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By MATTHEW HART, THOMAS BAMFORD, Kamran Esmaeili, MICHAL KOWALCZYK, FILIP MEDINAC

Improved haul-road conditions can have a positive impact on mine operations, resulting in heightened safety, productivity gains, longer tire life and lower maintenance costs. For these reasons, a monitoring program is required to ensure the operational efficiency of the haul roads. Currently, at Bald Mountain Mine, monthly site severity studies, ad hoc inspections by frontline supervisors or operator feedback reporting are used to assess road conditions. These methods are subjective and provide low temporal resolution data. This case study presents novel unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technologies, applied on a critical section of haul road at Bald Mountain, to showcase the potential for monitoring haul roads. The results show that orthophotos and digital elevation models can be used to assess the road smoothness condition and to check the road design compliance. Moreover, the aerial mapping allows detection of surface water, rock spillage and potholes on the road that can be quickly repaired/removed by the dedicated road maintenance team.

By Daniel Harrington

For several years the United States Bureau of Mines has been making a study of ventilation in metal mines, this study covering practically all the important mining districts of the country. One of the districts where a close and extended study was made was that of Butte, Mont., with its numerous interesting problems and conditions. In February, 1916, Daniel Harrington, mining engineer of the United States Bureau of Mines, was detailed to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of 21 men in the fire at the Pennsylvania mine at Butte, and during that investigation he made underground visits to several of the large mines through the courtesy of the mine operators, and became much interested in the ventilation conditions. In May, 1916, Mr. Harrington was detailed te work in cooperation with Dr. A. J. Lanza of the United States Public Health Service in an investigation of the prevalence and causes of miners' consumption in the district. This work broadened so much that the investigation was not completed until late in 1918, the investigators making a detailed inspection of all working places in four large mines and a more or less extended examination of conditions in about 20 other mines. Ventilation was recognized immediately as being an important factor in the health of miners, and from the outset of the investigation a large part of the work consisted in obtaining and compiling data relative to the flow of air, humidity, and temperature. The officialsof the North Butte mine were engaged in making a study of ventilation problems before the coming of the investigators, so that opportunity was given to work with those officials for several months. Detailed data on air flow, temperatures, humidities, and an analyses had been obtained before the fire in the North Butte mine June 8, 1917, which resulted in the loss of 163 lives. Much information was obtained during the progress of the fire, and a detailed examination was conducted after the fire, hence an exceptional opportunity existed to study conditions relating to ventilation. This bulletin is a result of studies made from the data collected during the two and one-half years of study and observation a-boveoutlined. Its publication has been delayed through lack of funds for printing. Other publications relative to metal mine ventilation -in other parts of the United States are expected to follow.

Jan 1, 1923

By Michael Mancuso

This report summarizes the problems of topsail handling as related to present requirements of law and current equipment availability. The most prevalent topsoiling systems are reviewed along with a listing of advantages/disadvantages and best features of each system. Seven mining regions are included, along with an analysis of prevailing land use, types of soils and attendant physical, chemical am biological characteristics. There are several probable areas of future research "lined which can benefit mining, minimize the social impact of mined lands and speed the return of mined lands to more productive long-term use.

Jan 1, 1981

By W. L. Dare

This publication is one of a series prepared by the Federal Bureau of Mines on methods and costs of producing uranium ore on the Colorado Plateau. The information it contains was gathered in 1955-58 and applies to eight small operations. (See fig. 1.) Mining costs have increased since the data were I collected, but the information should be helpful in estimating future costs I at similar deposits. The Bureau of Mines had early experience in the production of carnotite-type ores on the Colorado Plateau.3 4/ Under a cooperative agreement with the National Radium Institute in 1914-16, the Bureau mined and concentrated carnotite ore for recovery of radium, uranium, and vanadium. The ore was taken from claims in or near Long Park Montrose County, Colo., about 3 mi. south of La Salle Mining Co.'s La Salle mine, which is one of the mines described in this report. The Bureau leased the claims from Crucible Steel Mining & Milling Co., a subsidiary of Crucible Steel Co. of America, and from 1914 to 1916 produced 990 tons of high-grade ore, containing 2.6 pct. U308, and about 2,000 tons of mill-grade ore, containing 0.85 pct. U308. The high-grade ore was shipped directly to a radium-recovery plant built in Denver in 1914 under the cooperative agreement. There, commercial methods of extracting uranium, vanadium, and radium from carnotite ores were developed by Bureau personnel. The lower grade ore was concentrated at a small mill in Long Park before being shipped to Denver. The final recovery was 69,000 lb. of U308 and 8.8 g. of radium. The direct mining cost of producing the high-grade ore, including the labor to hand sort and sack it, was $35.96 per ton. Freighting the ore 58 miles to Placerville, Colo., the nearest rail point on the Rio Grande Southern Railway, cost $25.28 per ton, which included $4.55 per ton for ore bags and twine. Four-or six-horse teams pulled two wagons in tandem and made the

Jan 1, 1961

By Frances H. Clark

DEVELOPMENTS in powder metallurgy have been disappointing in 1943. If any new part has gone into large-scale production, knowledge of it has been restricted by considerations of national security. Nor have any outstanding papers appeared to advance the theory of the subject during this period.

Jan 1, 1944

"1 INTRODUCTIONThe use of nondestructive testing (NDT) methods to evaluate the integrity of Augered Cast-in-Place (ACIP) and Drilled Displacement (DD) piles has been a subject of significant debate among engineers, contractors and NDT practitioners. This guideline document will illustrate the importance of reviewing all available information in conjunction with the NDT records. ACIP and DD piles have unique properties that must be considered when using a specific NDT method. Any evaluation of the integrity of an ACIP or DD pile must also include a thorough review of the detailed pile installation records and the site specific soil conditions. Long or theoretical descriptions of the methods have not been included in this publication. More detailed information about these NDT methods including their theoretical and historical backgrounds can be found in DFI’s Manual for Non Destructive Testing and Evaluation of Drilled Shafts (2004). Additional information can also be found in the more comprehensive textbook Nondestructive Testing of Deep Foundations by Hertlein and Davis (2006).1.1 PurposeThe intent of this guideline is to provide practical guidance for the proper interpretation of NDT results on ACIP and DD piles. Short descriptions of the main integrity methods available are provided along with several examples of how to use all of the information available to make sound engineering judgments about the results. This publication is a state-of-the-practice guideline to promote accurate engineering evaluations.For engineers inexperienced with NDT, these guidelines provide sufficient background information on NDT methods to help understand the limitations of the testing, assess the results presented to them, and formulate appropriate questions. This is particularly important for engineers charged with the responsibility to determine from those results what, if any, consequences there may be on the performance of the structure under construction."

Jan 1, 2016

By Kevin Malone

Mercury, or quicksilver as it is often called, has many applications in modern technology. Used principally in electrical apparatus, industrial contol instruments, insecticides and fungicides, electrolytic preparation of chlorine and caustic soda, chemical processes, pharmaceuticals, and dental preparations, the liquid metal has unusual properties that make it a preferred material for many industrial uses. United States consumption of mercury during the past 40 years shows a rising trend. In all except 4 years, U.S. production has been less than the domestic requirement, and imports, principally from Spain, Italy, and Mexico, have supplied most of the deficit. After World War II, domestic output decreased rapidly until 1950, when it was the lowest in the 100 years covered by production records. Higher mercury prices since 1950 have reversed the decline in domestic output and reduced the gap between U.S. production and consumption. Domestic output in 1958 was the highest in peacetime since 1883; however, the nation still imported 28 percent of its mercury requirements from 1950 to 1960 the price of mercury was high as a result of industrial applications of the mercury cell, the impact of the cold war and the Korean war, and the Government stockpiling program. The stockpiling program, in effect, put a floor under mercury prices even though only 9,428 flasks of domestic mercury went into the stockpile under the original program which ran from July 1954 to December 31, 1957. Under an extension of the program, an additional 17,463 flasks was purchased.

Jan 1, 1962

By William Gleason

While a fleet of 100 t (110 st) haul trucks were busy removing overburden from the open pit mine in the distance, a host of dignitaries, including congressmen and California state representatives, gathered for Molycorp?s official groundbreaking ceremony at the Mountain Pass Mine on April 20. The mine, recognized as arguably one of the richest rare earths deposits in the world, is at the center of Molycorps? strategic ?Mine to Magnets? plan. It aims to secure America?s future supply of rare-earth-dependent technologies by developing a strong domestic rare earth industry. Molycorp identifies rare-earth-dependent technologies as those that cannot be produced without rare earth materials. The list of these technologies is long and growing. It encompasses everything from personal electronics and batteries for hybrid cars to permanent magnet generator wind turbines and national defense applications.

Jan 1, 2011

By Thomas C. Atchison

The purpose of this Bureau of Mines investigation was to measure the amplitude and shape of the strain pulse and the size of the crushed zone produced in a granite by different explosives and to determine how these quantities are related to the detonation properties of the explosives. The reflection theory of rock breakage has shown that the amplitude and shape of the strain pulse incident at a free surface determine the fragmentation and volume of rock broken. Determination of the properties of an explosive that control the characteristics of the strain pulse produced in the rock will help in evaluating explosives for use in blasting. The investigation showed the different explosives produced a twofold variation in the amplitude of the strain pulse but little variation in the shape of the pulse. The explosives also produced a twofold variation in the volume of the crushed zone, but differences among the explosives were more accurately determined by strain-amplitude measurements than by crushed-zone measurements. The peak amplitude of the strain pulse and the volume of the crushed zone correlated with the calculated detonation pressure of the explosive.

Jan 1, 1959

By Reinhardt Thiessen

"INTRODUCTION Coal is a complex substance consisting of many different constituents representing many chemical compounds, very few of which are known. It is homo genetic, however, in that it is derived almost entirely from plants. But plants as a whole are complex, being composed of a large number of tissues, each consisting of a large number of cells in a great number of arrangements and composed of a number of chemical compounds in great variety of proportions, and enclosing a large number of waste products representing a large number of' chemical compounds as cell contents. Coal should therefore be expected to be a very complex substance.That coals are formed from plants is no longer debated, but the manner in which coal was formed from the plants leaves many problems still unsolved. However, in general it is now conceded that all coals of all ranks and ages had their origin in deposits completely analogous to our peat deposits of today and that coal formation is a process that runs through the whole series, beginning with peat, and through, the various ranks of lignite, subbituminous, high-, medium-, and low-volatile bituminous, semianthracite, and anthracite in a related chain. In the study of coal, it is therefore of the utmost importance to study and to know not only the plants contributing but .also the manner in which they are transformed into the substances forming the deposits. It is therefore of the greatest value to review briefly the formation of :,eat as it is known today, and to inquire into the facts as to what plants contribute to peat, what parts and products prevail, what are the chemical compounds that enter and which prevail."

Jun 1, 1947

By F. W. Bradley

GOLD is a large subject. One could talk about its geological or mineralogical occurrences, prospect- i11.g for it, mining of .it, its metallurgy or its marketing; but I have decided to limit my discussion to gold as a business-that is, to its production and marketing. In the production of gold, it is necessary to consider the many possible sources, the quantities available, the capital and operating costs and the chances of price-breaking competition. So in the following remarks I shall endeavour to point out that though gold is found in every formation constituting the earth's crust, though it is possible to-find it free in great concentrated placer deposits on the surface, though there are still large unprospected areas of both the surface and the crust, though it may be possible to produce it by the cheapest labor on earth, and by processes not as yet developed, it still has an unlimited market at a definite price. There is no reasonable fear of disturbance by the finding of bountiful deposits, or by cheapening the cost of production due to devaluation, or by the development of any easy processes for direct, or for by product, production.

Jan 1, 1932

By H. W. Gillett, G. M. JAMES

In its work on mineral wastes the Bureau of Mines is studying losses in the melting of nonferrous metals and alloys. The greatest of these losses is that of zinc through volatilization in brass melting, but another and considerable loss is that of aluminum and its alloys in the melting of finely divided material. In order to get some idea of the magnitude of the loss in melting aluminum scrap and to find out what methods of melting were used information was gathered in regard to present practice; also experiments were conducted to obtain some data on the relative merits of different methods. As the experiments could be made on a laboratory scale only, they were not expected to solve the problem entirely, the object in making them being rather-by indicating which methods were of greater promise-to narrow the field over which largescale tests and comparisons need be made by those commercially nterested in the problem of melting scrap aluminum.

Jan 1, 1916

By F. Fraas

ELECTROSTATIC methods are used to separate and concentrate or purify granular particles derived from ores or various synthetic and agricultural products. Compared with other separation methods that require many technological refinements, the electrostatic attraction of fibers, grass, and seeds to charged surfaces clan be accomplished under the most primitive circumstances, and the early development of this method of beneficiation seemed very promising. Precise application of the method to provide high selectivity, however, is a complex procedure, and interest in this method declined. During this period Mr. O. C. Ralston initiated a Bureau of Mines research program oil electrostatic separation. It is the purpose of thins publication to describe the development of the electrostatic method of particle separation from the early beginning to the present resurgence of interest. Most of the information for this description bas been derived from references, a few of which were not available for thorough review. Much information has been drawn from the investitions of the Bureau. Acknowledgments Mr. O. C. Ralston, former Chief metallurgist of the Bureau of Mines, began the research program on the subject and did research on the mils literature. Both Mr. Ralston and Mr. H. B. Johnson, former president of the Huff Electrostatic Separator Co., furnished patent references. A critical review by Mr. F. D. Lamb, Research director, and Mr. M. J. Spendlove, Supervisory metallurgist, Bureau of Mines, College Park Metallurgy Research Center, lifts been of much value in preparing this report.

Jan 1, 1962

By Juan J. Monsalve, AMAN SONI, Nino Ripepi, Richard Bishop

The design and strength of pillars are important parameters when implementing the room-and-pillar mining method in a limestone mine. The process becomes complex with the presence of karst voids, which are frequent phenomena in carbonate rock formations. This research continues a previous study aimed at studying the effect of karst voids on the strength of a particular limestone pillar. Using calculated pillar strength and estimated redistributed stresses, it was assessed that the pillar can counter more stress than currently imparted on it. Numerical modeling studies combining in situ stress determination and excavation sequencing were used to estimate the existing stresses on the pillar. Different possibilities of modification to existing pillar design were simulated using distinct element method (DEM) modeling to determine a better design.

Jun 1, 2023

By David J. Mack

A SURVEY and critical appraisal of published information about Young's modulus was originally made by the writer because of a complete lack of information about this very important quantity in works on mechanics, physical metallurgy, physics, and other sciences. It was felt that a comprehensive summary of such information about Young's modulus might be of general interest and may suggest new problems or lines of attack on other problems that involve E. Hence this paper has been prepared even though it is only a review, with no new ideas or experimental data. The references are only those used in assembling the paper. No attempt was made to compile a complete bibliography on the subject of Young's modulus. CALCULATION OF YOUNG'S MODULUS FROM THEORETICAL OR EMPIRICAL CONSIDERATIONS Many attempts have been made to compute E from theoretical considerations. The earliest calculations were probably those of Tomlenson (1883) and Southerland (1891), but Fessenden 41,42 made extensive calculations a few years later and arrived at the relationship: [2E = 78. 101 (_L V] where V is the atomic volume. In 1923, Peczalski,43 working from the same stand-point but with more information available on atomic structure, arrived at an identical relationship, which he expressed as: [E=B(m) 2] where B is a constant of value about 8 • 10 7, p is density and m is atomic weight; the atomic volume, of course, being m/p. Portevin44 immediately pointed out that while the equations of Fessenden and Peczalski were true of the common metals, they gave low values for the refractory metals with high moduli (Fig. I). He showed (Fig. 2) that much better concordance was obtained by means of an empirical equation of the form: [E _ KT'Vb] where K is a constant; T the absolute melting point; V, atomic volume, and a and b constants of value approximately I and 2 respectively. This constant K in the Portevin equation is not necessarily the same for all elements, as shown by Thompson.45 Other equations for E based upon theoretical considerations have been derived by Honda and Yamada49 and Lasareff. 50 The most recent calculations of elastic moduli based upon quantum mechanics are probably those of Fuchs.46-48 He extended the method of Wigner and Seitz for calculating the lattice energy and compressibility of monovalent metals and computed the elastic constants of lithium,

Jan 1, 1945

By Jun Lu, Mark Van Dyke, Daniel W. H. Su, Greg Hasenfus

"This paper presents the geologic and ground control challenges that were encountered by CONSOL Energy’s mining operations in southwestern Pennsylvania. A sandstone-to-limestone geology transition was encountered by Mine A, where the primary 8-foot bolts were anchored in claystone. Upon experiencing roof sags and a roof fall in the return entry, 6-foot high-tension, fully-grouted primary bolts were employed along with 16-foot center cable bolts at every other strap to improve beam building and to ensure proper anchorage into the competent limestone. No longwall delay was reported within this geologic transition zone, although there was some difficulty in maintaining an open #2 entry airway behind the longwall face.The geologic encounter in Mine B was more complex, where fluvial deposits of massive sandstone channels, shale channels and pyritic-rich, green claystones were encountered on both sides of the mains, and which impacted both development and longwall ground control. In particular, poor transitional roof areas near the edges of the sandstone and shale channels often posed significant ground control challenges. In addition, hydraulic fracturing was sometimes utilized to enhance caving of massive sandstone behind the shields to relieve pressure at the face. Longwall face conditions and advance rates were documented to illustrate the effects of sandstone channels, shale channels, and green claystones on safety and productivity and to demonstrate the effectiveness of the hydraulic fracturing.Shale channels, slickensided zones, laminated roof zones, soft floor, and a regional syncline were encountered in Mine C, the combination of which posed unique ground control challenges during both development and longwall mining. The presence of soft floor, coupled with the presence of thick floor coal and deep cover, resulted in headgate convergence during retreat of the first right-hand longwall panel. Two-piece 8-foot bolts were sometimes observed to fail at the coupler within the laminated roof zone, and 6-foot, 1-piece, fully-grouted point-anchor bolts were employed as the primary bolts thereafter."

Jan 1, 2015

By Kenneth G. Skinner

The rapid growth of the metallurgical, chemical, and allied industries on the Pacific coast just prior to and during the war caused a sudden increase in the demand for refractories, which was the immediate cause of a revival in interest in refractory clays available on the Pacific coast, particularly in the Pacific Northwest. Population increases and shortage of shipping facilities caused an increase in the amount of various ceramic materials and products used and produced on the Pacific coast, with accompanying demand for information regarding sources of clay. In an effort to supply part of this information, the Bureau of Mines, in cooperation with the College of Mines, University of Washington, started a program in 1944 to test the refractory and other properties of clays from seven Pacific Northwest deposits that had been drilled and sampled as part of the Bureau of Mines alumina from clay investigation. Figure 1 shows the location of these deposits.

Jan 1, 1949

Despite the fact that mined minerals and gemstones have allowed human beings to continuously improve their standard of living throughout the ages, mining has also been implicated in violent conflict for two principle reasons. The first is that mineral resources have been used or traded to conduct or finance violent conflict from small to large scales. The second is the substantial social, economic and environmental changes that occur in a community or a region as a result of mining activity which can either precipitate or re-awaken latent conflict. A modern complication of mining-related violent conflict is the trend for activists, international NGOs and intergovernmental organisations (e.g. the United Nations) to regard any human consequences of resource extraction in terms of Human Rights violations. Acknowledging but not labouring the Human Rights implications of mining-related violent conflict, this paper explores whether or not there is a relationship between the actual or perceived value of mineral resources and the level of violence that occurs in mining-related conflicts. Key to the investigation is a mapping exercise of mining related conflict from 2005 ? 2012: to see where mining related conflict is happening; to identify precipitant causes of mining related conflict; and, to discover what correlation ? if any ? there might be in the degree of violence and the value of the mineral(s) implicated. Findings of the analysis are presented in this conference paper.

Aug 1, 2013

By Walter Renton, Ingalls

SEVERAL years ago I became interested in computing the historic lead production of the United States, and the mines, or mining districts whence derived. This led me subsequently to an examination of the recent records- of some of the American zinc-mining districts and of the great lead and zinc-mining districts in foreign countries. My present article thus will be to a large extent an addendum to my book, "World Survey of the Zinc Industry," which was published by the Mining and Metallurgical Society of America in 1931, and to which I shall refer hereinafter as Ingalls, op. cit. Throughout this article all expressions of tons mean the ton of 2000 lb. Where original data have been given in metric tons I have converted in many instances simply by multiplying by 1.1, and long tons by 1.12. I have not been fussy about digits and have rounded off many figures. These may explain differences between data herein and other data.

Jan 1, 1946

By Edwin G. Sharp, Frank S. Gaunce, George M. Freeman, Denis J. Kemp, Eric Dulson, Paul Salmon, Ernest R. Hamilton, Carl E. Parden

"THE ECSTALL ZINC PLANT was built for the treatment of the Kidd Creek zinc sulphide concentrates. Construction proceeded throughout 1970-71, with operations beginning in April 1972. The two concentrate types treated differ principally in minor impurity and precious metal contents. Processing flexibility was required to allow efficient recovery of the by-products, especially cadmium, copper and silver. The conversion of the zinc sulphide concentrates to end products follows a sequence of operations that are common to most electrolytic zinc plants and typical of the ""Tainton- Jephson"" flowsheet.1. Roasting in air at an elevated temperature to convert the metal sulphides to soluble metal oxides (calcine) and sulphur dioxide. The sulphur dioxide is converted to sulphuric acid in a contad plant and shipped by train to market.2. Leaching of the calcine in spent electrolyte to effect extraction and recovery of zinc as zinc sulphate solution, leaving an insoluble residue.3. Purification of the clarified zinc sulphate solution by cementation with metallic zinc dust to remove impurities detrimental to the electro-deposition of zinc or detrimental to product purity. The solids from cementation are the starting materials for secondary metal recovery.4. Electrolysis of the purified zinc sulphate solution to reduce the zinc to the metallic state while coincidentally regenerating the sulphuric acid for recycle to the leaching step."

Jan 1, 1974