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By Alan Mayton, N. Kumar Kittusamy, Christopher Jobes, Farid Amirouche

Industrial equipment exposes individuals to whole-body vibration (WBV) and mechanical shock. This exposure can negatively impact their health, safety, comfort, and working efficiency and performance. Accordingly, proper seat design is an important consideration in reducing the adverse effects of WBV exposure to vehicle operators. Since the human body is sensitive to low frequency WBV, ride quality is a basic and important element of good seat design. When designing a suitable seat, it is essential to understand vibration exposure environment of workers and how well they can tolerate this environment [1]. This is particularly true in the mining industry. Mayton et al. [2] reported on a low-coal shuttle car seat design that underwent limited, yet successful underground mine trials. Building on this work, a follow-up study compared NIOSH and existing seat designs on low- and mid-coal seam shuttle cars. The NIOSH seat designs included viscoelastic foam, which has properties similar to those found in a mechanical spring/damper suspension system. The seats also included an adjustable lumbar support and a fore-aft seat adjustment. The NIOSH seat designs contrast with the existing seat design, which have little or no lumbar support and include inexpensive foam padding of the type commonly used in furniture. This paper will focus on the seat designs for the mid-coal seam shuttle car and compare subjective comfort data collected from five vehicle operators with ISO 2631 – based reduced comfort boundary (RCB) analysis of recorded vibration levels. Methods Experimental data were collected using three different tools: triaxial accelerometers, pre-amplifiers, and filters connected to a data recorder; a visual analog scale (VAS); and a short questionnaire. Researchers recorded quantitative or objective vehicle vibration data to determine the input and output acceleration at the operator cab floor and operator seat interface. Qualitative or subjective data, collected with the VAS, allowed researchers to obtain the operators’ immediate impressions of shock, vibration, and discomfort levels for the vehicle ride on each of the seat designs. Each shuttle car operator made six round trips with the vehicle each seat. The shuttle car operator marked the VAS on the first, third, and sixth round trip of the trials for each seat. A round trip consisted of traveling to the coal face with no load and returning to the load discharge location with a full load of coal. Results Total overall average ratings for the five vehicle operators of the mid-coal seam shuttle car, showed that operators sensed from 45 to 87% less discomfort with NIOSH seat designs compared to the existing seat design. Using a 95% CI, researchers computed a strong positive correlation for discomfort. Figure 1 illustrates the RCB analysis method for one of two NIOSH seat designs.

Jan 6, 2006

By J. R. Kunkel, V. Lishnevsky

At mine sites, the operational and required storage volumes of solution and water storage ponds and reservoirs are usually calculated based upon a water-balance approach. Many climatological variables including precipitation, air temperature, solar radiation, pan evaporation and relative humidity along with operating parameters, are used in the water-balance model. The water-balance model often seeks to find a “critical period” of wet or dry climatological sequences which result in a “maximum” pond storage volume or water demand. The problem with this approach is that the designer usually does not know when the project will come on line in relation to the historical record. To avoid this pitfall, we use a more robust approach. In the more robust method, the water-balance calculations begin in each year of the historic climatological record. This method results in the same number of water-balance runs (or realizations) as the number of years of climatological record. Results of this type of analysis guarantee that the critical period or maximum required pond volume will be found if it is assumed that the historical climatological record repeats itself or if a synthetic time series is used. In addition, this method permits calculation of the likelihood (probability) that a given pond volume will be equaled or exceeded in any given month of the operational life of the facility. In this paper, the results of the sizing of a heap leach pad solution pond are presented along with the probabilities of a given solution pond size being equaled or exceeded based on the robust water-balance approach.

Jan 1, 2002

By W. W. Krysko

In order to calculate the critical particle size of lead oxide entrapped in lead, Stoke's Formula may be applied. All data were available except figures for the density of lead oxide at elevated temperatwes. The density of lead oxide was determined by means of dilatometmetrc and volumetric methods up to 1010°C. Graphs of the density of lead and lead oxide as well as the viscosity of lead are given and discussed, with the conclusion that the most unfavorable region for the separation of lead oxide from molten lead lies just above the melting point of lead. DURING previous investigations, particularly on the dedrossing of lead with aluminum1 and the oxygen solubility in lead,' the critical particle size of lead oxide which could be entrapped in solidifying lead was estimated by calculation, and it was shown that high values found for the oxygen content of lead may be due to the method of sampling and the entrapped particles of dross. Unfortunately, due to lack of data, an exact mathematical solution was not possible. The particle size which will separate under a given condition can be estimated from Stoke's Law, which states that where: d = diameter of the critical particle size ¦q = viscosity of lead in Poise V = constant velocity in cm sec-I g = 981 cm sec-2 61= specific gravity of lead 62= specific gravity of lead oxide The depth of the lead bath and the time before solidifying define the velocity. The viscosity of molten lead is known from earlier work by Krysko and is given in Table I. The specific gravity of lead is also known, see Table II. These values are according to Hofmann. A careful survey of literature revealed no values for the density of lead oxide at elevated temperatures. The present investigation was therefore conducted to provide this information. RESEARCH INVESTIGATIONS The density of lead oxide was determined from the following experiments: 1) Determination of the density of lead oxide at room temperature. 2) Dilatometric investigations on the same samples. 3) Determination of the shrinkage at the liquid-solid trans£ormation. 4) Density determinations on liquid lead oxide. 5) Time temperature curves during cooling. 1) The samples for the determination of the density of lead oxide in the solid state were prepared in the following manner. Molten lead oxide was cast into I hot mold which could be opened along the longitudinal (vertical) axis. The cast samples were cylinders of approximately 10 mm diam and approximately 80 mm length. The cylindrical hot mold was open at both ends and was placed on a large copper chill plate shortly before casting. The solidification of the lead oxides proceeded upwards without any formation of internal cavities. The sample was carefully checked with respect to density and crystalline appearance, and only the lower portions which were crystalline and free from porosity were used. The density was determined in a specially made pyknometer-like container, where the surplus liquid was squeezed out through an orifice approximately 1/10 mm in diameter. Mercury or water was used as the liquid. The densities of the samples were calculated from the weight, volume, and mean specific gravity of eight samples was 9.62 * 0.05 g cm"3 at 22"~. 2) The samples were machined to approximately 1 1/2 in. in length and fitted into a dilatometer. A

Jan 1, 1962

By P. J. Miranda, C. G. Anderson, L. G. Twidwell

Titanium is a metal of increasing worldwide strategic importance. The Center for Advanced Mineral and Metallurgical Processing (CAMP) at Montana Tech of the University of Montana is currently directing two titanium research initiatives. The first program, Titanium Extraction Mining and Process Engineering Initiative (TEMPER), is focused on producing low cost titanium through the identification and development of new mining, beneficiation and extraction technologies which will significantly reduce the cost of titanium production. This will directly benefit worldwide commercial applications. Secondly, CAMP is evaluating new technologies for fabrication of titanium utilizing the Free Form Titanium Fabrication (FFTF) initiative. These technologies may drastically reduce the cost and time to manufacture titanium components. Because of the high strength to weight ratio of titanium coupled with its superior corrosion characteristics, these programs will be of vital importance to expanding the commercial and strategic applications of titanium. An overview of these two new titanium initiatives will be presented in this paper.

Jan 1, 2005

These proceedings consist of an overview of the underground metal and nonmetal mina fire protection research currently being conducted by the Bureau of Mines. The following papers address the areas of prompt, reliable fire detection, fire planning and warning, fire suppression, and personnel protection. Selected topics are included here that cover fire protection systems for shafts, underground fueling areas, and mobile underground mining equipment; spontaneous combustion, improved stench, and product-of-combustion fire warning systems; computer-aided ventilation modeling; fire doors; and an investigation of fire hazards in mine timbers. The projects described provide a current documentation of problems being addressed.

Jan 1, 1981

By M J. Gillespie, P D. Erskine

Mine site rehabilitation generally includes the re-shaping of overburden to create a final landform, manipulation of substrates and subsequent revegetation. Due to the wide range of environmental variables that influence rehabilitation progression, having clearly-stated final land-use goals and ongoing significant contributions to the planning process, from prefeasibility through to mine closure, is essential for achieving stable landforms and sustainable rehabilitated communities. Two examples of rehabilitation processes in the phosphate rich region of North West Queensland are used to illustrate some of the possible benefits of early planning and communication of rehabilitation requirements.Approximately 160 km south of Mount Isa, Incitec Pivot Limited operates a 35 year old open cut mine at Phosphate Hill. Monitoring of rehabilitation areas and selected analogue sites is undertaken annually, but the initial landform design, substrate management and species selection has created a difficult environment for revegetated areas to successfully establish. Constant management input (such as weed management, erosion control, supplementary seeding, etc) will, therefore, be required over a long time frame.The second example uses exploratory drilling and historic costean pits at Legend International HoldingÆs Paradise South site, 135 km north of Mount Isa, to determine the success of natural vegetation colonisation on waste rock and compacted soils, and the effects of cattle grazing on recolonisation. This information can be used by planners of the mine life to inform possible end-land use decisions and proposed completion criteria.In a semi-arid environment such as North West Queensland, the creation of a post-mine landscape suitable for nature conservation and/or grazing can be an arduous task. The input from environmental personnel at all stages of the mining process will positively impact upon the quality of the resulting rehabilitation and ensure undesirable legacy issues are minimised.CITATION:Gillespie, M J and Erskine, P D, 2012. Importance of early rehabilitation planning - Case studies from North West Queensland, in Proceedings Life-of-Mine 2012 , pp 187-196 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 10, 2012

By Lyall Workman, Jack Eloranta

Blasting has an important impact on mining and milling well beyond the necessary ability to dig and load the ore efficiently. There is an increasing body of blasting research indicating significant impacts in crushing and grinding. These include increased production through higher output and fewer delays for bridging and jamming by oversize. In addition, fragmentation better suited to the crushing and grinding system is indicated to lead to reduce energy consumption by these activities, an important result in today’s environment. An important component of optimum fragmentation for this purpose appears to be micro-fracturing within individual fragments. This differs from fragmentation criteria for loading which focus mostly on fragment size. Therefore, one must analyze blasting broadly to obtain satisfactory results throughout the operation.

Jan 1, 2003

By Gary Kahn

In this document the VODR is discussed from a technical point of view and is intended to give the reader a feel for the design of the instrument, its technical specifications, and its limitations. It is not intended as a tutorial on the use of the instrument in the field.

Jan 1, 1989

By J. W. Cloud

years ago upon the effect of having the rails always rolled in the same direction, and also of having them rolled backwards and forwards, and showed that under the latter course there were of necesshy weak spots somewhere near the centre of the rail, yet in all this discussion the methods of rolling have been passed by almost in silence. Mr.. Sandberg in his paper mentions the idea of using a regietering dynamometer attached to the punching machines, and of det.erminit~g the quality of the metal by the resistance which is shown. I think the' first idea of this kind was published by Professor Langley, then of Pittsburgh, who, while making some investigations for Mesrs. Miller, Metcalf and Parkin, announceti as tile result of a series of dynamometric experiments that abrasive resistance was the term which should be wed in regard to steels of different wearing qualities. I have had extremely delicate dynamometers attached to the instruments of precision with which I am making the iuvestigation on the fatigue of metals, and hope soon to communicate the results of the iovegtigation- made with them to the Institute. I wish again to call attention to the fact that we are wing the words " hardener " and " hardness " without any real idea of the meaning of these words. When we say hard and soft, as we have hen constantly doing during this discussion, is it quite sure that every one has exactly the same meaning in his mind ? Certainly, when hard is used in distinction from soft*, we mean not the capacity of wear, but the capacity of resistance to peuetration, to fracture, or some other resistance, and do not always meau the capacity of resistance to abrasion or crushing, which the discussion would sometimes seem to imply were the only qualitiw requisite to constitute a god rail. J. W. Cloud, Altoona, Pa. : I would call the attention of the Institute to the title of Dr. Dudley's interesting and valuable paper, —" The Wearing Capacity of Steel Rails in relation to their Chemical Composition and Physical Properties." Here are two separate and distinct questions: lst, The wearing capacity of steel rails in relation to their chemical content; and 2d, the wearing capacity of steel rails in relation to their physical properties. The discussion has been almost exclusively confined to the former question, on which there may be many differences of opinion in matters of detail without greatig affecting the result. The latter

Jan 1, 1881

By Roland Loewen

A review of the aqua regia method for the recovery of gold from jewelry shop wastes is given. Also outlined is a specialized procedure for the recovery of the silver that occurs in these wastes. A classic method for the recovery of platinum and palladium is, given. There is a brief review of other gold and silver refining methods. Environmental conditions are discussed and a few perhaps, new and useful processes ,are mentioned. References are by author or editor and are listed alphabetically. Suggestions for further information in the field of precious metals, are given in a final list.

Jan 1, 1989

By F. J. Brenner

The Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition was organized to restore a 70 km2 portion of the headwaters of the Slippery Rock Watershed in northwest Pennsylvania. Thirteen passive treatment systems have been installed with engineering and funding provided by private industries, county government and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In addition, experimental systems have been installed at the Jennings Environmental Education Center which, in addition to monitoring the systems installed within the watershed, provide an array of educational and research opportunities for secondary, college and university students. The coalition sponsors an annual seminar for students to present the results of their research and field trips for public officials and private citizens to learn how public and private partnerships work together to restore the Slippery Rock Creek watershed.

Jan 1, 2002

By E. A. Jones

THE Southeast Missouri division of the St. Joseph Lead Co. normally hauls and hoists over 5 million tons of lead ore each year. This ore is mined in the stopes and headings of 20 mines, hauled to a main line system, see above, and transported up to 6.4 miles to ore-hoisting shafts. Average haulage distance is 2.16 miles. A few years ago a distinguished mining engineer visiting this area for the first time remarked, "You do not have a mining problem; yours is a haulage problem." Its relative importance may be gaged by the fact that mine haulage represents about 25 pct of the total cost of mining ore, the most costly single underground operation

Jan 4, 1953

By Howard Smith

AT the meeting of this Institute in February 1933, I presented a paper on potash development in southeastern New Mexico1, which contained a brief review of the Geological Survey's 20-year search for commercial sources of soluble potash minerals and of the events, that led to the discovery, exploration, and first development of the deposits in that state. As a more comprehensive review of the subject was published in December2, the present paper is intended only to discuss recent developments in the domestic potash industry, particularly in New Mexico. A summary of the findings of potash in the Permian Basin, by. G: R. Mansfield and W. B. Lang, geologists of the United States Geological Survey, is now in process of publication by the University of Texas and will be omitted from this paper. In New Mexico prospecting for potassium salts during the past two years has increased materially the known area .of commercial deposits; development has resulted in an increase from one to three in the number of shafts and the starting of a fourth; an increase of annual productive capacity to 1,000,000 tons of crude salts, or 250,000 tons of K20; and an increase in annual refining capacity to 140,000 tons of muriate of 62.5 per cent grade. Construction has been completed to increase still further the production of high-grade salts. In California the American Potash & Chemical Co., operating on Searles Lake brines, has increased its plant capacity from about 100,000 tons to 180,000 tons of muriate a year and is now producing soda ash and salt cake in addition to potash and borax. Potash production from cement-plant and industrial-alcohol wastes remains unimportant.

Jan 1, 1935

By Will Callupe Arzapalo

The success of the minimization of blast induced-damage at Barrick?s Pierina Mine in Peru is the result of an effective working relationship between Mine Operations and the Geotechnical Services Department. A detailed design criteria manual is used to match the blast plan to the site?s varying rock types and slope designs. The Geotechnical Services Department has further developed a comprehensive pre- and post-blast checklist that is critical to the drilling and blasting process as it pertains to wall stability. Wall control blasts are evaluated with quality assurance field checks, vibration monitoring and frequency control, video assisted performance quantification and post excavation face profiling. These detailed observations are compiled and summarized in a blast performance evaluation that is considered to be an ?Industry Best Practice?. The information and detail provided by each performance summary allows accurate blast analysis and effective design refinement.

May 1, 2006

AustraliaÆs strong position as an aluminium producer and potential magnesium producer combined with rapid market growth in the automotive industry, proximity to Asia and other natural advantages points to considerable opportunity for downstream processing and manufacture with light metals in this country. Development of a vertically integrated light metals industry in Australia needs to be pursued with vigour, as does the continued development of global strategic alliances through the value adding chain.

Jan 1, 2000

By Henry P. Chandler

TONNAGE of natural abrasives sold or used in the United States in 1959 increased 12 percent. Artificial abrasives produced in the United States and Canada jumped 24 percent. Imports, exports, and reexports of abrasive materials also showed gains. Sales of grinding wheels were up 33 percent and coated abrasives 17 percent. FOREIGN TRADE Imports of abrasive materials totaled $91 million, an increase of nearly 51 percent over 1958. Chief commodities contributing to [ ]

Jan 1, 1960

By R. P. H. Willis, A. G. du Plessis, R. B. Wilson

This paper reviews issues to be considered in choosing primary access and transportation options for platinum and other mines. It proposes appropriate criteria and a methodology for deciding on the optimum primary access option for any particular orebody. Also included are generic parameters that can be used to facilitate the process of choosing the optimal access option.

Jan 1, 2004

By J. I. Adetunji

Mining activities usually affect the soil, subsurface layers, water resources, the atmosphere and in general the lives of the people. The effects can be mechanical, biological, ecological and economical in nature and these effects can be characterized by their intensity, frequency, duration and scale. In Oyo State, Southwestern Nigeria efforts are being made to employ a sustainable method in the exploration and exploitation of abundant industrial minerals present in the state. The minerals exploited include talc, clay, marble, sillimanite, tantalite, niobium, beryl, tourmaline aquamarine, rock aggregates, etc. Results of this sustainable approach show that the environmental impacts of surface and underground mining of industrial minerals are not spread far beyond the mines site acreage. More lands are being reclaimed, the amount of dust released into the air has been minimized, the quality of sewage waters produced during operations are minimized, top soils removed during subsurface mining are preserved, the tonnages of minerals exploited are being monitored and controlled. All these point to a positive development in practicing sustainable methods in mineral exploitation to meet the developmental needs of the Oyo State at present and to conserve for the future.

Jan 1, 2003

By Howard J. Smith

At the meeting of this Institute in February 1933,I presented a paper on potash development in southeastern New Mexico1, which contained a brief review of the Geological Survey's 20-year search for commercial sources of soluble potash minerals and of the events that led to the discovery, exploration, and first development of the deposits in that state. AS a more comprehensive review of the subject was published in December2, the present paper is intended only to discuss recent developments in the domestic potash industry, particularly in New Mexico. A summary of the findings of potash in the Permian Basin, by G. R. Mansfield and W. B. Lang, geologists of the United States Geological Survey, is now in process of publication by the University of Texas and will be omitted from this paper. In New Mexico prospecting for potassium salts during the past two years has increased materially the known area of commercial deposits; development has resulted in an increase from one to three in the number of shafts and the starting of a fourth; an increase of annual productive capacity to 1,000,000 tons of crude salts, or 250,000 tons of K2O; and an increase in annual refining capacity to 140,000 tons of muriate of 62.5 per cent grade. Construction has been completed to increase still further the production of high-grade salts. In California the American Potash & Chemical Co., operating on Searles Lake brines, has increased its plant capacity from about 100,000 tons to 180,000 tons of muriate a year and is now producing soda ash and salt cake in addition to potash and borax. Potash production from cement-plant and industrial-alcohol wastes remains unimportant.

Jan 1, 1938

By Howard J. Smith

At the meeting of this Institute in February 1933,I presented a paper on potash development in southeastern New Mexico1, which contained a brief review of the Geological Survey's 20-year search for commercial sources of soluble potash minerals and of the events that led to the discovery, exploration, and first development of the deposits in that state. AS a more comprehensive review of the subject was published in December2, the present paper is intended only to discuss recent developments in the domestic potash industry, particularly in New Mexico. A summary of the findings of potash in the Permian Basin, by G. R. Mansfield and W. B. Lang, geologists of the United States Geological Survey, is now in process of publication by the University of Texas and will be omitted from this paper. In New Mexico prospecting for potassium salts during the past two years has increased materially the known area of commercial deposits; development has resulted in an increase from one to three in the number of shafts and the starting of a fourth; an increase of annual productive capacity to 1,000,000 tons of crude salts, or 250,000 tons of K2O; and an increase in annual refining capacity to 140,000 tons of muriate of 62.5 per cent grade. Construction has been completed to increase still further the production of high-grade salts. In California the American Potash & Chemical Co., operating on Searles Lake brines, has increased its plant capacity from about 100,000 tons to 180,000 tons of muriate a year and is now producing soda ash and salt cake in addition to potash and borax. Potash production from cement-plant and industrial-alcohol wastes remains unimportant.

Jan 1, 1938