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By Pengfei Wang, Guorui Feng

"The angle of break is the acute angle created by the coal seam bedding plane and caving line formed by roof strata movement after extraction of a longwall panel. It has a significant influence on stress redistribution both in the gob and abutment. Throughout numerical simulation investigations up to now, little attention has been paid to it, or an angle of break of 90° was used, which, however, is not realistic. This paper presents a detailed numerical modelling incorporating the angle of break against Zhenchengdi Coal Mine. The angle of break was obtained through cross-measure boreholes. Hoek-Brown constitutive model was used to simulate the rock masses. Double-yield constitutive model, which was best fitted by Salamon’s model, was used to simulate the gob. The results show that a “/ \ shape” shear failure zone develops around the gob. The shear failure in the floor along the panel edge is due to opposite shear of rock mass on two sides of the caving line, and the number of yielded zones within the gob floor close to the gob edge is smaller. According to the research, the entry was determined to be driven under the gob edge employing split-level longwall panel layout (SLPL). The other numerical simulation for SLPL shows that stress around the god-side entry is much smaller than pre-mining stress, and the area of intact rock mass at the elevating section is larger than conventional layout. Numerical modelling was then validated by field observation.INTRODUCTIONTo solve low recovery and ground control problems in longwall mining with top coal caving (LTCC) due to large gate pillar or chain pillar, gob-side entry approach is becoming increasingly popular (Nazimko, 1994; Li et al., 2016; Zhao, Wang, and Su, 2017). Gob-side entry is actually a combination of the gateroad, pillar, and gob, which is a typical panel layout with slender pillar or artificial pillar or wall. The abutment load has a profound impact on stability of the gate pillar, as well as the gob-side entry. Better estimates of abutment loading profiles will result in improved evaluations of design of pillar and gob-side entry (Larson and Lavoie, 2016)."

Jan 1, 2018

By Rak-Jun Choi

Plasma-induced damage of InGaN/GaN multiple quantum well (MQW) light-emitting diodes (LEDs) has been studied in terms of forward turn-on and reverse breakdown voltages, together with etch rate and surface morphology. The physical degradation of sidewall along with rough surface morphology of n-GaN caused by increased ion scattering induced the deterioration of the forward and reverse voltages. It was found that the turn-on voltage is sensitive to the surface roughness of the etched n-GaN and the breakdown voltage is strongly affected by the sidewall contamination. Annealing under nitrogen after the mesa etching improved the electrical properties of the InGaN/GaN MQW LEOs. Efficient blue light-emitting diodes (LEOs) were fabricated using InGaN/GaN triangular MQWs. The LEOs with triangular QWs showed a lower operation voltage and 2.4 times higher light output power than those with the rectangular MQW LEOs at 20 rnA and 20 "C. The intensity of electroluminescence (EL) at 20 mA was almost independent of ambient temperature in the triangular QW LEO, but decreased substantially in the rectangular one.

Jan 1, 2003

THE transformation, in a sample of levitation melted iodide titanium, has been studied with a Leitz hot-stage microscope. The specimen was etched in HF:HNO3: glycerine, (1:1:2) giving a structure shown in Fig. 1, and was then heated at approximately 5OC per min. At 870°C (±5OC) the etching product disappeared, the a-grain boundaries showed in relief, and some new grain boundaries (presumably of ß) appeared (Fig. 2, see arrow). Some evidence of ß-grain growth is indicated by the apparent longitudinal movement of a ß-grain boundary shown in Figs. 2 and 3 (see arrows). The specimen was later heated to 1000°C and then cooled at 2°C per min. At 845°C rumpling of the surface was first noticed, Fig. 4, and continued at constant temperature. The photomicrograph reproduced in Fig. 5 was taken 6 sec after Fig. 4, at 845°C. Fig. 6 shows the structure after cooling to room temperature. The room-temperature structure, showing a rumpled surface has been observed by previous investigators.' These structures presumably indicate a sheer transformation ß - a, athermally nucleated, but capable of isothermal progression.

Jan 1, 1960

By M. G. Lipsett

"The Mining Information Technology User Group considers information to be a strategic enabler to improved business performance in mining. This ad hoc group has been meeting since 2000 to share knowledge and leverage their efforts in effectively using IT in mining. In this paper, core issues to mining IT are reviewed, along with initiatives to engage industry professionals and decision-makers in the potential for improved use of information in their operations. Relevance of IT to Canadian MiningMining operations always drive to improve their performance, and so far they have succeeded by using different technologies. While economies of scale have come in fragmentation and material handling, and energy usage has improved through conservation and design of integrated mineral processing plants, these systems have the net result of tightening operational constraints, through reduced excess capacity. There are higher opportunity costs of lost production when integrated, large-scale systems are operating in a sub-optimal way.The problem is that it is profoundly difficult to run a mine in an optimal way. Optimization requires a defined objective function (e.g., profit), which is hard to pose, let alone solve, because so many inter-related aspects of an operation affect the bottom line. Even for a small, well-defined process state, it is difficult to measure all the pertinent information with sufficient accuracy to ensure that the system is performing well in real time.The art of mining remains making good decisions with uncertainty: in the orebody delineation; in the allocation of resources; in the efficiency of the operation; in the reliability of components and systems; and in responding to the downstream market. As well, individual decision-makers need to know how their decisions affect other processes and systems, so that improvements in one part of an operation do not result in such degraded performance in the rest of the plant that overall profitability goes down."

Jan 1, 2003

By Vinay Kumar

The disposal of large quantities of electronic scraps generated world wide is causing not only environmental problem but also loss of resources. Therefore, R & D efforts have been made to develop a suitable process for extraction and separation of metals viz. copper, zinc, cadmium and nickel expected from the leaching of e-scraps using solvent extraction process. Different process parameters viz. pH, aqueous to organic ratio, kinetics of extraction, extraction isotherm to establish stage requirement for extraction in continuous mode etc have been studied to optimise the condition for the separation of metals. The studies showed the selective extraction of copper after iron precipitation from the sulfuric acid leach solution of e- wastes containing ~1.0 g/L Cu and minor impurities with 2-hydroxy-5- nonylacetophenoneoxime (LIX 84) above pH 2.0 in single stage. A scheme for separation of cadmium, zinc and nickel has been proposed using di(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid (D2EHPA) under controlled pH of the aqueous solution. The order of extraction was found to be Zn> Cd> Ni.

Jan 1, 2009

By Cássio Santos de Carvalho

Os pós fluxantes consistem de uma mistura de minerais que em contato com o aço líquido, devem fundir e gerar uma escória líquida com características específicas para cada condição de lingotamento. Possuem, como base, o sistema CaO-SiO2- Al2O3-Na2O-CaF2 e podem conter MgO, Li2O, K2O e B2O3. Este trabalho propõe caracterizar os pós fluxantes comerciais baixo carbono e peritético através da microscopia ótica de luz transmitida usando os mesmos procedimentos de descrição de lâminas delgadas para rochas e minerais. Os resultados mostraram a formação de grãos e fase cristalina bem definidas para o peritético e a fase amorfa para o baixo carbono. Em trabalhos futuros esta técnica melhor desenvolvida poderá servir para quantificar o nível de cristalinidade dos fluxantes com maior precisão.

Aug 17, 2017

By Daniel J. Dobbels, Eric R. Drooff, James R. Wheeler

Construction of Boston’s C11A1 Section of the Central Artery (I-93)/Tunnel(I-90) Project beneath the existing MBTA Red Line Subway at South Station required excavation to depths in excess of 33.5 m (110 ft) through permeable sand and gravel subject to almost 27.4 m (90 ft) of hydrostatic groundwater pressure. As tacked drift tunnel underpinning system was designed to provide positive support to the active station prior to mainline tunnel construction. As part of this system, a permeation grouting program was developed to facilitate tunnel excavation. This paper describes the design and implementation of the grouting program, in sit testing, and the overall performance of the grouted soil mass.

Jan 1, 1999

By T. Ito, N. Tokashiki, H. A. Bilgin, Ö. Aydan, T. Akagi

This study is concerned with the electric potential induced by deformation, fracturing and sliding of non-piezoelectric geomaterials. In experiments, the acoustic emissions together with electric potential measurements were also measured in order to see how the so-called seismic electric signals are associated with new fracture occurrence and propagation and sliding in case of existing discontinuities. The outcomes of this experimental study may explain why such electric potential variations may occur during the fracturing and sliding of non-piezoelectric geomaterials. On the basis of these outcomes, their possible implications in geo-engineering and geo-science are discussed. Ce travail concerne 1e potentiel électrique produit par la déformation, 1a fracture ou le glissement du matériel géologique non-piézoélectrique. Aux expérimentations, on a mesuré 1es émissions acoustiques avec le potentiel électrique afin de constater la relation entre les phénomènes de glissement ou de formation et de propagation de nouvelles fractures le long des discontinuités existantes. Les résultats de ce travail expérimental expliquent pourquoi de telles variations de potentiel electrique se produisent durant le glissement ou la fracture du matériel non-piézoélectrique. Sur la base de ces résultats, on a discuté de leurs éventuelles implications dans les domaines de 1a géologie et de 1a géo-ingénierie. Diese Studie befasst sich mit dem elektrischen Potential das durch die Deformation, Bruchbildung und Gleiten von nicht-piezoelektrischen Geomaterialien induziert wird. In Experimenten wurden die akustischen Emissionen zusammen mit elektrischen Potentialmessungen gemessen, um zu sehen, wie die so genannten seismischen elektrischen Signale mit neuer Bruchbildung und Ausbreitung sowie Gleiten im Falle von vorhandenen Diskontinuitäten verbunden sind. Die Ergebnisse dieser experimentellen Untersuchungen könnten erklären warum elektrische Potential Schwankungen während der Bruchbildung und dem Gleiten von nicht-piezoelektrischen Geomaterialien entstehen. Auf der Basis dieser Ergebnisse, wurden ihre möglichen Implikationen in Geoingenieurwissenschaften behandelt.

Jan 1, 2003

By PHILIP N. MOORE

THE development of the power of the Tennessee River at Muscle Shoals has become a matter of political interest as well as engineering possibility. The controversy over it has been so active that the facts have been obscured, the possibilities exaggerated. Although the members of the American Institute of Mining & Metallurgical Engineers are not generally specialists in hydroelectric development, those who visited Muscle Shoals in October, following the Birmingham meeting of the Institute, were interested, and many of them surprised to learn the actual conditions. These have long been familiar to those who have studied the matter through the reports of the U. S. Engineers on the subject. The approved plan contemplates three dams-No. 1, a low dam close to the City of Florence, planned in the interests of navigation, since the construction of the other dams has rendered impossible the use of the river without it. No. 2-named the Wilson Dam is now under construction. Concerning it political argumentation has waged. No. 3 Dam-much smaller, is planned to be erected several miles above No. 2.

Jan 1, 1925

By E O. Foster

When roasting started at Giant Yellowknife Mines in 1949, it became apparent that, to prevent air and water pollution in the surrounding district, it would be necessary to collect the arsenic that was contained in the exit gases of the roaster. The arsenic collection problem was finally solved by the installation of both electrostatic and baghouse collectors. It was realized that a considerable quantity of gold-bearing dust was leaving the roaster with the exit gases. When the collection problem was solved, it was possible to measure this loss. The loss proved to be considerable and it became evident that a substantial quantity of gold could be recovered. Research programs on dust treatment began in 1958, and by May, 1960, the treatment process which is currently being followed was started in the plant. At present, the two electrostatic preci11itators, Operated at temperatures above 600°F, collect the gold-bearing dust.

Jan 1, 1963

Numerous underground coal mine ventilation seals have been installed in the United States of America prior to 2006 and after implementation of the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response (MINER) Act. Seal engineering, design, placement, and construction is regulated in industry, but post-construction monitoring of seals is limited to visual inspection of the outby face and seal perimeter, convergence measurement, and atmospheric monitoring. To monitor seal integrity and to provide safe working conditions, a form of non-destructive testing (NDT) is necessary to accurately reflect the health of the seal by detecting post-construction changes, deterioration, or defects within in-situ seals in underground coal mines. Previous research from the National Institute of Safety and Health (NIOSH) has indicated the potential for utilizing ground penetrating radar (GPR) for assessing in-situ mine seals. This paper provides an update to the assessment of proposed NDT methods for seal evaluation using commercially available GPR technologies and systems. Full-scale free-standing seals and large-scale seal specimens were analyzed with an array of GPR units from various manufactures using multiple frequencies.

Feb 23, 2014

By James R. Boyle

The value of Alabama's nonfuel mineral production in 1987 was $446.6 million, an increase over that of 1986 and the first increase in 3 years. Alabama was second in the Nation in production of bauxite and ferroalloys; third in bentonite, crushed dolomite, crushed marble, and fire clay; and fourth in masonry cement. Trends and Developments.-Employment in the minerals industry remained relatively low for the second year even though the overall unemployment rate dropped to 7.9% by December. Employment in mining and primary metals dropped about 10% and 2%, respectively.

Jan 1, 1989

By Honglei Zhang, Wuguo Xiang, Xinhao Huang, Guotao Xu, Xilai Chen

"The service behavior of refractories used in hot air pipeline for hot air stoves in a 3200 M3 blast furnace of WISCO was analyzed. The damage factors can be concluded as the poor quality of and alusite based bricks, the severe thermal shock damage, the more porosity in structures, loose bonding capability, and the unreasonable choice of materials and design of bricks. By analysis, the service life of hot air stoves can be enhanced by the measurements such as the reasonable choice of materials and their match, the use of light-weight refractories, the improvement of brick type, etc. Thereafter, the normal production operation of hot air stoves is guaranteed.IntroductionThe No.7 blast furnace of WISCO has been used for about 5 years and it was mid-repaired in March, 2012. The top phenomena of worn hot air pipelines are brick drop, breakage, severely local wear and deformation, existing hidden danger, so the worn hot air pipelines were renewed. Investigations have been done on the stove damage and design [1,2]. In order to clarify the wear mechanism, the used refractories for hot air pipelines were sampled and analyzed, the properties and structures of worn materials and reused materials are relatively studied."

Jan 1, 2013

By H. Bai, B. G. Thomas

"A three-dimensional finite difference model has been developed to study the liquid steel-argon bubble two-phase turbulent flow in continuous casting tundish nozzles. Experiments have been performed on a 0.4-scale water model to verify the computational model by comparing its prediction with velocity measurements using PIV (Particle Image Velocimetry) technology. The computational model was developed using CFX and then employed to investigate the effects of various casting process variables. A fast, simple inverse model to quantify relationships between those process variables was developed, based on interpolation of the numerical model results, using Bernoulli's Equation and advanced multivariable curve fitting methods. Predictions using this model compare well with plant measurements. The model has been applied to present trends and observations on the relationship between casting speed, tundish depth, slide gate opening, and argon gas injection rate. The results can also be used to predict .the theoretical steel flow rate through the nozzle, so that clogging conditions can be identified in the plant.IntroductionTundish nozzle geometry is one of the few variables that are both very influential on the casting process and relatively inexpensive to change. Designing an effective nozzle requires quantitative knowledge of the relationship between nozzle geometry and other process variables on the influential characteristics of the flow exiting the nozzle. This relationship depends on the flow pattern within the nozzle components. Most previous modeling studies of flow in the nozzle have focused on single-phase flow [1-4]. Argon injection into nozzle is an efficient and widely employed method to reduce nozzle clogging, even though the real working mechanism(s) are still not fully understood [5]. Argon injection may greatly affect the flow pattern in the nozzle, and subsequently in the mold. Therefore, two-phase flow modeling is needed to improve understanding of fluid flow in the nozzle."

Jan 1, 2000

By B. K. Ayres

Modern management of uranium mine or mill waste storage facilities (WSFs) often requires that they be remediated or decommissioned with a cover system. In addition to creating a self-sustaining landscape that supports the end land use, cover systems are intended to reduce long-term risks to human and ecological receptors from the stored waste to acceptable levels. The performance and longevity of a cover system will be strongly influenced by the features or shapes of the WSF final landform. Hence, cover systems and landforms must be thought of as an integrated design. Based on the author’s experience, the most important elements of the design process for maximizing the potential of WSF final landforms / cover systems being sustainable over the long term are noted in this manuscript. Several key items that must be considered and addressed during the planning phase of constructing a WSF final landform are also described. Various methods for monitoring performance of a WSF final landform are also reviewed. Key aspects associated with decommissioning a tailings WSF and waste rock pile at the former Cluff Lake uranium mine in northern Saskatchewan are included to illustrate many of the practical insights provided in this paper.

Jan 1, 2020

By S. Yadav, T. G. Murthy, C. Saldana

"An experimental study has been carried out in order to study the deformation of porous brittle materials under plane strain indentation. Gypsum, which is well known model system for understanding the behaviour of soft rocks, is used in this study. The effect of wedge angle is investigated in this research through this series of experiments, using wedges of 3 different apical angles. High-speed, high-resolution images are captured using a CMOS camera during the experiment. The images obtained are analyzed using a Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) algorithm in order to obtain the evolving velocity, strain-rate and strain fields.INTRODUCTIONThe problem of indentation, which is usually referred to in the context of hardness testing is ubiquitous as a material characterization technique for a large class of solids. Mechanical properties of materials such as yield stress, flow stress, fracture toughness, elastic moduli etc. can be related to the hardness of a given solid. The indentation problem involves a given material or solid (whose properties are to be determined) indented by a relatively harder material (indenter) allowing the solid to undergo plastic deformation, which is then related to the yield stress of the material. The problem of indentation and its variants see many applications ranging from mining and petroleum industry, infrastructure industry, manufacturing, and biomedical sectors. Indentation has been extensively studied in metals, with accurate measurement of deformation parameters, stresses and comparison with analytical solutions. On the other hand, understanding of indentation in other class of solids such as cellular solids, porous solids, rocks, and soft solids is still nascent. In case of rocks, a comprehensive understanding of the indentation problem is very crucial because of the obvious applications in mining, petroleum and infrastructure sectors. The inherent porosity, the brittle nature of the rocks, adds to the complexity of indentation in these porous brittle solids. Various theoretical models with degrees of simplifying assumptions have been proposed to study the indentation in rocks. The most common model used in the study of indentation in rocks is a cavity expansion model, wherein a blunt indenter indenting into a rock is approximated with the expansion of cylindrical or spherical cavity in an elastic-plastic material. Complementary studies in understanding fracture initiation and propagation due to indentation has been largely based on the studies of traditional brittle materials such as glass."

Jan 1, 2015

By Afrânio Márcio Costa

Placas lingotadas continuamente, não obstante atendam a requisitos como composição química, conteúdo de inclusões, aspectos macro e micrográficos, podem ser desclassificadas por falta de conformidade dimensional. Contrações térmicas, de solidificação e de transformações de fases são partes intrínsecas do processo e são afetadas por alterações na taxa de extração de energia da placa durante o processo. Este conjunto de contrações determina o Fator de Contração de operação, o qual é utilizado para determinar as dimensões do molde que irão resultar na largura especificada, onde o presente estudo determinará o fator de contração dos aços peritéticos. As variáveis identificadas que influenciam no fluxo de calor primário foram: frequência de oscilação, superaquecimento, velocidade de lingotamento e viscosidade do pó fluxante. Identificou-se que o resfriamento secundário e a conicidade utilizado no molde, também são critérios determinantes para obtenção de larguras especificadas. Assim sendo, uma equação de regressão foi desenvolvida para o Fator de Contração.

Aug 17, 2017

By F. Warnaars

Historically, this area produced gold and silver from many well-known vein deposits, like Tayoltita, Topia, and San Jose de Gracia. Modern exploration identified three categories of deposits: 1) low grade porphyry golds in shallow level dacite porphyries; 2) batholith-related deposits; and 3) those formed in volcanic sequences of Late Cretaceous to Late Tertiary. At least four porphyry golds have been identified, of which Metates is best known. These are formed by and within daciteporphyries, associated hydrothermal breccias and sometimes within surrounding meta sediments. Their ages are from mid-Cretaceous to Early Tertiary. Precious metal deposits associated with batholiths occur as veins, contact haloes in meta sediments or volcanics, skarns, tectonic breccias, hydrothermal tourmaline breccias, dacite dikes or as disseminated or stockwork deposits such as La Fortuna.Several new gold discoveries were made in older EarlyTertiary Volcanic Sequences and in the younger Tertiary volcanics within prominent structures exceeding 3 to 5 km in lengths. Some of these are open-pittable but most have to be mined by underground methods.

Jan 1, 1999

By Akira Ishikuro, Masamichi Shintaku, Futoshi Kusumoto, Takeshi Kudo

"The Bankei-Kitanosawa tunnel that is located in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan includes a 450m long section near the arrival point where mudstone which can liquate out natural hazardous materials such as arsenic and selenium exceeding the tolerance stipulated by country as well as weathered mudstone and unconsolidated sedimentary rocks with small overburden and the competence factor less than 1.0 are present. The mucks containing hazardous materials were disposed into the waterproof branch tunnels created from the inside of the main tunnel. The full face early ring closure method was employed to ensure the stability of the tunnel in the low strength rock masses having no stand-up time. As a result, the waterproof tunnels branching off the main tunnel can manage water tightness so as to ensure safety and relief against environmental risks of the hazardous materials. It is also demonstrated that the full face early ring closure method enable construction of the tunnel with a small overburden in the low strength rock masses. INTRODUCTION The Bankei-Kitanosawa tunnel includes a 450m long section near the arrival point where mudstone which can liquate out natural hazardous materials such as arsenic and selenium exceeding the tolerance stipulated by country as well as weathered mudstone and unconsolidated sedimentary rocks with small overburden and the competence factor less than 1.0 are present. In order to overcome the restrictions, the hazardous materials were designed to be disposed into large cross section waterproof tunnels which were newly designed and constructed in high strength and hazardous material free Andesite. The lining for the tunnels was composed of with shotcrete. In addition, full face early ring closure (Sato et al., 2013) was employed to stabilize the tunnel so as to enable safe tunnel excavation in low strength rock masses where a ground arch is deemed unachievable. This paper presents the safe disposal method of mucks which are likely to liquate out natural hazardous materials as well as the full face early ring closure method and its mechanical characteristics."

Jan 1, 2016

By J. W. Evans

Mathematical modeling has now become a standard technique in the development of new technology and the improvement of existing technology in the processing industries. Physical modeling has a longer history but a smaller following at present. The paper reviews some examples of the application of both types of modeling in non-ferrous metal extraction, particularly within the copper and aluminum industries. The objective is to show that well founded models can lead to results that have practical consequence in scaleup, design and operation.

Jan 1, 1993