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By Mary Korpi

So now you ask, Where are the transcripts? The well-organized co-chairs, Harry and Mary, did their job. Doug Halbe was active in the audience encouraging people to speak up and keeping everything moving along. So where are they? Were the comments so provocative that they could not be written? Was the profanity so bad (even for miners!) that it couldn't be repeated? It appears that at the first session of the Plant Operators' Symposium a glitch occurred with the recording equipment. Thanks go to everyone who did comment during the dis- cussion period. The People I session had a lot of lively conversation and we are sorry that it will not be printed. However, there is now another reason to hold the plant operators' sessions on a regular basis! Another People session can and will be held in the future.

Jan 1, 1998

By Brent Chamberlain

MARY KORPI: As has been typical today, our next speaker is filling in for one of his co-workers. Scott Lawson will be discussing "The Role of the Supervisor in Mining Operations" written by Brent Chamberlain of Independence Mining Corporation. Scott has more than 25 years in human resources management in the mining industry. He has worked in surface and underground mining environments in both precious and base metal mines. A graduate of Ohio University, Scott is currently manager of human resources at the Independence Mining Company's Cripple Creek and Victor Gold Mining operation located in Victor, Colorado. The only direction that I received from Scott was that he has to leave by 11:45 a.m. as he has a tee-off time with his boss at 1:00 p.m. Thank you to Scott for filling in today.

Jan 1, 1998

By A. E. Isaacson

Researchers at the Bureau of Mines, U.S. Department of the Interior, developed and tested equipment to measure corrosion rates on a commercial-scale mill. Bench-scale experiments were also designed for duplicating ore grinding conditions closely enough that realistic rate determinations can be made in laboratory tests. Rates measured in a laboratory system compared favorably with those measured in the field. Cast steel was found to have corrosion rates in a copper mill and laboratory test cell of 22 and 21 mpy, respectively. Corrosion was found to account for less than 5 pct of the total grinding media wear in the operations studied.

Jan 1, 1989

By J. F. Edwards

In situ extraction of copper through borehole injection presents a new technology for the mining of copper. For the successful application of this technology, copper recovery at the surface must be specifically designed for borehole injection and the general conditions of the well field. This paper describes the design of a solvent extraction / electrowinning facility specifically designed for in situ leaching of copper. This design is based on commercial solvent extraction / electro-winning with considerations of the requirements of this specific application.

Jan 1, 1988

By Robert G. Bottge, Paul C. Hyndman, Don J. Barnes, Clark A. Roberts

The effect of Federal restrictions on Federal mineral estate in Alaska and the Western States is being addressed by systematic, State-by- State studies. The Bureau of Mines has inventoried and classified 3.5 million sq km (876 million acres) of land, section-by-section, according to 1) mineral ownership, 2) availability for mineral exploration and development as affected by Federal restrictions, and 31, areas containing mines and mineral resources. The availability of Federal land for exploration and development is spatially compared to areas containing mines and mineral resources. The methodology and overall results of the studies are presented.

Jan 1, 1991

By Min Chen, Qinghua Liang, Weishan Yan, Yuan Feng, Shigang Wang

Various coal mine robots (CMRs) and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are implemented to explore unknown mines for improving the safety and efficiency of mining. It is challenging for CMRs and UAVs to achieve accurate positioning due to the absence of the Global Positioning System (GPS), poor lighting conditions, and similar geometric features in complex mine scenes. LiDAR-based localization and mapping methods are more accurate than others, while long-time running in large-scale scenarios will introduce nonnegligible cumulative errors. This study presents a semantic-aided Li- DAR simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) with loop closure, which leverages the uniqueness of mine intersection structure to establish stable semantic loop closure. Specifically, we propose a semantic intersection descriptor of translation and rotation invariance, which encodes 3D point clouds of the same intersection from different positions and viewpoints into a unified image. By using the semantic descriptor, we can construct a constant loop constraint when the same intersection is revisited from different directions to reduce cumulative drift. We provide experimental validation using large data sets collected in two large underground mines, namely, a simulated Edgar mine deployed in ROS Gazebo and a public underground mine data set provided by ETH. Experimental results show that the proposed method has higher localization accuracy and outperforms the existing LiDAR-based SLAM strategies.

Feb 1, 2024

By Xuebin Liu, Yi Shang, Can Zhou, Hongqiu Zhu, Junbo Du

In the neutral leaching process of zinc hydrometallurgy, the pH value directly affects the leaching rate of zinc calcine. However, due to the complex mechanism of the leaching process and frequent fluctuation of working conditions, it is difficult to control the pH value by manual control. Therefore, this study proposes a fuzzy control method based on rule extraction under multiple working conditions, and analyzes the pH control performance. Firstly, the different operating states are classified according to process mechanisms and the Pearson method. Secondly, under the framework of the active learning algorithm, the approximate linear dependence (ALD) method is introduced to iteratively select samples with rule information in the original sample set for manual annotation. Then, the support vector machine (SVM) method is used to extract fuzzy control rules in different working conditions. Finally, a fuzzy rule set is established according to the samples mapped by the support vector. The simulation results based on industrial data show that the proposed method has better control performance than conventional fuzzy control and proportional–integral–derivative (PID) control.

Apr 1, 2024

The evaluation of Abandoned Mined Lands can involve the investigation of very large areas of land. Often, the locations of critical areas or impending problems are unknown, and are not easily identified from the surface. Microseismic monitoring has been demonstrated to be effective in identifying potential instabilities and active movement in mines from distances of several kilometers. By placing sensors in proximity to, or in contact with, a high acoustic conductance layer close to the mined zone, large areas can be monitored for potential problems with a minimum of sensors and drillholes. As part of a U.S. Bureau of Mines contract, a prototype system was developed to identify and locate potential instability problems over wide areas of land. Once a problem area has been located, the system can be used to analyze the type of the problem, its size, relative degree of instability, and potential for damage. Continued monitoring after application of remedial measures can effectively determine the efficacy of those measures.

Jan 1, 1993

By Newell H. Orr

Titanium's performance characteristics in acidic oxidizing and mildly reducing environments make it applicable to numerous currently defined and many projected hydrometallurgical applications. With titanium's current and projected availability and price stability increased use in pressure leach, piping systems and electrorefining is practical.

Jan 1, 1983

By J. M. Wempen, M. K. McCarter

"Differential Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (DInSAR) is a satellite-based remote sensing technique capable of measuring centimeter-level surface displacement with high spatial resolution over large areas. Regular monitoring of subsidence due to underground mine development is one potential application of DInSAR, and in this study, the application of DInSAR for subsidence monitoring is evaluated for two mining regions in the mountain west of the United States. In general, DInSAR has potential to identify the shape and extent of subsidence; in some cases, magnitudes and rates of subsidence can be defined. Importantly, the effectiveness of DInSAR for subsidence monitoring depends on the radar band (wavelength), the subsidence rate and the time between image acquisitions, and the topographic and vegetative surface characteristics. INTRODUCTION Differential Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (DInSAR) is a satellite-based remote technique that can be used to measure small surface displacements. Under good conditions, centimeter-level displacements can be measured with subcentimeter accuracy (Buckley, 2000; Massonnet and Feigl, 1998). Additionally, DInSAR data have relatively high spatial and temporal resolutions. Pixels in Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images can have a ground resolution as small as about 3 m, and images often include tens to hundreds of thousands of pixels and cover tens of kilometers. Regions are imaged regularly, and periods between images typically range from weeks to months. In DInSAR, phase measurements from two radar images acquired over the same region at different times are used to precisely measure relative distances (Rosen, 2014). Surface deformation, topography, and changes in the satellite position all contribute to differences in the length of the path that the radar wave travels in each image. SAR sensors use radar with relatively long wavelengths; L-band (24 cm wavelength), C-band (6 cm wavelength), and X-band (3 cm wavelength) radar are used most commonly. Because the wavelengths are long, small changes in the path length of the radar signal can be quantified by measuring the change in the phase of the radar signal between the images. In general, changes in the path length due to changes in the satellite position and topography are known or can be estimated, and centimeter-level changes in the path length due to deformation are measurable. This study evaluates the effectiveness of DInSAR for measuring subsidence in two mining regions in the mountain west of the United States. L-band data from the Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS) and X-band data from the TerraSAR-X mission are evaluated. Imaging characteristics, including the radar band and the time between image acquisitions, are important for effective subsidence monitoring."

Jan 1, 2017

By H. Jung, J. Kim, Y. Lee, Y. Seo

"Shale gas has become an increasingly important source of natural gas supply in North America and around the world. Horizontal drilling and multi-stage hydraulic fracturing are the two key enabling technologies for the economic development of these shale gas reservoirs. It is believed that gas in shale reservoirs is mainly composed of free gas within fractures and pores and adsorbed gas in organic matter (kerogen). It is generally assumed in the literature that the monolayer Langmuir isotherm describes gas adsorption behavior in shale gas reservoirs. In this work, we have analyzed several experimental measurements of methane adsorption from the Horn River Shale core samples that obey the Langmuir isotherm. INTRODUCTION In nature, gas shales are characterized by extremely small grain size, extremely low permeability on the order of nano-Darcy (10-6 md), small porosity, and high total organic carbon (TOC). Shale can serve as both source and reservoir rock. The amount of gas in place in shale is strongly affected by the TOC, clays, and the adsorption ability of methane on the internal surface of solid (Martin et al., 2010). Since a considerable amount of gas in shale reservoirs is adsorbed, investigation of gas adsorption can provide critical insights into evaluation of well performance and reservoir characterization. Generally, natural gas in shale reservoirs is stored as free gas in both larger mineral pores and natural fractures, as well as adsorbed gas within organic matter (Leahy-Dios et al., 2011). EXPERIMENT METHOD & THEORY Adsorption Experiment Several experiments were carried out on 9 shale core samples obtained in a vertical well drilled within Horn River basin (Figure 1). The CH4 adsorption isotherms were measured for the different depth. In order to measure the amount of adsorbed gas, the high pressure Belsorp-HP equipment applying volumetric method was used. The temperature was kept at 298 K and pressure was increased up to 18 MPa. Approximately 5 g of crushed sample was used for each measurement."

Jan 1, 2016

By S.K. SHARMA, ANKUSH GALAV, G.S.P. SINGH

This paper proposes a hydromechanically coupled numerical modeling approach to quantify the influence of various parameters on the mechanical and hydraulic performance of protective water barrier pillars (PWBP). The results are validated for two case studies having pillar widths of 16 and 42 m at cover depths of 136 and 190 m and water heads of 25 and 141 m. The outcome can be significantly helpful in the rational design of these pillars in underground coal mines.

Mar 1, 2023

By H. Y. Sohn

The paper discusses two processes, flash ironmaking technology (FIT) and moving-bed ironmaking technology (MBIT), which aim to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in the ironmaking industry by using concentrate directly without pelletizing and without using coke.

Aug 1, 2023

By M. Karmis

"The process of coal mining, as indeed of the mining of any stratified mineral, is inevitably followed by some degree of sinking of the superjacent strata and consequently of the surface." Royal Commission on Mining Subsidence, Second and Final Report, London, 1927. INTRODUCTION The above statement was used to describe mining subsidence in the classic report of the "Royal Commission on Mining Subsidence," published in 1927. In fact, this phenomenon has been recognized in Britain since the early fifteenth century, as revealed from court records of disputes and litigations related to property damage above mine workings (Shadbolt, 1978). The first attempts to investigate and analyze the mechanisms associated with mining subsidence, however, date back to the 1800's and were pursued by Belgian Engineers. This research effort was initiated as a result of the widespread movements and subsequent structural damage suffered by the City of Liege in the 1820's. The most notable achievement of the Belgian school of that era was he publication of Gonot's treatise "Loie de la Normal" in 1871 (Gongt, 1871).

Jan 1, 1982

By Raymond W. Peterson

The practice of Countertrade and all of its variations has increased dramatically during the last five years in great part due to the worsening world economic situation and the Third World's increasing debt problems. Conventional wisdom has held that the goods finding their way into countertrade will tend to be manufactured goods of ever increasing value added. It is my contention that this has not been the case. The continued depression of most metals and minerals prices has conspired to keep a great number of metals and raw materials in the forefront of countertrade negotiations. The concept that if a country needs hard currency it will simply sell metals into world markets for cash has been significantly modified by countertrade which encourages subsidies for raw materials which are in turn funded by higher prices for the manufactured goods which the country must import. Countertrade is a term that is relatively new to most of us who have been involved in the international trade of metals and minerals, but it is one that we will continue to hear more of in the future. Countertrade as it is generally known today had its beginnings after the Second World War in Eastern Europe. As the shattered economies of Europe struggled to right themselves, a "cashless" system of trade developed. This system included such ancient concepts as barter as well as more modern ones like bilateral clearing agreements. For over 30 years countertrade was confined mainly to the COMECON nations and their various trade protocols with Third World nations. If metals and minerals were involved, there was little disruption of world markets by such examples as Cuba shipping ferronickel and sugar cane to the U.S.S.R. for a host of manufactured goods and oil. As the world's economy began to slow in the late 70's and the debt crisis began in earnest in the early 801s, this all began to change. As more and more nations which had previously been almost totally dependent upon their mineral wealth over-extended themselves in an attempt to industralize, they concurrently found their income from minerals falling, due to the decreased demand and subsequently lower prices available in the marketplace. At first these nations attempted to balance their payments by promoting the sales of their high value-added manufactured goods. We have all heard numerous examples of U.S. companies going to sell their high technology products in Rumania or Yugoslavia and being confronted with counterpurchase requirements for machine tools, shoes or drill bits. When faced with these demands, a number of companies chose not to sell into those markets while others merrily signed up the obligations without much intent to carry them out. The Performance Bonds required were generally minimal, especially when considered in light of the high margin inherent in high tech items; and the penalty clauses were equally small or nonexistent. A third group of companies actually tried to buy the machine tools or drill bits either for their own internal use or resale but found that due to poor quality and high prices, they were faced with a difficult if not impossible task. This is not to say that no one was able to fulfill a countertrade requirement, but the success ratio on these transactions was incredibly low. This was one of the major contributing factors to the reputation that countertrade has gained as a discipline ... "that it is mostly talk and very little action." As this situation slowly evolved, both the countries imposing the countertrade obligation and the exporters assuming the obligation began to realize that something

Jan 1, 1986

By E. D. Attanasi

The US mining industry finished the traumatic 1980s with a strong economic performance. Worldwide economic growth and capital spending led to tight metal markets. So, 1989 metals prices were generally higher than average 1988 prices. Financial markets' volatility resulted from US junk bond defaults, heavy US savings and loan losses and effects on the US budget deficit, higher energy prices, and the seemingly intractable problems of some debtor countries. Moreover, the events in Eastern Europe promise fundamental changes in the world economic system for the 1990s. US mining companies that survived the decade had weathered economic changes that, at one point, reduced industry employment by 40%, drove oil companies to divest or liquidate recently acquired mineral subsidiaries, and led to substantial write-offs of reserves. Canadian and other international minerals firms experienced similar industry upheavels. The forced modernization and capacity rationalization produced an internationally competitive US industry. For example, even though 1989 US copper production was 27% greater than in 1980, industry employment was less than half the 1980 level. The steel industry and other minerals industries showed similar productivity improvements.

Jan 1, 1990

By T. W. Meikle

Three nutrient amendments and a biological seed inoculant were evaluated for use in establishing vegetative cover on waste rock substrates. Randomized blocks were placed on three substrates. Treatments included two types of organic fertilizer, mineral fertilizer, Azospirillum bacterial inoculant, plus controls. The seed mix consisted of native grass species adapted to low nutrient conditions. Canopy cover has been monitored for three growing seasons. Results indicate: 1) two of three substrates support plant growth following amendment with organic fertilizers; 2) organic fertilizers increase cover substantially over mineral fertilizer; and 3) Azospirillum had no effect on canopy cover.

Jan 1, 1999

By R. E. Williams

University of Idaho scientists research under U.S. Bureau of Mines Cooperative Agreement C0278001 constitutes a complex hydrogeological, hydrochemical and metallurgical mine waste management project at an existing Superfund site. Technologies that may prove useful for the extraction of dissolved metals from acid mine water and solid wastes include lixiviation and biosorption. Acid mine water is the major, long-term problem in the valley. We are attempting to delineate the major sources of ground water recharge which feed the acid mine drainage and their hydraulic properties. Grouting of recharge areas may facilitate minimizing the production of acid mine drainage if recharge pathways can be identified.

Jan 1, 1990

By Lester A. D. Chin

The cost of bauxite is a multiple of the Bauxite Consumption Factor and the Unit Cost of Bauxite, and is a major cost item at most alumina plants. Bauxite Consumption Factor can be reduced by increasing alumina recovery during processing. Unrecovered aluminas are analyzed and possible research identified, using the framework below: 1. [Unextracted Aluminas] 1.1 Aluminous goethite 1.2 Boehmitic alumina 1.3 Diasporic aluminas 2. [Chemically-Bound Aluminas] 2.1 Desilication product 2.2 Phosphorus precipitate 2.3 Solid-phase lime-reaction products 3. [Alumina Reprecipitated on Red Mud] 3.1 Red mud separation and washing 4. [Physical Loss] 4.1 Liquor 4.2 Alumina dust

Jan 1, 1984

By Haydn H. Murray

Since the advent of machine coated paper in the mid 1930's, the kaolin industry has had a remarkable growth, In 1935 the domestic production of kaolin was 500, 000 tons and in 1970 the estimated production was in excess of 3. 5 million tons. The process industries which use kaolin most extensively are paper, rubber, paint, ceramics, plastics, catalyst manufacturers, ink, and pharmaceutical. The paper industry is by far the largest consumer of kaolin using approximately 70 per cent of the total tonnage mined and beneficiated. Up until 1970 the major kaolin producers were able to expand rapidly enough to supply the demand but for the first time in thirty years the demand is expected to be in excess of mining and beneficiation capacity through at least 1975. The major reason for this is the expansion of coated paper production in Europe and Japan. Two areas supply the lion's share of kaolin for the world markets. These are the Cornwall area in extreme southwestern England and a limited area of Georgia and South Carolina in the southeastern U. S. The English kaolins are primary - (found in decomposed granite) whereas the Georgia-South Carolina kaolins are secondary - (found in lenticular, continuous beds in the Tuscaloosa formation of Cretaceous age. ) The English kaolins are mined by hydraulic methods whereas the Georgia-South Carolina kaolins are mined by dragline or shovel and benefidated by using a wet process for the majority of the production and/or a dry

Jan 1, 1971