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By A. Sissing

Paper written on project work carried out in partial fulfilment of M.Sc. (Chemical Engineering) degree Thermophilic bioleaching, conducted at temperatures in excess of 65°C, provides considerable benefit over mesophilic bioleaching, particularly through extending the extent of leaching of base metal minerals such as chalcopyrite. Thermophilic bioleaching is facilitated through a group of micro-organisms known as the Archae, well adapted to extreme environment. In order to maximize the space time utilization of the stirred tank reactor in the thermophilic bioleaching process, it is desirable to maximize the loading of the finely divided mineral phase present while not adversely affecting the microbial performance. In this paper, the effect of the loading of the solid particulate phase on the bioleaching performance of Sulfolobus metallicus was studied in a stirred tank reactor. Emphasis was placed on the effect of the concentration of the finely divided solid phase (35 ? 75 µm). A model system comprised of 3% (w/v) pyrite in the presence of varying quantities of quartzite in the range 0 to 24% (w/v) was used to obtain the different solids concentrations. The bioleaching experiments revealed similar bioleaching performance in the presence of 3 to 18% (w/v) total solids. Above 18% (w/v) total solids (15% quartzite loading), bioleaching was impaired progressively with increasing solids concentration. At the highest solids loading studied of 27% (w/v), bioleaching was still observed. In terms of mass transfer, oxygen transfer potential was not significantly influenced in the bioleaching process over the range of solids investigated.

Jan 1, 2003

By J P. Clark

Industrial minerals contribute about 50% of the NZ$1.2 billion generated annually by the minerals industry in New Zealand. The value is supplemented by a further NZ$500 million of minerals imported to supply our vital agricultural and industrial activity. As globalisation of the world's economy precedes, sources of minerals are being processed by fewer companies giving an ever-increasing control over global markets. If only to protect its primary production New Zealand needs to aggressively develop its mineral resources. The successful development of a deposit requires identification of the preferred market. While low-value aggregates dominate New Zealand industrial mineral production it is more specialised minerals supplied to the manufacturing and industrial sectors that provide more value per tonne. Minerals that have highly desirable intrinsic properties, or through value-added processing provide desirable properties, have the ability to fill niche markets both locally and overseas. Research and development towards enhancement or creation of desirable mineral properties could benefit New Zealand with both increased mineral potential and export of technological information. But, it is nearly always the market not the resource that dictates the viability of an industrial mineral and, with the globalisation of industrial mineral markets resulting in fewer but larger companies, any supplier must be ready to explore niche markets in order to compete on a more global basis.

Jan 1, 2000

By Charlie Yates, Max Ramey, Kurt Nielsen, Michael Hardy

The Yankee Gulch sodium minerals project (YGP) is a solution mining project operated by American Soda. The mine operates on a federal lease administered by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Commercial operations began in November2000. In 1964, Irv Nielsen discovered nahcolite mineralization where the YGP pilot plant is now located near the Piceance Creek in Rio Blanco County, Colorado (Nielsen, 1969).Development of the project accelerated after Williams Corp., of Tulsa, OK, joined with American Alkali in1996 to form American Soda. Pilot testing by American Soda led to commercial permitting, plant design, construction and startup. Figure 1 shows the location of the Yankee Gulch leases and the location of the upper and lower plant sites.

Jan 1, 2003

By F. E. Brantley

Research was undertaken by the Bureau of Mines to assess the technical feasibility of smelting cement-copper precipitate in an electric furnace to produce commercial-grade copper. The blister-grade copper produced in smelting was refined by gaseous oxidation and reduction methods to rive a product equal in quality to fire-refined copper. The cement copper used in the study was typical of the material produced in commercial operations. The sample product was received in a partially oxidized state and analyzed 77.5 percent Cu, 3.4 percent Fe, 0.8 percent Pb, 0.05 percent Ni, 0.6 percent Sn, and 0.9 percent S. Smelting tests were made on the precipitate using laboratory-size induction and electric-arc furnaces. Three types of furnace linings were tested during, the investigation: Carbon, including graphite; clay-graphite; and silicon carbide. Although all proved satisfactory, either carbon or graphite was preferred because of their superior refractory properties and low permeability to molten copper. Copper recoveries in the induction and arc smelting tests averaged 92 percent in commercial-grade metal assaying 99.8 percent copper. Refining the molten copper by oxidation and gaseous reduction or by chlorine lancing increased the purity to plus 99.9 percent.

Jan 1, 1961

By S. P. Ball, A. J. Monhemius

In a laboratory study under acidic oxidising conditions, the thiocyanate system gave results at least as good as cyanide and considerably better than thiourea, with modest consumption of SCN (less than 1 kg/t ore). For both cyanide and thiocyanate lixiviants a residence time of about 24 h was required for maximum gold extraction, which was generally in the range of 92-96%. The adsorption of gold from thiocyanate leach liquors was found to be rapid, but activated carbon catalyses the autoreduction of ferric iron to ferrous iron in thiocyanate solutions, suggesting that ion exchange may be a better recovery route

Dec 1, 1995

By R. F. Shurtz

The problem of estimating the precision of systematic samples from a mineral deposit is attacked by interpolating the quality, or other attribute measured, by using Fourier approximation. Such approximation using trigonometric functions yields a particularly simple expression for the variance of the mean value of the attribute sampled. The increasing volume of publication in which the science of statistics has been applied to the problem of predicting the quality of an ore deposit from sets of samples taken from it might lead one to believe that engineering judgment can be replaced by statistics. There is, in fact, an implicit application of the principle of indifference or of "no advance knowledge" which has been discredited in modern statistical theory and practice. These pages will show that it is not always advantageous, efficient, or safe to apply this principle. This problem will be dealt with by using series of orthonormal functions to describe the distribution of the quality of ore in space as contrasted with the more commonly used distribution of quality as a frequency function. Mining engineers are rarely well acquainted with the use of such series or of the functions comprising them. These uses are commonplace in the fields of communication and information theory and it is not surprising that applications taken from these fields should be found appropriate for the analysis of the information contained in a set of samples from an ore deposit. It is hoped that presentation of the following basic, but incomplete, results will generate wider interest in this method and a fuller development of it as well as of the necessary computational techniques. FUNDAMENTAL PREMISES Random variables in the strictest sense are not very common in mine sampling. The sets of samples are almost always taken systematically and are, hence, not subject to all the laws governing random events. Therefore, unless there is indeed random experimental error in the determinations of quality, the treatment of systematic samples of n members as though they were random samples of n members often leads to calculation of confidence limits for the mean quality which are larger than they should be with the result that unnecessary additional sampling is done. The reason for this will emerge in the following discussion leading to Eq. 24 and its generalization. In order to inquire into such questions on a rigorous basis and at the same time avoid arithmetic complications that would obscure the concepts involved, a one dimensional distribution of quality will be assumed. The quality, Q, in suitable units is expressed as a function of the distance, x, along some straight traverse of the deposit. Such a function

Jan 1, 1967

By Reynold Q. Shotts

A study was made of the coal resources of an area in Jackson County, Ala., forming a part of the Flat Rock, Henegar, and Stevenson quadrangles. The area studied is a portion of the Plateau coalfield on Sand Mountain and is near the Tennessee Valley Authority's Widows Creek steamplant. Since no detailed geological study of this area had been published, some reconnaissance work was done. The coalbeds and adjacent strata such as sandstones, conglomeratic sandstones, and conglomerates were studied. Available drill logs, together with the areal geology, provided sufficient information to permit correlation of the coalbeds and an estimation of coal reserves. For all categories of reserves, computed on a regional basis, a total of 72,920,000 tons of coal more than 14 inches thick is estimated for the areas studied in Stevenson, Flat Rock, and Henegar quadrangles. Of this tonnage, 40,001,000 tons is estimated to have less than 60 feet of overburden. The total measured coal reserves for the above three quadrangles are 16,359,000 tons, with 12,411,000 tons under less than 60 feet of cover.

Jan 1, 1966

Structurally- controlled deep leaching processes have removed vast quantities of carbonate from a substantial portion of the "silica-dolomite" enclosing the 500 copper orebody. Mine drainage subsequently allowed free access of air to the porous environment created and oxidation of sulphides commenced. During the mIne development stage the exothermic and temperature-dependent nature of these hydrolysis reactions resulted in a slow general elevation of ground temperatures. and levels of 90 - lOO°C were attained in restricted moist sulphide-rich areas.With the advent of production and extensive use of explosives, the oxidation processes were locally raised to new levels of activity. Direct interaction of explosives and sulphides in favourable conditions caused temperature rises to above 260 C. Above this point the dry oxidation of sulphides in air was initiated and rapid escalation to the vicinity of 800 C has been known to occur in isolated cases.Ground reactivity is a function of the complex interrelationship of several controlling factors and no simple index exists.Control techniques are presently aimed at prevention of temperature rises in the range 100 -260 C. Inhibition of the rapid dry oxidation processes above 260 C is difllcult and current efforts have met with only partial success.

Jan 1, 1968

THE township of Costerfield is situated in the parish of Costerfield, county of Dalhousie, and lies 6 miles east of Heathcote and 30 miles south-east of Bendigo. It is separated from Heathcote by the Mt. Ida Range, which forms the western boundary of the Silurian formation. It is situated at the head-waters of Tin-pot Creek, a small southerly tributary of the Deegay Ponds Creek, which flows east to the Goulburn River.The field was discovered in 1860 by two prospectors, Coster and Field, who were guided there by a shepherd, M Nicol Coster and Field had already discovered an antimony lode about three miles nearer Heathcote, when M Nicol offered to guide them to the larger outcrop. The main Costerfield reef at that time projected above the surface, and was white through oxidation, though the bluey sulphide showed on fracture. No alluvial gold of any consequence was obtained at Costerfield, but a little was obtained, at Redcastle, 7 miles to the north, and in some of the gullies to the east.Following its discovery there came a period of prosperity to Costerfield, while the mining operations were confined to the oxidized zone. The early success of mining at Costerfield was due to the gold values, and it is probable that the oxidized zone was secondarily enriched. The earliest available record of values is a crushing of Coster and Co. on the Antimony reef (now known as the Costerfield reef), when 200 tons from a depth of 70 ft. averaged 4 oz. per ton in July, 1861. At this time a crushing mill had not yet been erected at Costerfield, and the ore was carted and treated at Redcastle. The massive antimony ore, consisting of mixed oxides and sulphides, was separated by hand-picking as "marketable ore," and the remainder crushed for gold. A higher average is recorded from South Costerfield in September, 1861, when a 15' cwt. parcel...

Jan 1, 1922

By P.J. Terbrugge

Open pit slope design has conventionally been effected as a bottom-up function utilizing available geotechnical information. This results in a decision criterion based on probability of failure and factor of Safety with a risk assessment being carried out on the proposed design slopes. The design approach recommended reverses the process using fault event tree decision methodology. The consequences of this approach are that acceptable risk criteria have to be determined by mine owners. Slopes are then designed by the technical staff to achieve these corporate goals. Benefits that arise from the process are that the owners take a proactive decision on the risk-benefit relationship allowing the technical staff to optimize the geotechnical exploration programme and design.

Jan 1, 2006

By William Brundan

INTRODUCTION The Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) Tunnel Scheme is part of the Alimineti Madhava Reddy Project in Andhra Pradesh, South India. This scheme has been planned since 1983 and will provide irrigation facilities to drought-ridden areas in Andhra Pradesh. Water will be transferred from the Srisailam Reservoir during the monsoon months to 0.3 million acres of farmland and will also provide drinking water to villages en-route. The paper will address the design and onsite assembly of the Robbins Double Shield TBMs for Tunnel-1 of the SLBC tunnel scheme from planning to start-up of the machines. Also, it will provide a current status of the project and describe the advantages of a site assembly. Problems encountered to date and the solutions adopted will also be described. The project comprises over 50 km of tunnels and involves construction of the world?s longest tunnel without intermediate access. The TBM tunnels at 43.9 km in length and 10.0 m diameter will cross the Amrabad plateau, containing a wild life sanctuary and India?s largest tiger reserve, the Rajiv Gandhi. Jaiprakash elected to excavate the tunnel using two tunnel boring machines, rather than by drill and blast, in order to alleviate surface disturbances to environment and the tiger reserve, wild life sanctuary, and protected forestry areas. The Project was awarded to the Main Contractor Jaiprakash Associates Ltd with The Robbins Company as the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) supplier in August 2005. The Robbins Company supplied the TBMs along with two continuous conveyor systems and all spares and consumables to complete the tunnel excavation.

By H. Yavuz

Closed form solutions assume opening shape to be circular to simplify the calculation of the ground response curve for the design of underground openings. However, in mining and civil engineering works, non-circular openings are commonly excavated. Therefore, there is a need to estimate the ground response curve for such openings. In this respect, a simple model for circular, arch and rectangular shape underground openings subject to a hydrostatic stress field is the aim of this study. A comprehensive numerical modelling, using the finite difference method, based on numerical modelling code FLAC version 4.0, was carried out. In addition to shape of an opening, the effect of rock mass strength, opening size, in situ stress on strain (tunnel deformation to tunnel radius) of the opening in response to applied support pressures was investigated parametrically by developing models for each specific condition. The strain results for each excavation shape obtained from this large number of models against the normalized strength of rock mass and internal support pressure with in situ stress magnitude were evaluated by multiple regression analysis. As a result, a model that was well correlated to data was developed for an overall estimate of the ground response curve depending on relevant effecting parameters. The regression coefficients of the model were given for estimating both roof and sidewall response curve of each excavation shape. The model was verified by statistical tests and by an analytical solution. Diagrams were also established to highlight the influence of relevant parameters and to estimate the support pressure for a stable opening staying within the acceptable limits of strain. Strains occurring in a rectangular opening are found to be larger than those in the arch and circular openings for the other fixed parameters. In the mean time, larger strains occur around an arch shape opening than a circular opening.

Jan 1, 2006

Carbon anode cells were studied by two-dimensional computer simulation to evaluate their suitability for alumina electrolysis at high superficial current densities. The most efficient anode arrangement was needed to overcome the electrochemical disadvantages of alumina's low solubility in chlorides. Cells with packed-bed anodes might provide practical superficial current densities greater than 0.67 A/cm2 when the granule size was less than 1 cm, but in the process of electrolysis the granules within the active zone would be consumed and become smaller, affecting alumina concentration transport. For zones of very small granules a concentration-dependent model should be considered; for more complete consideration a time-dependent model can be introduced to describe the variation of granule size and its influence on mass transfer and polarisation

Jun 19, 1905

By F. Mendaña

The characteristics of the igneous and metamorphic bedrock, extra-hard and abrasive, of the Guadarrama Tunnels, a bi-tube project of length 28.4 km without any intermediate attack, are first commented upon. Next, a detailed discussion is given of the most relevant aspects of the performance of the four double shield type TBMs. The experience of this leads to various recommendations to be borne in mind in future designs of TBM having to work in rock of similar characteristics.

Jan 1, 2007

By R. M. Goktan

Point-attack picks are one of the most widely used tools for the mechanical excavation of rock and coal. In the literature, some practical formulas have been developed to estimate their performances under varying cutting conditions such as the pick geometry, cutting depth and cutting geometry. In this study, it is shown that Evans?s theoretical model, the most cited in the literature, has serious limitations concerning the changes in the cutting geometry. Analysis of the two independent full-scale linear rock cutting experimental data reveals that both his theory and its recent modification can not fully explain the mechanism of rock breakage under asymmetrical attack. The cutting force predictions made by employing such models are shown to be too significantly weak to be of any service in practice. In this study, a semi-empirical approach was followed by means of which cutting forces under varying cutting geometries could be made. By analysing the full-scale rock cutting test data, prediction equations of the peak cutting force and mean cutting force have been developed. Comparisons of laboratory determined and predicted force values indicate that the suggested prediction equations are applicable to quite different rock materialsm which have uniaxial compressive strength in the range of about 30?170MPa, and valid for different cutting geometries. It is also shown by regression analysis that the established prediction equations are statistically significant.

Jan 1, 2005

By Frank K. McIntosh

Bauxite was first discovered in Tennessee, at Chattanooga, in 1906, during the construction of' the McCallie Street tunnel through Missionary Ridge. Several years later, bauxite was found in sinking a well on the Perry or Isabella Stewart property. These and other deposits furnished a substantial tonnage for the abrasive and chemical industries during the years 1906 to, 1920. The search for domestic sources of war material prompted by World War II brought the Tennessee bauxite deposits to the attention of the Bureau of Mines. During the summer of 1942, James S. Cullison and E. Godwin, geologists of the United states Geological Survey, made a survey of the bauxite deposits of the area. In August 1942, Harold B. Ewoldt, a Bureau of Mines engineer, accompanied by the Geological Survey party visited the area and a drilling program was prepared. Drilling was started in November 1942 and continued until March 1943. A total of 2,519.5 feet in 38 holes was drilled on three properties.

Jan 1, 1949

By W. P. Johnstone

The computer assisted generation of geological models to represent the geometry of, and grade distribution within, orebodies is a rapidly growing area of the geological profession. Such models are increasingly used as a necessary starting point in determining the mineability of mineral deposits in terms of practical mine design and economic considerations. The transition from traditional techniques such as field or underground mapping and the manual calculation of grade and tonnage estimates, as well as related activities such as the interpolation of cross-sections, the use of stereographic projections, core logging and hand contouring, to computerized applications, is by no means complete. In fact, many geological professionals deliberately avoid the use of computer simulations based on the perception that the resulting models are simplistic and that their construction is not founded on sound geological principles. The purpose of this paper is to assess current thinking on this topic by considering; (a) an overview of advances in the drafting of geological maps, (b) the theoretical basis for multi-dimensional geological modelling, (c) the case for combining traditional and modern techniques, and (d) the benefits to the mining value chain.

Jan 1, 2003

This paper reviews the history of refractory materials, highlights the development of refractory technology over the years, draws attention to the technology behind these materials, and comments on future developments in this field. By walking the path with refractory materials, from their initial uses in BC times, to the composite materials that are used nowadays, and the nanotechnology developments that are currently taking place in this field, the reader will come to agree that refractory materials are indeed very ?cool?! Keywords: refractory materials; bricks; monolithic materials.

Jan 1, 2008

By Kenneth Eilerts

The development and operation of "combination wells"5/ have created new and unusual problems, many of which can he solved only if information is available concerning the properties of the fluids produced. Data as to the characteristics of the fluids at the relatively high pressures that exist in the reservoirs are especially important, and there is growing economic concern to know what part, if any, of the liquid recovered at the surface was liquid in the reservoir, As an extension of this problem, it is important to know, whether liquid will be formed in the reservoir as a result of isothermal retrograde condensation when the reservoir pressure is reduced. The pressure range of such condensation, if it occurs, is significant in the design of gas-recycling plants for maintaining reservoir pressures. In connection with the operation of such plants, it is particularly important to know how pressure and temperature will affect the yield of the liquid phase and the composition of the gas to be returned to the reservoir. It has not been possible to predict the behavior of these fluids that have high ratios off gas to liquid by comparing them with the behavior of low gas-liquid ratio fluids at identical pressures and temperatures. Such comparison fails because the proportions in which a component will be distributed between the phases of a system at any given temperature and pressure depend increasingly on the composition of the mixture as the critical temperature and. pressure of the system are approached. Because many combination wells are producing from reservoirs that have temperatures near the critical point, experimental date on the properties of the Fluids under reservoir conditions are particularly important at this time, To meet the immediate requirements of the industry for such experimental information, an equilibrium cell has been constructed at the Petroleum Experiment Station of the Bureau of Mines, Bartlesville, Okla. When adequate experimental date have been accumulated, it may be possible to make dependable estimates of the phase relations for high gas-liquid ratio fluids at the pressures anti temperatures characteristic of "combination-well? reservoirs.

Jan 1, 1940

By Paul Sainato

Recruiting and retaining students in the explosives industry is becoming increasingly important each year. With no undergraduate degree in explosives engineering currently available in the United States, it is from other industries and degree disciplines we must recruit. The 2014 annual ISEE conference saw the first anonymous online survey distributed to members of SEE student chapters of the International Society of Explosives Engineers. The survey contained questions about future job and career plans, ideal job placement, expectations of salary and current academic degrees. The purpose of the survey was to determine what these students expect or require from a career in the explosives industry, and their current path to pursue this. This information can help steer recruitment activities and job offers for graduating students. The success for both student response rates and interest from the industry has allowed space for a yearly update of this survey. A second survey was distributed in 2015 and included international students. This paper provides the data from a third online survey distributed to all student members of the International Society of Explosives Engineers, globally. Understanding the main incentives for a student to accept a graduate position as an explosives engineer can help us, as an industry; position ourselves to remain competitive in recruiting against other major degree disciplines.

Jan 1, 2016