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By M. Grave

Rock Engineers are required to design safe cost effective support systems and stoping layouts for their respective mines. As each stope has its own unique environment, continual re evaluation is required in all stopes to maximize extraction and achieve value from the support standard. This paper presents numerical modelling used to plan early mining within the shaft pillar and a reevaluation of an existing stope support standard.

Jan 1, 2009

By M. Garfinkle, W. D. Klopp, W. R. Witzke

The tensile properties of binary W-Re alloys containing up to 33 at. pct Re were determined at temperatures from 78" to 3630°F. Elongations as high as 260 pct were observed in electron-beam-melted tungsten containing 23 at. pct Re when tensile-tested at 3630°F after a 1-hr anneal at 3090°F. All alloys tested under these conditions with rhenium contents between 20 and 28 at. pct exhibited elongations of at least 200 pct. These alloys also showed enhanced grain growth rates. The values of strain-rate sensitivity ranged between 0.2 and 0.3 for the alloys exhibiting high elongations. Houlezler, for swaged alloys tested just above the re-crystallization temperature, strain-rate sensitivities as high as 0.8 were observed. The high-temperature strengths of the high-rhenium-content alloys were also less than those of alloys with intermediate rhenium contents. ALLOYING with rhenium has two distinct effects on the mechanical properties of tungsten. One effect occurs in dilute solid solutions and is most clearly seen in the lowering of the hardness and of the ductile-brittle transition temperature at about 5 at. pct Re.1-3 The second effect occurs in the concentrated solid solution at about 25 at. pct Re, and is characterized by twinning and a larger decrease in the ductile-brittle transition temperature. An aspect of the high-rhenium-content alloy which has received little attention is the higher-than-usual tensile ductility at 3500°F.3 Anomalous high ductility has been observed in several other alloy systems. usually associated with a phase transformation or a solid-solubility limit.4'5 The phenomenon is now commonly termed superplasticity. High-strain-rate sensitivities6 and grain boundary sliding7 have been reported for materials that undergo superplastic deformation. Also, it has been found that superplastic materials usually have a very fine grain structure (less than 10 pm).8 and it has been proposedg that such a structure alone is sufficient for superplasticity. The purpose of the present study was to further characterize the high-temperature tensile properties of W-Re alloys to determine the conditions under which they might be superplastic. Tensile and selected strain-rate sensitivity tests were conducted on alloys containing 0 to 33.3 at. pct Re at temperatures from 78" to 3630°F. Grain-growth rates were also determined on most alloys at 3630°F. Fig. 1 indicates the compositions evaluated and their locations relative to the solvus line in the tungsten-rich end of the W-Re phase diagram. Twelve binary W-Re alloys containing up to 33.3 at pct Re were double electron-beam-melted and subsequently fabricated to 0.3-in. rod by extrusion and swaging. The starting materials were commercial powders of tungsten and rhenium with impurity levels as listed in Table I. The various blended W-Re compositions were hydrostatically pressed at 70 ksi. The pressed bars were drip-melted into 1.5-in.-diam ingots and then remelted into 2-in.-diam ingots at a chamber pressure of 10~5 torr. The ingots were canned in molybdenum and extruded to round bar at a reduction ratio of 6:l. The alloy extrusions were swaged to about an 80 pct reduction at 2100" to 2900°F. Buttonhead tensile specimens with a reduced section diameter of 0.16 in. and a gage length of 1.0 in. were centerless-ground from the swaged bars

Jan 1, 1970

By Donald E. Zipperian

The studies described in this paper have established that flotation conducted in a column cell provided with gas generation by aspiration into surface tension lowered water, may considerably increase the efficiency and particle size range of a flotation process. Operation of a DEISTER FLOTAIRE ® Cell at several Southwest United States flotation plants under continuous rougher, scavenger and cleaner conditions has demonstrated the main positive features to be: (a) higher capacity per unit volume than conventional flotation equipment, (b) improvement of flotation of plus 0.210 m particles, (c) improved flotation of particles minus 0.037 m.

Jan 1, 1984

By Cynara Christ Klippel

Devido às exigências de teores de fosforo cada vez menores no aço, o processo de desfosforação tem ganhado destaque nas indústrias. Para aproveitamento das melhores condições termodinâmicas a etapa mais eficiente para o processo de desfosforação ocorre no ferro-gusa. Esse trabalho utilizou quatro misturas iniciais de composição definida com base na literatura, juntamente com o ferro-gusa para ser simulado o processo de desfosforação. A simulação foi feita através do software de cálculos termodinâmicos FactSage e através dos resultados obtidos do programa foram feitos cálculos para avalição da eficiência do processo. Além disso, também foram feitos cálculos baseados na literatura para comparação de resultados e estudo mais aprofundado dos resultados. Os resultados obtidos comprovaram a teoria inicial de que menores temperaturas favorecem o processo.

Aug 17, 2017

By Peter N. Gabby

In 1992, the Bureau of Mines conducted a mineral resource investigation of the 27,034-hectare Steel Mountain/Yuba River study area and the 16,544-hectare Breadwinner study area. There were approximately 535 lode and placer claims in or partially in the Steel Mountain/Yuba River study area, and 84 lode and placer claims in or partially in the Breadwinner study area. In the Atlanta and Rocky Bar mining districts, both adjacent to and in the Steel Mountain/Yuba River study area, 30,232.4 kg (972,000 02) of gold and 62,838.3 kg (2,020,000 02) of silver had been produced. Most of this production came from outside the study area. Placer properties adjacent to (and a few in) the Breadwinner study area had production of 93.1 kg (2,992 oz) of gold and 20.0 kg (642 02) of silver. Twelve properties in the Steel Mountain/Yuba River study area have potential for resources; eleven have alteration and/or mineralization similar to that found at Atlanta with potential for gold, silver, and tungsten resources, and one has alteration and mineralization associated with polymetallic vein type deposits with potential for gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, and tungsten resources. Adjacent to the study area, large bars of gold-bearing gravel can be found along the Middle Fork Boise River. Four properties in the Breadwinner study area have potential for mineral resources; one has alteration and mineralization associated with skarn, polymetallic vein, and, possibly, copper-molybdenum and molybdenum porphyry types of deposits; two have alteration and metal assays associated with polymetallic vein, and possibly copper-molybdenum and molybdenum porphyry types of deposits; and one has alteration and mineralization similar to that found at Atlanta. These four have potential for gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, molybdenum, and tungsten resources Adjacent to and extending into the Breadwinner study area are large bars of gold-bearing gravel along North and Middle Forks Boise River.

Jan 1, 1993

By P. Marinos, G. Tsiambaos, H. Saroglou

The anisotropic behaviour of “Athens Schist” has been brought out through the testing of specimens with varying orientation of schistosity with respect to the major principal stress under uniaxial, triaxial and dynamic conditions. A large number of results from tests on intact rock specimens of the “Athens Schist” were statistically analysed and evaluated. Le comportement anisotropique des roches du système “Schistes d’ Athènes” a été déterminé sur des épreuves avec une orientation différente de la schistosité par rapport à l’axe de chargement sous des conditions axiales, triaxiales et dynamiques. Un grand nombre des résultats a été statistiquement analysé et discuté. Zur Bestimmung der anisotropen Eigenschaften der Athen Schiefer wurden einaxialen, dreiaxialen und dynamischen Kompressionsversuchen an Gesteinskernen durchgeführt, bei denen die Belastungsachse verschiedenen Neigungen gegen die Schieferung hat. Die Messreihen an anisotropen unzerreissbaren Fels Samplen von Athen Schiefer wurden statistisch analysiert.

Jan 1, 2003

These proceedings consist of papers presented at Bureau of Mines Technology Transfer Seminars in December 1983 for the purpose of disseminating recent advances in mining technology in the area of mine ground control. The Bureau of Mines conducts several of these seminars each year in order to bring the latest results of Bureau research to the attention of the mining industry as quickly as possible.

Jan 1, 1984

By Alan A. Campoli

The US Bureau of Mines (USBM) conducted research to develop improved guidelines for selecting the type and pattern of roof support in different geologic environments. The goal is to minimize the over and under design of mine roof support, resulting in more productive and safer mines. To obtain the necessary data on roof behavior and support performance, USBM conducted several field studies. Each study covers roof geology, stress regime, ground reaction, support interaction and mining environment. A consistent experimental design is being used. This includes measurements of roof bolt loads and roof movements. So far, 10 studies have been conducted in several geologic settings.

Jan 1, 1996

By Bruno Deves Flores, Guilherme Liziero Ruggio da Silva, Eduardo Osório, Anderson Azevedo Agra, Antônio Cezar Faria Vilella, Anderson Nicolodi

A microestrutura porosa do coque pode ser definida como a relação espacial entre a matriz carbonosa e seus poros. A formação da microestrutura ocorre durante o processo de carbonização dos carvões coqueificáveis. Portanto, o conhecimento das propriedades que governam a formação da microestrutura torna-se atrativa como uma ferramenta na escolha estratégica de carvões na composição de misturas para produção de coque. Neste trabalho coques laboratoriais foram produzidos por carvões com diferentes propriedades, visando a formação de coques com microestrutura com propriedades microestruturais distintas. A caracterização microestrutural foi realizada a partir de uma ferramenta de microscopia ótica associada a análise de imagens. A partir dos parâmetros obtidos na análise, foi estudado a influência das propriedades dos carvões nos parâmetros analisados. Além disso a convergência com outros modelos (MOF e CBI) foi estudada. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que carvões com estágio plástico desenvolvido e elevado teor de matéria volátil geram coques de alta porosidade e com poros de tamanho excessivo. Carvões ricos em componentes inertes apresentam microestrutura de baixa porosidade, composta de poros pequenos, no entanto, com poros de baixa circularidade. Os carvões com as melhores propriedades (critérios dos modelos MOF e CBI) resultaram nos coques com as microestruturas mais regulares, de baixa porosidade, com pequenos poros e com formatos adequado.

Oct 1, 2019

By Mónica Maria Jiménez Correa

A geração de resíduos sólidos tem se convertido em um problema para a sociedade. Milhões de toneladas de resíduos sólidos são produzidos diariamente no mundo causando numerosos problemas ambientais e sociais. Além disso, o acelerado consumo junto com o avanço tecnológico e o curto ciclo de vida dos produtos têm elevado a quantidade e complexidade dos resíduos sólidos descartados, tornando a situação ainda mais complicada. Nas últimas duas décadas, a indústria de equipamentos eletroeletrônicos (EEE) tem acelerado sua produção vertiginosamente, tendo como resultado o subsequente aumento na geração de resíduos de equipamentos eletroeletrônicos (REEE). Os REEE apresentam na sua composição materiais tóxicos e se descartados irregularmente, podem contaminar o meio ambiente e causar danos à saúde publica. Por outro lado, a sua reciclagem é um assunto que merece atenção especial, não só do ponto de vista de tratamento de resíduos, mas também do ponto de vista econômico. A fim de contribuir com a reciclagem e a diminuição dos resíduos sólidos, o presente trabalho pretende apresentar um estudo do processamento mecânico das placas mães de computadores descartados, visando recuperar o cobre, o níquel e o zinco presentes no resíduo.

Aug 7, 2018

By Kenneth M. Maas

The Bureau of Mines inventoried the land in southwestern Alaska to classify ownership and availability and compared this land with known mineral terranes and mineral deposits. This report discusses and quantifies the potential for favorable location of mining claims for metalliferous (locatable) mineral deposits. Of the nearly 24 million acres that constitute the study area, approximately 3.6 million acres or 17% are available for mineral location, 3.4 million acres or 14% are available with restrictions, and 17 million acres or 71% are unavailable. Mineral terranes are known to underlie about 7.8 million acres or 33% of the study area; 3 million acres or 38% occur on land available for mineral location, 1.3 million acres or 17% occur on land available with restrictions, and 3.5 million acres or 45% occur on unavailable land. The State of Alaska has opened over 91 % of its land in the study area to mineral location; in comparison, the Federal Government allows mineral location on 0.07% of the land under its jurisdiction. There are 117 known mineral deposits or occurrences within the study area, including 77 lode deposits and 40 placer deposits. Of the 41 lode deposits occurring within a mineral terrane, 2 occur on available land.

Jan 1, 1988

By Frederick W. Horton

The lack of comparable and accurate statistics of coal-mine accidents in the United States as a whole led the Bureau of Mines in 1911 to undertake the collection of such data. The importance of such statistics as a basis for remedial legislation can not be overestimated, moreover they serve to indicate the results of the efforts made by the Federal Government, State mining departments, and mine operators throughout the country to lessen the hazard of coal mining. The mining departments of the leading foreign coal-producing countries have long taken cognizance of the importance of such statistics. In Great Britain, official statistics of coal-mine accidents have been collected and published since 1851, in France since 1853, in Austria since 1875, in Germany since 1852, and in Belgium since 1831. The United States not only leads these countries in the production of coal but the output of its coal mines is greater than those of Great Britain, France, Belgium, Austria, India, Japan, and New South Wales combined. Accordingly, it is proper that there should be some official record of the accidents in this, the greatest mining industry not only in the United States but in the world. It is especially appropriate that this work should have been undertaken by the Bureau of Mines, as, through its investigations of mine accidents in the field, it is constantly in close touch with coalmining conditions throughout the country. Its engineers are not only able to obtain first-hand information as to a great many accidents, but, through their special training and experience, are able to appreciate the significance of the figures reported by the coal-mine operators, thus aiding an intelligent and uniform classification 01 the accidents for the country as a whole. Further, the State mining dnpartments and State mine inspectors of every State in the country having a system of coal-mine inspection are cooperating with the bureau by sending it monthly reports of accidents in the coal mines of their respective States. The receipt of such reports places the bureau in a most advantageous position to publish promptly statistics of these accidents. Although a few years ago accurate statistics of c~al-mine accidents in the United States as a whole were entirely lacking this bureau was able to pubjiish the 1912 statistics within three n:onths after the close of the year and long before corresponding statistics had been issued by the mining departments of the leading foreign coal-producing countries. The cooperative agreement with the State coal-mine inspectors has not only made possible the prompt publication of the statistics, but it has also enabled the bureau to classify the fatalities by months and according to cause, showing the months in which the greatest and the least number of men were killed and from what causessomething that has never before been accomplished for this country.

Jan 1, 1913

"In a continuing investigation into the development of uranium alloys for armament applications, some complex base alloy corn positions were modified by varying the amount of alloying elements and by removing one or two of the alloying elements in turn from the base alloys. These uranium-base alloys were specially formulated in a search for heat-treatable, high-strength, ductile, high-density alloys. All alloys studied were ternary, quaternary or more complex alloys of uranium with molybdenum, zirconium, niobium and vanadium. Each cast alloy was studied under three different heat-treatments, and its mechanical and corrosion properties were determined. It was found that although most of the alloys studied had the hardness and strength required, they were extremely brittle and notch-sensitive under tensile stresses."

Jan 1, 1968

By Ben R. Bjorkman

The future is here ? or at least that?s what Mine Planners predicted some 15 years ago ? that by 2004 we would have man-less mines running themselves using space-aged technology. Truthfully, though, there hasn?t been much change in mining methods in the past decade, but thankfully that?s all about to change. The benefits of autonomous ? even Tele-operated mining (especially in narrow-vein ore bodies) are wellknown: increased production hours by eliminating travel time to and from the face, continuous production at the face while crews screen and bolt behind the working equipment, less liability for workers? safety in certain areas, etc. But when plans are put in place to accomplish this vision, things stagnate and production carries on as before. This paper examines the components necessary to make that vision a reality. First we?ll detail the technology required to enable Tele-operation ? even autonomous operation of mining machinery, then we?ll look at what?s wrong with the current way we?re mining, and finally conclude with a critique of the machinery itself.

Oct 1, 2004

By Sidney A. Suhler

A field operable, breadboard model, borehole radar was developed for the detection of hazardous geological anomalies in and above a coal seam in advance of mining. A four-inch diameter downhole probe was fabricated and tested in several environments. The radar transmitter was also employed in a cross-hole or through transmission mode to determine natural geotechnical and man-made conditions between boreholes. Sensitivity to underground conditions in both modes of operation were indicated.

Jan 1, 1978

By Evandro Armini de Pauli

Os aços inoxidáveis duplex apresentam propriedades superiores, quando comparados aos aços austeníticos e ferríticos, tornando-o bastante competitivo no mercado, inclusive na substituição dos aços AISI 316 e 316L. A soldabilidade dos aços duplex baixa liga, como o UNS S82441, não é tão boa quanto a dos austeníticos, exigindo um controle rígido da composição química do metal de solda e dos ciclos térmicos de soldagem, que afetam a fração volumétrica de austenita na junta soldada. O modo pelo qual o material é transferido no arco determina a estabilidade do processo e afeta fortemente a qualidade/geometria do cordão. O presente trabalho tem como objetivo estudar o formato do cordão de juntas soldadas do UNS S82441 comparando-o com os tipos de formato de onda da corrente de soldagem. Foram utilizados os processos MIG/MAG convencional, pulsado e curto-circuito controlado na realização de cordões de solda em chapas de dimensões de 100x300x6,1 mm com material de adição de arame tubular de núcleo metálico segundo a norma AWS A5.22 e gás de proteção com 98%Ar + 2%CO2. O metal de base foi caracterizado macroestruturalmente. Nas juntas soldadas foram realizadas macrografias para obtenção das características geométricas. O ataque eletrolítico foi efetuado com ácido oxálico 10%. Os resultados mostraram que a maior penetração e largura do cordão ocorreram para o MIG/MAG pulsado. O valor para a penetração foi de 4,3 mm e da largura 11,2 mm.

Aug 8, 2018

By P. Cain, B. Martens

"Grande Cache Coal (GCC), an investor-owned Alberta company, is in the final stages of the regulatory process leading to the resumption of coal mining in the Smoky River Coal Field of Alberta. Although many opportunities for low-cost, high-yield mining remained on the property, GCC opted for a long-term production plan that ensures stability for the local economy, sustainable use of the resources in the area, environmental responsibility and a satisfactory return for its investors.GCC entered the Alberta coal approval process in late 2000 with a public disclosure document. In October 2001, GCC formally submitted an application for mining approval and an environmental impact assessment (EIA) to the government and the public. The application covered the proposed Grande Cache Coal project, which includes the No. 7 underground mine, No. 8 surface mine and coal processing operations. The EIA provided a comprehensive investigation of environmental sensitivities in the project area, matched with environmental protection programs. The project is based on commencement of operations in late 2002. GCC’s plans are founded on a commitment to sustainable development and has framed this commitment in the context of a long-range mine development plan that will sustain the community of Grande Cache over the next 25 years. The Grande Cache coalfields offer extensive coal reserves and opportunities, for both surface and underground mining. Combining highly productive U.S.-style room and- pillar underground mining methods and conventional truck-and-shovel open pit mining, GCC’s approach to sustainable development encompasses community involvement and reclamation of mine sites to productive land uses after mining."

Jan 1, 2002

Following the preparation of tantalum oxide and carbide (1) an investigation of the details relating to the production of tantalum metal powder was planned. From the literature (2) it was evident that tantalum could be produced either by reduction of potassium tantalum fluoride with an alkali metal or by electrolysis of a fused salt mixture containing a tantalum compound. The latter method appeared to be the more suitable and, as there was considerable divergence of opinion in the literature as to the nature of the reactions involved, it was decided to study the electrolytic process. The ultimate aim in any case was to produce tantalum pOWder for use in an investigation of the problems relating to the preparation of consolidated tantalum.FACTORS GOVERNING ELECTROLYSISAfter a few preliminary exploratory electrolyses several factors which needed amplification were revealed. These will be mentioned before the details of the electrolysis experiments are given.COMPOSITION OF THE BATHWithout the knowledge gained in the preliminary experiments it would be thought that the best material for the bath would be that one which underwent electrolytic decomposition. Consider what at first appeared the most likely - namely - potassium tantalum fluoride. The melting point of K2TaF7 was determined to be 630°C with volatilization and decomposition taking place at that temperature so that it would not have been very satisfactory.

Jan 1, 1946

By Bradley Stoughton

The regular, bottom-blown Bessemer converter of the present day is a modification of previous forms, and most of the latest proposed modifications of it are merely returns to former types which Ressemer discarded. That he tried almost every conceivable method of blowing iron, with tuyeres at almost every possible position or angle, is well known; and it is to be supposed that he was familiar with the advantages of each type, since he finally settled on that form which has not been improved upon hitherto, for the purposes for which converters will generally be used. Modifications have been tried along two lines: In the arrangement of tuyeres, and in the manner of carrying out the process with tuyeres still blowing vertically upward through the bath. While they have all failed in general competition with the regular modern type of vessel, some of them have found special fields in which they have held their own. The most notable example is in the steel-casting industry, and especially in that part of it concerned with the manufacture of castings which require very hot or very fluid metal, or supply a demand of constantly varying physical or chemical requirements. In this industry the small converters occupy a field between that of the crucible-process and that of the open-hearth process, arid have won a place for themselves in France, England, America, Russia and other countries, which they bid fair to retain until either a new method is discovered of producing cheaply very hot, fluid steel, or the open-hearth process is so improved that very hot steel may be made with it at lower cost of repairs to lining arid roof.

Jan 1, 1903

By Richard S. Fowkes

Advanced technology, including automation and computerized information systems, is being adopted in mining at an ever-increasing rate to improve safety and productivity and to decrease overall costs. This U.S. Bureau of Mines report focuses on the human factors issues related to advanced technology. Among the significant facts discovered were the following: Experts studying tile design adoption, and implementation of new technology have stated repeatedly that human factors specialists should be involved from the early planning stages, through design and fabrication, and up to and during production, since human factors has been consistently identified as the biggest obstacle to the efficient utilization of new technology. Also, middle management is generally the greatest obstacle to the adoption of advanced technology, this technology can give rise to worker alienation, boredom, stress, job insecurity, and a sense of isolation; training most of the present work force is more cost effective than hiring new workers; workers are willing to accept new technology if they are given a voice in its implementation; the social and the technical systems should be jointly optimized; and with the intro¬duction of advanced technology, the cognitive or mental, rather than the physical, aspects of human-machine interaction must be emphasized.

Jan 1, 1994