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Jan 8, 1950

By J. C. Irvine

Meramec Mining Co. has put into operation a crushing and conveying system on its newly established 2475-ft level, 200 ft below the lowest production. To develop this level without interrupting hoisting or mine haulage, a 15.8% decline was driven from the 2275-ft level. A 5-cu-yd LHD diesel loader and a diesel-powered drilling jumbo were put into operation midway down the decline, and were used to develop the remainder of the decline and the entire level. Development of the ore pass system to the crusher required the construction of Swedish-type dumps on the main haulage-ways of all production levels with a minimum disruption of ore haulage. Concrete was handled by both rail-mounted and rubber-tired vehicles. The system features four Swedish-type dumps with control chutes at the lower three dumps, a 42-in. gyratory crusher with attendant feeders, and an 1800-ft long roof suspended conveyor feeding two 5000-ton ore bins. The crushed ore from these bins is conveyed to the lower of the mine's two original loading stations for hoisting. The retention of the original dumping and ore pass system as an alternate route has given mine production a unique flexibility. Operation for 22 months has permitted evaluation of the system from a long-term standpoint.

Jan 1, 1973

By Kenneth K. Humphreys, Joseph W. Leonard, Robert L. Llewellyn, William F. Lawrence

INTRODUCTION Cleaning fine coal sizes utilizing air currents in machines as the primary separating medium is called dry concentration or pneumatic cleaning. In 1947 approximately 18 million tons (16.38 million mt) of bituminous coal were cleaned by air machines; in 1965, 25.4 million tons (23.1 14 million mt); but in 1975, only 7 million tons (6.37 million mt). Table 11-1 shows the tonnages cleaned of bituminous coal and lignite in the United States by various types of equipment from 1938-1963. Table 11-2 shows only tonnages cleaned by pneumatic methods from 1964-1975. The decrease in tonnage to approximately 7 million tons (6.3 million mt) is due to a higher moisture content in the mined coal and the greater difficulty in cleaning the coal by air. There also was a definite trend to load raw coal at the mines, especially the slack which is the most expensive to clean due to the dewatering and drying requirements. While there have not been any applications of pneumatic cleaning in the anthracite field, its use has not been fully explored. The same is true for lignite and subbituminous coals.

Jan 1, 1979

By G. Rinelli, Arthur F. Colombo, Donald W. Frommer

With the opening of the Tilden mine near Ishpeming, MI, a new era in iron ore beneficiation was begun. A description of a U. S. Bureau of Mines investigation is summarized to illustrate the selective flocculation-deslime-flotation process developed by the Bureau and used at the Tilden concentrator, which is also briefly described. The operating parameters for the selective flocculation-cationic flotation of an oxidized taconite from the Mesabi range are discussed. A water reclamation system using lime and a cationic flocculant was applied to reclaim the effluents from a 900-pound-per-hour flotation pilot plant. About 80 percent of water requirements were recovered, and the calcium content of the reclaimed water was found to be more important than clarity in influencing the selective flocculation and flotation processes. Although reclaimed waters with about 10 ppm calcium registered turbidities of approximately 5,000 ppm SiO2 equivalents, the concentrates produced using these waters contained 64 percent Fe and =5.0 percent SiO2 and had accompanying iron recoveries of 75 percent. Lower grade concentrates resulted from using reclaimed water with higher calcium contents and lower turbidities.

Jan 1, 1976

Lester Guttman (General Electric Research Lab-boratory)—Seybolt has measured the thermodynamic activity of silicon in dilute solution in a iron. The anomaly which appears at 800 °C in the approximate range 1 to 6 wt pct Si is most naturally attributed, as Seybolt has done, to the existence of a region of

Jan 1, 1960

By Bruce K. Cantrell, Stephen W. Stein, Kenneth L. Williams, David Hassel, Harvey Patashnick

In June 1992, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) published the 'Report of the Coal Mine Respirable Dust Task Group; Review of the Program to Control Respirable Coal Mine Dust in the United States." As one of its recommendations, the report called for the accelerated development of two mine dust monitors: (1) a fixed-site monitor capable of providing continuous information on dust levels to the miner, mine operator, and to MSHA, if necessary, and (2) a personal sampling device capable of providing both a short-term personal exposure measurement as well as a full-shift measurement. In response to this recommendation, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Pittsburgh Research Center, initiated the development of a fixed-site machine-mounted continuous respirable dust monitor. The technology chosen for monitor development is the Rupprecht and Patashnick Co., Inc. tapered element oscillating microbalance. Laboratory and in- mine tests have indicated that, with modification, this sensor can meet the humidity and vibration requirements for underground coal mine use. NIOSH is continuing that effort by developing prototypes of a continuous dust monitor based on this technology. These prototypes are being evaluated in underground coal mines as they become available. This effort, conducted as a joint venture with MSHA, is nearing completion with every promise of success. The immediate benefit of this effort will be to researchers, regulatory personnel, and mine personnel, by permitting evaluation of specific mining practices to see which expose mine workers to excessive dust levels. Using this information, mine personnel can optimize mining procedures to reduce dust exposure. MSHA and the operators will also be able to use the dust concentration data to judge whether dust plan parameters are adequate to continuously maintaining environmental dust levels below the applicable standard. The second development recommended by the Dust Task Group was a person-wearable version of the continuous dust monitor. It will be a monitoring system designed to provide a measurement of worker exposure to respirable dust, both during and at the end of the shift.

Jan 1, 1997

By A. P. Anderson, J. H. Jensen, W. E. Breckoff

Bromine is the intermediate member of the halogen family of elements between iodine, a solid, and chlorine, a gas. The name is derived from the Greek "bromos," meaning stench. Bromine is the only nonmetallic element that is liquid at room temperatures with a melting point of -7.2° C and a boiling point of 58.78º C. Reddish brown in color, it dissolves easily in water to yield a red solution. Bromine volatilizes at ordinary temperatures to a red vapor that is very irritating to the eyes, nose, and throat. Density of the liquid is 3.12 and gas weighs 7.59 gpl at standard conditions. As the element is highly active, it exists in nature only as bromide compounds. Bromine was discovered by Antoine Jerome Balard in seawater bitterns in 1826 and first prepared in quantity in 1860. Distribution Bromine is widely distributed in nature and compounds occur in solution in natural brines, in seawater, saline lakes, oil and gas well brines, and in evaporite chloride minerals. The concentration of bromine salts ranges from 60-65 ppm in seawater to several thousand ppm in oil well brines and saline lakes. The distribution of bromine in marine evaporite minerals and in the solutions from which they crystallized was determined many years ago by H. E. Boeke (1908). Theoretical aspects regarding the geochemistry of bromine have been published in numerous papers (Raup and Mite, 1969). Bromine occurs in solid solution in carnallite and sylvite associated in potash deposits; in halite in salt beds; salt in oil shales; and in trona deposits. Its presence is useful as a guide in geochemical exploration. The analysis of small amounts of bromides in the presence of large amounts of chlorides is discussed by W. Schwerdtner (1963). Manganese, iron, and iodine may interfere with the determination. Other analytical methods are discussed at length in the literature (Stenger and Atchison, 1964). Sources and Reserves The sources and reserves of bromine, given in Table 1, appear ample to meet present and foreseeable requirements in all producing countries. With the occurrence of bromine salts in seawater and other brines, the potential for bromine production is worldwide. It has been estimated that 99% of all commercially recoverable bromine is in the ocean. However, actual subterranean brines having a higher bromine content than seawater will continue to be the preferred sources of bromine for the foreseeable future. [ ]

Jan 1, 1983

By J. L. Shafer, Christopher L. Caenepeel, Martha L. White

Often an in situ leach is the only practical economic method for copper recovery from small low grade oxide deposits. The decision to develop a copper property by an in situ blast and leach is strongly dependent on ore grade, tonnage, hydrology, and the copper extraction and acid consumption rates. The inherent leachability of the ore will in part determine the desired amount of fracturing of the ore deposit by the blast in order to obtain a copper extraction rate that is economical. For the last several years Occidental Research Corp. (ORC), has undertaken a modest effort to address the question of how to best identify and determine the information necessary to predict and control the operation of an in situ leach for the economic recovery of copper. Modelling of the Leaching Process During the past 10 years the activity in the mathematical modelling of the leaching of copper sulfides in copper dumps and heaps has increased dramatically. The modelling of copper oxide leaching has not received as much attention. The acid leaching of non-sulfide copper minerals while chemically less complex, compared to sulfides, does generate a vertical acid concentration gradient in the ore heap being leached due to the acid-base nature of the reaction. This is generally not observed in sulfide deposits that are biologically active, due to the buffering action of opposing reactions involving the generation of sulfuric acid from sulfide minerals and acid consuming host rock. Thus, the objective of ORC 's copper oxide modelling efforts is to determine the leaching parameters which will account for this vertical acid concentration gradient. Knowledge of this gradient will result in the correct choice of the feed acid concentration to the top of the ore dump or heap, such that the effluent will have the desired pH.

Jan 1, 1980

The response was good-one of the best the SAIMM has had to its various questionnaires. 231 replies were received from 2768 members representing a response of 8,35%. For fellows and Members together, the response was 13,7%. The spread of responses based on respondents' work situation appeared to be well balanced with some bias from those in consulting organizations. Members' perceptions of their employers' positions withrespect to environmental management looked somewhat optimistic, but it is encouraging to note that they reported that more than half were developing environmental management systems. Training of varying degree was taking place at al levels in their organizations. Members saw their Institute as an important agent inlifting environmental awareness, literacy and responsibility not only through the journal and symposia, but also by liaison with government departments and educational institutions. Most respondents saw environmental legislation both from local and overseas sources as affecting their organizations, their products and services with the emphasis on corporate image, core business and sales.

Jan 1, 1995

By John W. Korczak

The use of geological and grade block models has been standard practice in mine design for many years now, with a wide range of software available for creation and analysis. Although geotechnical parameters are of vital importance to mine planning there is very little in the way of commercially available systems for integrating geotechnical data into the mine planning and design process. Sirovision is a new technology developed by the CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization) in Australia for automated, safe and accurate 3D mapping of geological and geotechnical features. Datamine has integrated this capability into its product range so that Sirovision has become an integral part of the day-to-day mapping, mine geology and geological / geotechnical modeling in both open pit and underground mine environments. This is the first integrated underground application of Sirovision from Datamine collaboration with Xstrata Nickel at the Nickel Rim South Project. This paper discusses the role of Sirovision in collecting the raw data required for geological and geotechnical analysis and the interpretation in a quick, safe, auditable and reproducible manner.

May 1, 2009

High sulphur volcanic-hosted hydrothermal environments are favourable geological environments for gold mineralisation. Numerous world-class gold deposits including Pueblo Viejo (Dominican Republic), Goldfield (Nevada), EI Indio (Chile), and Wa

Jan 1, 1994

By Michael Tenenbaum, T. L. Joseph

Recent researches on the reduction of iron ores have stimulated interest in the effect of increased pressures within the iron blast furnace. From a physicochemical viewpoint, it seems logical to suppose that the increased pressure would increase the rate of reduction of the iron ore within the furnace. This increased reaction velocity would in turn be reflected in an increase in the output of the blast furnace. Any substantial effect of elevated blast-furnace pressures should accordingly be of both technical and economic interest to the operator. It is doubtful whether it is possible to increase the pressure in the stack of the blast furnace beyond two or three atmospheres without incurring severe mechanical difficulties. The benefits to be procured by elevations in pressure must therefore be restricted to pressures below two, or at the most, three atmospheres. Within this range it would seem both economically and mechanically feasible to modify the present design of the upper portion of the blast furnace to accommodate these more stringent operating conditions. This investigation was undertaken to study the effect of moderate pressures on the rate of reduction of iron ore with hydrogen. The use of carbon monoxide is contemplated for later work. Although any results that are obtained in the laboratory cannot be interpreted directly in terms of large-scale commercial operations, it is possible, through such an investigation, to ascertain the order of magnitude of the effects of higher pressure. A more quantitative conception of the effects that would result from the use of increased pressures in the modern blast furnace is needed. In some recent work, Diepschlagl found that, all other factors remaining constant, the degree of reduction of iron ores was much greater when carried out under pressure. Pressures as high as seven atmospheres were used. The degree of reduction was determined from the ferrous and ferric iron in the sponge iron. Results were obtained using both carbon monoxide and hydrogen at temperatures of 400°, 600° and

Jan 1, 1939

By Potter DJ, Firkin GR

The Imperial Smelting Furnace operated by Sulphide Corporation Pty. Limited at its Cockle Creek zinc-lead smelter was recently equipped with tuyeres angled at 25 degrees instead of the usual 10 degrees. This change was prompted by the results of model studies undertaken by tha Research Department of Imperial Smelting Processes Limited, at Avonmouth in the United Kingdom, and by the favourable results of operating trials on the Cockle Creek furnace using bent-tip tuyeres to simulate 25 degree inclination. The use of 25 degree angle tuyeres has made it possible to operate with lower zinc values in discard slag and has improved hearth stability over a wider range of sinter quality and composition.

Jan 1, 1981

By Aurelian Buzaianu, Cristian-Aurelian Popescu, Gabriela Popescu, Petru Moldovan

"A lot of scraps result in processing of composite materials which contain metallic phases that can be recovered and used again in different field. Considering this point of view the aim of the paper was to separate and recover aluminum from aluminum matrix/graphite composites. The separation and recovery of aluminum alloy from aluminum alloy/graphite composites was done by treatment with halide molten salts. As halide salts were used flux tablets that collect the ceramic particles in dross. After dross separation, was used filtration in order to separate the aluminum matrix from the other impurities.Samples from the recovered alloy were analyzed using chemical analysis, optical and electron microscopy, as well as X-ray diffraction. The desired composition of the aluminum alloy obtained from scraps could be reached by some addition of metals to the metallic phase. From optical microscopy it was obvious that the structure of the aluminum alloy obtained after composite reclamation consists large particle of silicon, eutectic, a-Al solid solution and other phases like Fe, Si, Mg and Ni, or some compounds like CuAl2. 1. IntroductionThe research on the recycling and reclamation of metal-matrix composites (MMCs) becomes active to preserve the natural environment, as environmental requirements become stricter, to save energy, and to reduce garbage. In case of recycled aluminum alloy ingot the production energy is about 3 pct of that of the new ingot. This evidence strongly supports the necessity to recycling of aluminum alloys. Among aluminum alloys, metal matrix composites have high strength and elastic modulus, and also good were resistance. These materials have been developed to meet the demand properties which exceeds that of the ordinary materials, and to save energy."

Jan 1, 2008

By Nixon TR

The Australian Coal Industry Research Laboratories Ltd. (A.C.I.R.L.) MINVENT computer program can be used to simulate existing and projected colliery ventilation requirements. New collieries can be planned using a database of ventilation parameters which were ascertain- ed by A.C.I.R.L. surveys at selected collieries in N.S.W. and Queensland. Several techniques are used in both the formulation of the database and in the evaluat- ion of a ventilation system, prior to analysis by the MINVENT program. The analysis of a ventilation system requires the measurement of air quantities, pressures and hence airway resistances. All resistances are calculated at standard air density of 1.205 kg/m3. Air densities are derived from barometric pressure and wet and dry bulb temperature readings. Airway frictional and shock losses, leakage through stoppings and overcasts, flow of air through regulators, face resistance and resistance of anomalous ventilation features are related to the typical Australian measured data presented.

Jan 1, 1983

By Harrison Schmitt

SINCE the U. S. Geological Survey published the data on the Central Mining District collected by Lindgren and Graton1 and by Paige2 much new information has been obtained by development and mapping, but none of it had been published until recently when Kniffin3 published on Fierro, Lasky4 on the Ground Hog mine, Thorne5 on Santa Rita and Landon6 filed a thesis on the Fierro-Hanover-Santa Rita area at the Uni-versity of Chicago. During the years 1927-1930 much of the writer's time was spent in mapping the geology and ore deposits of this district, particularly in the area of the zinc deposits at Hanover. Some of the data collected are presented here. Previous publications have been freely drawn upon and additional data used that were generously supplied by L. M. Kniffin, Wilfred Wright and Gerald Ballmer. Thanks are due Augustus Locke, Samuel G. Lasky, Kniffin, Wright and Ballmer for suggestions and critical readings of the manuscript, and to the Empire Zinc Co. (a subsidiary of the New Jersey Zinc Co.) for the privilege of publishing material compiled largely at its expense. The relation of the Central. or the Santa Rita-Hanover-Fierro district to the Silver City district is shown on Paige's geologic map in the Silver City folio.7 Granodiorite porphyry and quartz-monzonite porphyry

Jan 1, 1933

By D. H. Chambers

Digestion studies were undertaken to develop a method for the rapid dissolution of high-temperature ferroalloy scrap. Laboratory tests showed: (1) dissolution of alloy scrap with ferric ion as the leaching agent was a moderately rapid method of digestion; (2) the dissolution process can be considered as a typical reaction of a metal with chlorine gas, although evidence was obtained to show dissolution as a two-step process, one step as the reduction of ferric ion by the soluble alloy constituents and the other as the oxidation of ferrous ion with chlorine gas; and (3) the attack of ferric ion on the alloy was a function of alloy composition, ferric to ferrous ion ratio, and area of contact between leach solution and alloy. The exceedingly complex nature of alloy compositions and dissolution products generally precluded satisfactory analytical determinations. Results of moderate accuracy were obtained using complex modifications of standard analytical and spectrographic techniques.

Jan 1, 1968

By Selby DW, Hamill J, Cauley ID, Thomas I, Thornton AJ

The main objective of sulphide flotation in a cassiterite concentrator is to remove sulphide minerals (pyrite, pyrrhotite and sometimes chalcopyrite) from the ore prior to gravity concentration. Tin losses in the sulphide flotation stage account for a significant proportion of the total tin loss. separate studies of the sulphide flotation circuits of Renison Ltd and Cleveland Tin Ltd were conducted to investigate reasons for the tin losses. Sampling surveys were conducted in the rougher-scavenger and also the regrind-cleaner sections of both plants. In both plants, the rougher circuits recover excessive quantities of liberated cassiterite, while recovery of the desired composite cassiterite-sulphide fraction is low. The regrind mills are successful in liberating the composite cassiterite in the rougher concentrate, but at the expense of increasing the proportion of very fine tin mineral. The cleaner circuits recover between 40 and 60% of the cassiterite received, and this is all lost.

Jan 1, 1978

By N Javati, G D. Carman, D Kikiha, B Likia, K Dala, J McPhie, R Johnstone, D R. Cooke, J L. Blackwell

The 40 Moz Ladolam gold deposit on Lihir Island, Papua New Guinea is the worldÆs largest, low-sulfidation, epithermal gold deposit, in terms of contained gold. The deposit has average grades of 2.42 g/t Au (LGL Resources Reserves Update, 2008) and gold is hosted primarily in refractory pyrite. Lihir Island is part of the 150 km long, Tabar-Lihir-Tanga-Feni, alkalic, volcanic island chain located in the New Ireland basin. Five volcanic blocks comprise Lihir; Plio-Pliestocene Huniho, Kinami and Luise volcanic edifices are built on top of remnant Pleistocene Wurtol Wedge and Londolovit Block (Wallace et al, 1983). The Ladolam gold deposit is located in the central portion of the dissected Luise volcanic edifice and is composed of four main orebodies: 1. Minifie, 2. Lienetz, 3. Coastal, and 4. Kapit. An active geothermal system is overprinted on the ore deposit, localised along north-trending lineaments, and is expressed as hot mud pools and fumaroles. The focus of open pit mapping and drill core logging, as part of ongoing PhD research, has been in the Minifie and Lienetz orebodies. The deposit geology is grouped into four main phases: 1. volcano-sedimentary host rocks, 2. porphyry-style biotite alteration and related hydrothermal breccias and veins, 3. epithermal-style breccias and veins, and 4. modern geothermal alteration. Gold is associated with epithermal-style alteration and mineralisation. Ongoing observations of the Minifie and Lienetz orebodies are highlighting differences in the geology and paragenetic histories. An EXTENDED ABSTRACT is available for download. A full-length paper was not prepared for this presentation.

Jan 1, 2008

By Edwards A. B

Re-opening of the old Proprietary mine has provided new exposures of the system of uralite dolerite dykes observed in 19110 by the Geological Sub-Committee of the Scientific Society of Broken Hill. The newly exposed dykes have been invaded and replaced by the massive ore, with development of manganese garnet and biotite adjacent to the sulphides. A similarly altered dyke in massive ore has been encountered in the North Broken Hill mine.The textures of the unaltered portions of these dykes indicate that they have not been affected by the intense regional metamorphism that has recrystallized the other rocks of the area. Moreover, in mineral composition and textures, in chemical composition, and in cross-cutting relations, they are so similar to the uralite dolerites of the district which post-date the folding and metamorphism of the Broken Hill area, that they must be regarded as typical members of this suite of post-metamorphic dykes.The invasion and replacement of the dykes by the massive sulphide ore, and their metasomatic alteration adjacent to the invading sulphides, establishes that the lode was formed after the dykes were intruded, so that the high temperature features of the ore cannot be attributed to metamorphism and recrystallization, but are primary features of high temperature hydrothermal deposition.INTRODUCTIONTwo cross dykes are recorded on the plan of the 300-ft. level of the Broken Hill lode accompanying the report on the geology of the Broken Hill lode published by the Geological Sub-Committee of the former Scientific Society of Broken Hill (1910). One dyke occurs in Block 12, and the other in Block 13, and both were stated to consist of a dark basic amphibole rock, called diorite for convenience. The more southerly dyke was traced from some distance out in the footwall, and even through the lode, by means of occasionalpatches of it still existing in the ore, in a direction...

Jan 1, 1956