled in the same manner as an element of the reef, except that a fault element is allowed to undergo permanent inelastic deformation (i.e., slip) if the stresses transmitted through the fault-filling material satisfy a Mohr-Coulomb yield condition. An iterative technique for the incorporation of a Mohr-Coulomb yield condition in the general displacement discontinuity method is explained. This technique is illustrated by means of a simple example involving the mining of a flat-lying reef intersected by a fault. The displacements and stresses at selected locations along the fault are examined as the reef is mined, element by element. A consideration of the energy changes reveals that the occurrence of slip along a fault leads to a sudden increase in the energy release rate due to mining as the excavation intersects the fault. The energy release rate then falls off abruptly to a value less than that which would occur in the absence of any slip, and gradually builds up to re-establish the conditions that would exist in unfaulted ground.

Jan 1, 1979

By A. N. Brown

Professor D. G. Krige, of the Department of Mining Engineering of the University of the Witwatersrand, received the degree of Doctor of Engineering (honoris causa) from the University of Pretoria at the Autumn Graduation Ceremony in April 1981. He was honoured an outstanding engineer for his world-renowned pioneering work in the field of statistical methods of ore valuation, or geostatistics as it has become known. Metalliferous Ore Deposits A short course on the 'Evolution of Metalliferous Ore Deposits' will be held at Rhodes University, Grahamstown, from 8th to 13th February, 1982.

Jan 1, 1981

By H. C. Voges

The use of heavy-medium separation in the processing of iron ores by H. C. VOGES. B.Sc. (Visitor) The paper discusses various aspects of the application of heavy-medium separation to the processing of hematite ore at Sishen and Thabazimbi. The two main factors to be borne in mind in the design of a plant for such beneficiation are the Iow unit value of the iron ore produced and the high separation densities required. The four factors of importance in the avoidance of high viscosity in the ferrosilicon medium are discussed in turn.

Jan 6, 1975