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By A. J. Potgieter, C. Hill, A. Humpel, D. S. Magudulela, V. Scholtz, A. Coetzee

Keywords: Pyrometallurgy, long steel products, coke, sinter, blast furnace, steel plant Located in Northern KwaZulu Natal, Mittal Steel South Africa Newcastle works produces roughly 1.8 million tons per annum, supplying long steel products, locally and overseas. The great extent of local raw material availability and low conversion cost ensures that Mittal Steel South Africa is among the lowest cost, high quality producers of steel. MSSA Newcastle works can be subdivided into two main sections: The iron making side, comprising the coke ovens, sinter plant and blast furnace, and the steel making side, comprising the basic oxygen furnace, ladle furnace, continuous casters, and the medium, rod, and bar mills.

Jan 1, 2006

By M. W. Grabinsky, B. D. Thompson

ABSTRACT: Use of cemented paste backfill (CPB) offers economic and environmental advantages over other backfill methods. However, many operations have limited knowledge of how their CPB behaves in situ. Therefore, to avoid over-pressuring containment barricades, backfilling strategies necessarily tend to be conservative. In situ monitoring at Barrick Gold Corporation’s Williams Mine and Inmet Mining Corporation’s Cayeli Mine has been conducted and factors controlling barricade pressures are demonstrated, including rise rates, binder content, stope geometry, and tailings properties. The application of barricade pressure monitoring on a stope-by-stope basis can increase backfilling efficiency and, thus, reduce stope cycle times, while maintaining optimal safety.

Jan 1, 2011

By O. A. Orumwense

The liberation of intimately disseminated impurities from the coal matrix often demands that the material be ground to a high degree of fineness. Similarly, some technologies for coal utilization require superfine particles (i.e., sizes less than ten microns). This implies additional costs for coal preparation plants due to the high energy and media costs associated with fine grinding operations. Besides, there are problems such as sever product contaminations due to media wear and impairment of the quality of coal. Hence, proper choice of grinding media type is important from the viewpoints of cost reduction and product quality.

Jan 1, 1993

"In sum, significant benefits to mine worker health have resulted and should continue to result from the synergistic scientific, engineering, and medical research in respirable dust. As always, an important objective is the rapid dissemination of the results of this research to industry. Video tapes and the Technology News series published by the United States Bureau of Mines (USBM) have been a very effective means of technology transfer. Individual no-cost subscriptions to the Technological News series are available from the Bureau of Mines, Branch of Technology Transfer, 2401 E St., N.W. Washington, DC, 20241.Two respirable dust conferences have been jointly sponsored by the Center, USBM, NIOSH, and MSHA. The proceedings from these conferences are titled:1. Coal Mine Dust Conference held in Morgantown, West Virginia on October 8-10, 1984 and2. Respirable Dust in the Mineral Industries: Health Effects, Characterization and Control held in University Park, Pa. on October 14-16, 1986.Copies of the proceedings from the first conference are available from the National Technical Information Service (NTIS):National Technical Information Service5285 Port Royal RoadSpringfield, VA 22161NTIS # PB86-169380Telephone Number: (703)487-4650Copies of the second conference proceedings, ISBN: 0-936712-76-7 (publication #3010), are available from ACGIH by writing toWilliam D. KelleyExecutive Director, A.C.G.I.H.6500 Glenway Avenue, Building D-FCincinnati, Ohio 45211Telephone Number: (513)661-7881During the period 1984-1987 more than sixty-four (64) papers and publications have been produced by the Center researchers. These publications have appeared in scientific journals and have been presented at national and international symposiums and meetings. A list of these papers, organized by topical headings, has been included in this publication.The generic center maintains a reference center that serves as a clearinghouse for technical information for the generic area and supplies reports on generic center accomplishments."

Nov 1, 1988

By J. M. King

A crucial step in the acquisition by one company of the assets of another, the acquisition of the stock of another company, or the merger of two com-ponies, is the legal due diligence which needs to be performed in order for the acquirer to ascertain or confirm the obligations, liabilities and exposures to risk that are being assumed along with the assets or corporate stock being acquired. Where the obligations, liabilities, or exposures to risk arise from existing contracts, or from pending lawsuits, administrative proceedings, or threats of these actions, those matters are relatively straightforward to discover by careful review of the files of the party whose assets or stock is being acquired. However, where a company is engaged in ongoing mining or processing operations and has operated or owned mining proper-. ties, there are many sources of liability and exposure to risk which could have major adverse economic consequences to the acquiring party and which are not revealed, or at least are not clearly delineated, by the records of the company whose stock or assets are being acquired.

Jan 1, 1990

By Florian Kongoli

Converters have been playing an important role in the extraction and processing of metals ever since the first type of converter was invented about 100 years ago. Historically their operation has been mainly based on the experience of talented operators rather than on strict control and optimization technologies. However, in the new realities of unavoidable necessity to increase productivity and in the conditions of diversification of primary materials from various geographical areas, improving control and optimization techniques have become indispensable. In this paper a review of the authors? previous work in terms of improving control and optimization of converter operational practices related to magnetite content and precipitation, slag and metal blows, problematic and dangerous elements such as As, Sb etc. has been described by highlighting the advantages that the new control and optimization methods and tools bring to everyday converter practices. Several examples are given and future work is underlined

Jan 1, 2005

By Susana Marraccini Giampietri Lebrão, Jorge Alberto Soares Tenório, Renato Souza e Silva, Guilherme Wolf Lebrão, Viviane Tavares de Moraes

Os resíduos eletroeletrônicos podem ser compostos por equipamentos ou parte deles, que se tornaram obsoletos, pararam de funcionar ou ainda por apresentar defeitos durante a sua produção. As placas de circuito impresso (PCIs) são peças presentes em equipamentos eletroeletrônicos compostos por materiais metálicos, cerâmicos e poliméricos. Para alguns destes metais já existem processos para recuperação, contudo estes processos baseiam-se em técnicas pirometalúrgicas que podem liberar substâncias tóxicas. A fim de minimizar os impactos ambientais propõe-se o beneficiamento das PCIs através de rota hidrometalúrgica para a obtenção de cobre em solução e, posteriormente fazer a redução do cobre. Para tanto se fez a moagem das PCIs, seguida de caracterização química. Partiu-se para rota hidrometalúrgica em meio ácido e em meio oxidante. A solução resultante de cobre foi reduzida para cobre metálico por reação de redução com ácido ascórbico. Os resultados apresentam recuperação de 97 % de cobre das PCIs com obtenção de cobre metálico.

Oct 11, 2019

By R. C. Hubli

A chemical model has been developed to investigate the dissolution of sulphide minerals in brine solutions containing copper and iron chlorides. The model has been employed to study the dissolution .of synthetic NiS using different initial concentrations of Cu(II), Cu(I), Fe(III) and temperature. The speciation of copper with particular reference to the formation of hydroxy-chlorides as a function of total chloride and H+ has been computed. The model predictions are in agreement with experimental results. It has been found that addition of Fe(III) results in the maintenance of a high Cu(II)/Cu(I) ratio leading to enhanced rates of dissolution and suppresses the loss of Cu(II) due to the formation of hydroxyl-complexes.

Jan 1, 1997

By J. Engelbrecht

South Africa?s re-entry into the fast moving and competitive global economy calls for some careful strategic planning and a good deal of co-operation between suppliers and end-users. The issues that need addressing are generally well known and include: ?South Africa was ranked 45th out of 46 i.r.o. productivity ?SMMEs contribute 1% to exports compared to 40-60% for the ?tigers? ?High unemployment ?Limited skills of the majority of workers ?Slow growth rate of the economy ?The vast majority of suppliers are not world-class ?The vast majority of suppliers are not export or marketing orientated. In order to survive, all parties, i.e. government, labour and business, will have to play their part.

Jan 1, 1999

By Alfonso Ballón

La producción de hierro por medio del alto horno se realiza en condiciones limitadas en lo que refiere al combustible reductor coque, ya que necesita mayores proporciones de materias volátiles en los carbones originarios. Por ello, la presente investigación remarca la importancia del uso del horno eléctrico de reducción o de cuba baja, como unidad metalúrgica más idónea para producir arrabio de variadas cualidades. Asimismo la aplicación de este horno, permite extender su producción en la industria siderúrgica de algunos paises europeos y asiáticos, y por qué no dentro de América Latina.

Jun 20, 1954

Exploration of new resources and development of new equipment and designs are an ever changing facet of mining. New equipment to handle specialized operations is being developed and new techniques for its use explored. One such system is reviewed. Another is a potential system for handling the thinner stray coal seams between the more profitable thick seams. The availability of federal coal leases in the West is reviewed and current planning discussed. Gulf Coast lignites have been of much interest in recent months and are overviewed.

Jan 1, 1979

By D Crequer

A Peer Review Panel for the Golden Cross Mine in the upperWaitekauri Valley, Coromandel was initiated in December 1989, before mining, as a requirement of the conditions of the Mining Licence and Water Rights. The panel's function is as a technical audit and advisory team - to provide independent technical review of design, construction, and execution of mining operations, slope remediation works, and reclamation/mine closure activities. The primary role of the panel is to act in the public interest by providing assurance to regulating authorities that the design and application of on-site mining operations accords with 'good industry practice'. Panellists are not involved in design nor as advisers, although until 1997 when explicit terms of reference were written, the panellists were a sounding board for some operational proposals. The panel functions to ensure that best mining industry technical standards are met. The costs of the peer review process are met by the mining company. Review of mining operations includes environmental matters such as land rehabilitation and water quality. The focus of this paper is on the process of peer review for environmental management factors rather than for structural and mine engineering.

Jan 1, 1998

By R. E. Fryxell, E. C. Duderstadt, P. K. Conn

Permeation rates for nitrogen through are-cast tungsten were measured in the temperature range 1800° to 2600°C at nitrogen pressure differentials of 1.0 and 0.1 atm. Gas chromatography was used to measure the quantities of nitrogen which permeated through 0.26-and 0.53-mm-thick membranes. Permeation rates were proportional to the difference between the square roots of the nitrogen pressure on each side of the membrane and inversely proportional to membrane thickness, indicating that atomic nitrogen was the difjusing species and that diffusion was the rate-limiting step of the process. Permeation coefficients calculated from the rates may be represented by the equation: where P is expressed in the units cu cm (stP)-mm per 1/2 sq cm-min-atm"' and 70.0 * 0.8 is the activation energy in kcal per mole of permeating species. In a previous paper' permeation rates were reported for hydrogen and for oxygen through tungsten. The permeation cells used for the hydrogen measurements were suitable for measuring nitrogen permeation under similar conditions, so the study was extended to include nitrogen. Permeation rates of nitrogen through the polycrys-talline arc-cast tungsten membranes were measured in the temperature range 1800" to 2600°C using two membrane thicknesses and two nitrogen pressure differentials. Permeation coefficients were calculated and the activation energy of the process determined. THEORY For diatomic gases which dissociate prior to diffusion, the quantity of gas which permeates through a membrane or wall at an elevated temperature where bulk diffusion is the rate-limiting step of the process is given by the equation: where: q = total amount of gas permeating a membrane, P = temperature-dependent permeation coefficient, A = area of membrane, t = time, p1 = gas pressure of high-pressure side, p2 = gas pressure of low-pressure side, and d = thickness of membrane. When bulk diffusion is the rate-controlling step, and the solubility of the gas obeys Henry's law, a further relationship is that, for any given temperature and pressure, the permeation is the product of diffusivity and the amount in solution. The permeation coefficient, P, is temperature-dependent according to the equation: where: Po = permeation constant, Q = activation energy, R = gas constant, and T = absolute temperature. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES Cell Design and Experimental Apparatus. Two of the permeation cells used for the previous measurements of hydrogen permeation are shown in Fig. 1. Each consisted of a cylindrical chamber divided into two parts by a permeation membrane fabricated from high-purity (>99.9 pct W) wrought tungsten sheet made from vacuum arc-cast tungsten. The membrane in one cell was 0.26 mm thick and the other was 0.53 mm. The fabrication of these cells was described previously.' The permeation cells were mounted vertically in a high-temperature tungsten resistance furnace and the membranes and the center portions heated to test temperatures. Temperatures were measured by sighting an optical pyrometer on the edge of the membrane through a small hole in a tungsten plate which was fastened to the side of the cell. This arrangement provided an approximate black-body condition and eliminated the need for emittance corrections. Appropriate corrections were made for the quartz window through which the temperatures were measured. Argon gas flowed through the 10-liter volume of the furnace at the rate of 4.7 liters per min. An impurity

Jan 1, 1969

By Segnit ER, Jensen G

The decoppering of soft and hard leads was investigated by stirring in an open pot, using sulfur or sulfur plus pyrites, or sulfur plus pyrrhotite, as reagents. Lead samples taken during the process were analysed for copper. Dross samples were examined by optical micro- scope, SEM and XRD. Soft lead containing silver can be decoppered satisfactorily by stirring with 0.1% S at low temperatures - close to 330¦C. Soft lead, whether containing silver or not, can be decoppered satisfactorily at higher temperatures by stirring with 0.1% S plus 0.4% pyrites. Then CuFeS2, Cu5FeS4 and PbS are formed, instead of Cu2S, CuS and PbS when using S alone. Hard lead containing tin can be decoppered satisfactorily by stirring with 0.1% S at temperatures from 320-400¦C. When stirring with 0.1% S plus 0.4% pyrites, reversion of copper from dross to lead on prolonged stirring does not occur. Hard lead without tin can be decoppered with S plus pyrites better than with S alone, but the presence of antimony hinders the decoppering, which is less effective on lead with 5.5% Sb than with 2.3% Sb.

Jan 1, 1980

By Claude Hubert, Alex C. Brown, Pascal Marquis, D. M. Rigg

"Numerous studies of the Bousquet mining district, Abitibi, Quebec, mainly following the successive discoveries of new gold deposits over the past two decades, have led to a broad range of genetic hypotheses for their gold deposition. A compilation of petrographic, structural, and geochemical data indicates that the gold deposits are composed chiefly of pyritic schists derived from felsic and mafic volcanic and volcaniclastic protoliths, and of auriferous massive pyrite hosted by pyritic schists of felsic affinity. The deposits are typically located within zones of local pyrite enrichment and advanced-argillic alteration which are in turn enclosed within much larger zones of disseminated pyrite included in regional-scale, commonly anastomosing, zones of sericitic alteration.Overprinting relationships between three sets of folds and foliations indicate that the host-rocks of the gold deposits have retained the imprint of three successive generations of ductile deformation resulting from regional dynamothermal metamorphism. Sericitic and advanced-argillic alteration, together with massive sulphide deposition, are interpreted to have taken place prior to the onset of the ductile deformation, based on observations 1) of altered fragments of wallrocks which are enclosed within massive sulphide bodies and were thus preserved through regional metamorphism, 2) of the syntectonic deformed pyrite, and3) of the syn-tectonic porphyroblasts of andalusite, garnet and plagioclase. The orebodies are oblate to prolate, and the pyrite-gold mineralization is typically vein-type, distributed in foliation-oblique and foliation-parallel veins. The gold-bearing structures postdate all foliations, and are associated with retrograde alteration assemblages that are pseudomorphic after pea~-metamorphic porphyroblasts in host-rocks, and with cataclasticfabrics that overprint syn-metamorphic pressure-solution features and annealing fabrics in pyrite.Retrograde gold-bearing assemblages indicate a chemical disequilibrium between the ore-forming fluids and their host rocks. This disequilibrium rules out the possibility that gold was remobilized from its own host, and suggests, instead, that the ore-forming fluids and their metal contents had an allochtonous source. Stable and radiogenic isotope analyses indicate that the fluids had a metamorphic origin, and that the associated alteration took place after the culmination of the Kenoran orogeny."

Jan 1, 1990

By Thomas Novak, Robert Goldstein

The analysis of a machine-luminaire configuration is a time- consuming process requiring the construction of a machine mockup, installation of a designated lighting arrangement, and an extensive set of illumination measurements. This entire process, however, is well suited to computer analysis. By simulating the machine geometry and the characteristics of the desired luminaires, the incident light levels can be calculated at the required set of points. This Bureau of Mines paper presents a general description of the techniques involved in performing this simulation.

By A. J. Kraemer

For a number of years the Bureau of Mines has been conducting an investi-gation of crude petroleum from producing fields in the United States and the Western Hemisphere and has published a series of reports on these fields. Analyses of crude-oil samples from some oil fields of Louisiana are given in Bulletin 291. Analyses Of 26 representative crude oils from various producing formations of southern Louisiana are given in this report. These samples are from 14 fields in 10 parishes in the southern part of the State, usually designated as the "Louisiana Gulf Coast area."

Jan 1, 1934

By George R. Mansfield

INTEREST in the reserves of phosphate rock in the United States and their proper conservation has recently been aroused by hearings held in different parts of the country by the "Joint Committee to investigate the adequacy and use of phosphate resources of the United States." This committee was appointed within a few days after a Presidential message to Congress on the same subject, dated May 20, 1938, and began to function almost immediately. Hearings were held in Washington, D. C., Pocatello, Ida., Wilson Dam, Ala., Knoxville, Tenn., and Lakeland, Fla. The resulting testimony, when published, comprised a volume of 1182 pages.1 At the earlier hearings held in Washington and Idaho the seeming disparity between the great reserves of the West and the smaller reserves in the East led to some suggestions as to the desirability of curtailing or even prohibiting the exportation of phosphate rock so that eastern producers, becoming alarmed, cooperated in making available for the use of the committee information hitherto closely guarded. This information has provided an opportunity for new studies by official agencies, for a restatement of the reserves of Florida and Tennessee, and for some modification of figures for the Western States. The writer, representing the Federal Geological Survey, was given free access to the Florida material and has prepared for publication a report,2 some features of which are summarized in this paper. The Tennessee material was studied by Dr. G. I. Whitlatch,3 of the Tennessee Division of Geology. Prof. J. Stewart Williams,4 of the Utah State Agricultural College at Logan, has published a recent study of the phosphate resources of Utah and the writer has given some further study to reserves of western phosphate from the viewpoint of including material of lower grade than that hitherto considered. Technologic advances in the phosphate industry must be credited with a large share in the expansion of reserves by making available for

Jan 1, 1940

By Mauro Vivaldino Fernandes

Os desafios para o aprimoramento do desempenho operacional dos altos-fornos constituem um campo aberto para o desenvolvimento e aplicação de métodos de controle que promovam a otimização da operação do reator, aliada ao prolongamento da sua vida útil. O Alto-Forno 3 da Usiminas - Ipatinga, nesta sua 4ª campanha, foi projetado para 15 anos de operação, com uma produção estimada de 41 milhões de toneladas de gusa. Os resultados da campanha atual, em termos de produção e de duração da campanha, superam os dados projetados. Neste contexto, são apresentadas as principais características do Alto-Forno 3 na sua atual campanha, a evolução do seu desempenho em termos de produtividade e tempo de operação, além das principais ações direcionadas para a preservação e estabilidade do sistema de refrigeração e do cadinho, contribuindo para o prolongamento da sua vida útil. Como resultado destes esforços, a vida útil estimada do Alto-Forno 3 é de 22 anos, superando em 7 anos a duração prevista.

Oct 30, 2017

By D van der Merwe

Tracers of known densities are used world wide in coal processing plants to evaluate plant performance. Tracers are added to the feed stream and are counted after being recovered from the product and discard streams to determine partition curves. The need to recover the tracers can be eliminated by adding radio frequency identification tags to the tracers. Readers mounted on the product and discard streams record the passing RF tracers and produce the partition curve instantly. Tests were performed with three different shaped tracers at different collieries on cyclones ranging from 510mm to 800mm in diameter. Sink and float analyses of coal samples were used to compare conventional partition curves to partition curves obtained by using RF tracers. The average amount of tracers recorded was 78% of tracers in the feed. The results indicate that the stone shaped tracers represent the results from the sink-float analyses the best. The results suggest that RF tracers can be used to evaluate cyclone circuits in the coal industry and will make it possible to evaluate a coal circuit?s efficiency without stopping a plant and waiting for laboratory analyses. Keywords Coal tracers, partition curve, radio frequency tracer, RFID

Jan 1, 2006