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By N. Mphathiwa

When slope angles are designed during open pit optimization, there is a risk factor applied in steepening the slopes. The steepening of slope angles has implications for the safety and economics of the mining operation. The steeper the slope angles, the greater the probability of slope failure. Although a slope failure will result in added costs, the challenge is to compile an accurate cost-benefit exercise optimizing the economic benefits of the project without exposing mine workers and equipment to unacceptable risk of rockfalls. A balance between the safety of the operation and the economics of the investment is therefore required. The ideal situation is to have a slope monitoring system that will predict slope failure by detecting any ground movement before the actual failure occurs. This early warning will allow the risk factor to be applied with a high degree of confidence, knowing that the risk will be adequately mitigated. The objective of this paper is to provide guidelines on how to design an optimal survey slope monitoring system. It is the authors? view that for a survey monitoring system to yield desirable results, it should adhere to survey principles such as working from the whole to part and consistently cross-checking. The case study used is Jwaneng Mine, and the design strategy outlined can be used as a guideline for developing a new slope monitoring system or to optimize an existing one.

Jan 1, 2014

By William J. Purdy

Successful design, operation and completion of a surface waste management facility for a diamond mine located in Canada?s northern environment requires careful planning to minimize short and long term environmental impacts. As part of the mine development application process, best practice standards were applied using conventional engineering to reduce the environmental effects of the mine waste facility at the Snap Lake Diamond Project. This paper presents the design criteria, site conditions, material characteristics and engineering management objectives considered for optimization of the development plan. Insight into the engineering analyses, development alternatives, monitoring program and reclamation strategy plan to be undertaken during mine operations to provide opportunity for adaptive management and to minimize environmental impacts is provided.

May 1, 2004

By I. Mihajlovic

This paper investigates a potential method for arsenic removal from copper concentrates using hypochlorite leaching. The problems concerning pyrometallurgical processing of copper concentrates with high arsenic contents are discussed. A possible solution to the problem by leaching of natural enargite crystals with sodium hypochlorite under alkaline oxidizing conditions, with enargite converted into crystalline CuO and the soluble arsenic forming AsO43-, was experimentally investigated and results are presented. Kinetic parameters were calculated for enargite leaching, using a model-free approach. Advanced isoconversional methods were used to investigate the dependence of activation energy (Ea) on reaction rate (a). Keywords Enargite, copper concentrate, isoconversional method, kinetics, activation energy.

Jan 1, 2011

By L. Arnberg, E. Ott

The microstructure of ferrosilicon is important since it controls the disintegration of the material during crushing and thus the generation of fines. Therefore a study of the microstructure formation during solidification of pure FeSi(75wt%Si) and FeSi(75wt%Si) containing 1.2wt%Al and 0.2wt%Ca has been initiated. The material has been cast into rods of 8mm diameter, which have been remolten by induction heating and directionally solidified in a Bridgman apparatus. This allows the temperature gradient and the growth rate to be controlled independently. The temperature history during solidification has been recorded by a thermocouple in the melt. Growth rates have been varied between 5 and 400µms-1 and temperature gradients between 3 and 14°Kmm-1. The microstructures show a large dependence on the solidification conditions. The crack formation in the alloys has been studied and found to be strongly related to the microstructure.

Jan 1, 2004

The Department of Mineral Resources has a statutory responsibility for mine site environmental management and control in New South Wales. The Department is focusing on an environmental management systems (EMS) approach, as a management tool to achieve æbest practiceÆ outcomes both within our own organisation and on mine sites. One of the DepartmentÆs tools is environmental risk assessment and management which incorporates the Mining, Rehabilitation and Environmental Management Process (MREMP). The MREMP was introduced many years ago in order to integrate the activities of key stakeholders who may have a material interest in the mine. The MREMP provides an ideal mechanism by which ædue diligenceÆ requirements and environmental management programs can be integrated into mining operations and lead to a sustainable post-mining land use.

Jan 1, 2002

By John Watson

New Technologies, New Challenges and New Opportunities For quite some time now, numerous explosive manufacturers have spent untold man-hours and millions of dollars trying to develop a blast initiation technology that would “once and for all” provide users with what was once believed to be only a theoretical possibility...nominal timing. Zero “cap scatter” (the amount of variation of delay timing from the targeted nominal) has been the industry’s goal ever since delays were first introduced into the marketplace. Just as adding delay time between blast-holes improved blast performance since their introduction, having the wrong delay or a poorly timed blast has proven to be very inefficient and in many cases hazardous. The question of how precise a blast initiation system needs to be still remains unanswered, but electronic detonator systems being used today indicate that significant improvements can be achieved over conventional pyrotechnic detonators. These systems can typically provide single digit millisecond ranges of variability, if not sub-millisecond in some cases.

Jan 1, 2003

By C. Slotta, F. Charlier, P. Blomen

"Within the energy concept of the German government, the operating time of nuclear power plants was initially extended from about 8 to 14 years. It is planned, however, that every power plant will gradually be decommissioned until 2025 and that simultaneously the amount of renewable energies will successively be expanded. According to the political state, nuclear energy is a discontinued model. Looking at the global energy market, though, an obviously opposed development can be observed. At the moment, 443 nuclear power plants are running worldwide and further 62 facilities are being built. These about 500 nuclear power stations have to be supplied with nuclear fuel right now and in the future. The present paper will describe the worldwide use of nuclear energy, the extraction of the nuclear fuel uranium and in detail the available and predicted resources of uranium. The conclusion of the paper is the statement that uranium as nuclear fuel is no scarce resource but sufficiently available."

Jan 1, 2011

By W. H. Dickinson

The performance of seven antiscalants spanning a range of chemistries was evaluated for control of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) formation in gold processing applications. Three preferred chemistries were identified which provided up to 100 percent inhibition in static jar tests when applied at 30 ppm dosage. The three products were further evaluated using a model carbon extraction circuit developed for this application. The test circuit enabled direct measurement of calcium carbonate formed on the carbon from a supersaturated solution under dynamic conditions. The antiscalants lowered CaCO3 buildup on the columns by 15 - 26 percent compared to untreated controls. Impact of the antiscalants on the rate and extent of gold loading onto a carbon adsorbent was evaluated in laboratory carbon-in-pulp (CIP) studies. The antiscalants generated a 25 - 35% increase in gold loading at gold extraction efficiencies up to 65%. On-site testing at a gold processing facility demonstrated that 10 ppm of the preferred antiscalant was able to fully suppressCaCO3formation in thickener overflow water.

Feb 27, 2013

By Efrén Peña Pino

El presente texto señala la aplicación del sistema SAP en la minería subterránea de Minsur. Este sistema operativo maneja las propiedades y procesos de la Sociedad Minsur, el cual cuenta con tres Centros, dos de los cuales son operativos (San Rafael y Pisco) al margen de la central de administración (Lima) y permite la planificación de todos los recursos de la empresa de manera integral, evitando imprevistos y una mejora de decisiones.

Jul 31, 2003

THE ore treated is almost pure copper pyrites (chalcopyrite) in a gangue of quartz and quartz-felsite. Very little free iron sulphide (pyrite) occurs, and at the time of the erection of the flotation plant the stopes in the oxidized zone had been almostentirely depleted. This zone only extends to a shallow depth, and, below the l00-ft. level, the sulphide for the most part is clean and bright but in the crushed and brecciated parts of the ore channel, where surface water has circulated freely, the gangue is decomposed and kaolinized, and the copper sulphide badly tarnished. This class of ore gave considerable trouble at the mill, but unfortunately, was very limited in quantity. A sample of rich ore assayed-Copper, 21.2 %; iron, 24:.3 %; silica, 28.9 %; sulphur, 25.1%.The concentration in the original mill was effected by handpicking, jigging, and tabling. A considerable portion of the copper mineral arrives at the surface in the form of large lumps of very pure quality, eminently suitable for sorting out by hand.The rich ore is tipped over a grizzly at the shaft bins; the oversize hand-picked, and the undersize bagged direct.

Jan 1, 1912

By Trevor Howie, Mal Edwards

"Thiess Contractors Pty Ltd. designed and operate the Mt Owen Mine in the Hunter Valley of NewSouth Wales, Australia on behalf of the owners of the mine, BHP Coal Pty Ltd. The mine is a multiseam open cut coal operation. Mining by Thiess commenced in September 1996 following thecompletion of the coal preparation plant. The location of the mine is shown below on Figure Al."

Jan 1, 1997

By Leigh J. Wardle

This paper describes a numerical method for calculating the three¬-dimensional stresses and displacements induced by tabular excavations in a rock mass consisting of parallel layers of distinct material properties. The method is based on the superposition of numerical solutions for elementary displacement discontinuities in a parallel layered rock mass. The method can be used to analyse complicated excavation layouts such as those encountered in room-and-pillar or longwall mining. The method can automatically take into account the effect of the earth's surface. The method offers an economic and efficient solution to stress analysis problems which cannot be adequately modelled using two¬-dimensional methods and for which the expense of three-dimensional finite element or general boundary element analysis cannot be justified.

Jan 1, 1984

By T Hughes

Upward pressure on all mining operations is coming from the triple bottom line. To some extent this is being offset by the rise in mineral prices, but this may or may not continue. The other serious issue facing all companies is the replacement of economic reserves as exploration levels over the past decade continued to decline in line with falling mineral prices. In order to underpin the sustainability of the mining industry it is necessary to continue to reduce cost, reduce the mine environmental footprint, whilst increasing community benefit. At the same time it is imperative that we increase the economic reserves. The highest risk is in adding new mineral discoveries as the strike rate for economic discovery decreases. Gekko Systems Pty Ltd recognises that the most simple and risk averse route to increasing economic reserves is to reduce cut-off grade in the mine, thereby bringing formerly uneconomic reserves into the economic category. We have been developing a new process flow sheet which embodies the triple bottom line and the issue of economic replacement of reserves. This paper describes this flow sheet and presents four examples where this concept is/can be applied to bring about triple bottom line benefits. Sustainability can only be assured if we are the ones in control of our environment, costs and reserves.

Jan 1, 2007

The annual general meeting of the Branch was held at the St. Helena Club on Thursday, August 21, 1969. Mr J. G. Kirchner (Chairman) was in the Chair. Also present were Mr R. C. J. Goode, President of the S.A. Institute of Mining and Metallurgy; Nine Members: Messrs N. A. Honnet, W. R. Lawrie, J. N. Saunders, D. D. Waterman (Committee Members), M. G. Cullen, G. C. P. Labuschagne, H. A. G. Slater, I. G. Thomas, T. Zadkin and Nine Associate Members: Messrs R. Campbell, D. E. Couperthwaite, T. M. Espach, J. M. Ferguson, G. W. Futcher, A. G. C. Merson, E. R. Penny, R. B. Sutherland, J. W. van den Munckhof and One Visitor: Mr D. J. McLaren. The Chairman declared the meeting open and, on behalf of the Branch, thanked the President for coming from Johannesburg to attend. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUSGENERALMEETING As the Minutes of the General Meeting held on June 18, 1969 had not yet been published in the Journal, the Chairman moved that their adoption and the discussion thereof be deferred to the next General Meeting. This motion was adopted unanimously. CHAIRMAN'S ANNUAL REPORT 1968/69 At Mr Kirchner's request, Mr. R. C. J. Goode took the Chair during the presentation of the Chairman's Annual Report. (This report was published in the August 1969 issue of the Journal.) OFFICE BEARERS AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS FOR THE YEAR 1969/70 The Chairman announced that the outgoing Committee had elected the following office bearers for the coming year: Chairman: N. A. Honnet; Vice-Chairman: J. N. Saunders; Immediate Past Chairman: J. G. Kirchner. The Chairman then read a letter from the scrutineers reporting that the following had been elected to the Committee: M. S. Grobler, W. R. Lawrie, L. O. W. Leimer, A. T. Lewis, R. S. Pearson, T. Zadkin. The Chairman thanked the scrutineers for their services, and congratulated Messrs Lawrie, Leimer and Zadkin on their re-election and Messrs Grobler, Lewis and Pearson on their election to the Committee. The Chairman announced that he had heard, with regret, that Mr. T. Zadkin would be leaving the O.F.S. at the end of August, 1969. Mr Zadkin had served on the Committee continuously since the inception of the O.F.S. Branch and records showed that he had only failed to attend three General Meetings in over nine years. The Chairman expressed the gratitude of the Branch for Mr Zadkin's invaluable services to the Institute, congratulated him on his well earned promotion and wished him well in his new position. INDUCTION OF CHAIRMAN The Chairman introduced Mr N. A. Honnet to the meeting by briefly outlining his past career and, after congratulating him on his election, called upon him to take the Chair. In congratulating the out-going Chairman on a very successful term of office, Mr Honnet said that due to the absence of many Committee Members for a large portion of the year Mr Kirchner had carried a heavy burden, and he moved a vote of thanks and appreciation for Mr Kirchner's efforts. This was carried unanimously. GENERAL BUSINESS There were no points raised under this heading. MINING AND METALLURGICAL CONGRESS The Chairman called on Mr W. R. Lawrie to give his talk on aspects of the Mining and Metallurgical Congress recently held in Britain. This presentation was illustrated with photographic slides and proved of great interest to Members. Mr D. D. Waterman proposed a vote of thanks to Mr Lawrie and the Chairman then asked Mr R. C. J. Goode to contribute to Mr Lawrie's address. Mr Goode thanked Mr Kirchner for his efforts during his very successful term of office and congratulated the in-coming Chairman and Vice-Chairman on their election. He then gave a brief talk on aspects of the Congress not dealt with in Mr Lawrie's address. These included the industry's requirements of graduates, the necessity of their rapid advancement and the desirability of sending such young men to attend future Congresses. Mr Goode announced that two symposiums will be sponsored by the Institute next year, one on Tunnelling and the other on Open Cast Workings.

If one can embrace the medical analogue, much of the mining industry currently suffers from a massive bacterial infection. When pyrite-bearing or sulfide-bearing rock formations, tailings, or mine wastes are infected by Acidithiobacillus ferro-oxidans, the likelihood of forming acid rock drainage (ARD) is almost guaranteed. The ?pharmacy? of antibiotics available is extensive, ranging from solid alkaline amendments like limestone to liquid ?medicines? such as sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium thiocyanate, waste milk, and bipolar lipids. Unfortunately, the ?geo-medical? teams of geochemists, microbiologists, engineers, and mine managers lack the tools to surgically apply these active ingredients where they are needed most with a minimum of waste. Distribution of fine grained limestone on the surface of an acidic mine waste dump is analogous to applying a bandage soaked in antacid to treat an upset stomach. The implementation of up-to-date best management practices has not healed the patient; an equivalent combination of hypodermic needle, cyber knife, and arthroscopic probe is clearly needed. Using an engineered, flow-able or pumpable foam or pHoam? as the medicinally analogous ?dextrose delivery solution? for solid and/or liquid ?geo-antibiotics?, the authors have combined off-the-shelf technologies that have been previously applied in solving geotechnical problems in the mining industry. A patent for the innovative process is pending. This paper discusses method concepts and the advantages it could provide over conventional BMPs.

Jan 1, 2012

By Frederic Masse

With widespread acceptance in the market place, many engineers are choosing ground improvement techniques to provide suitable foundation subgrade at sites that would have traditionally required deep foundations. This paper discusses the Controlled Modulus Columns (CMC) ground improvement technique and some case histories highlighting the use of this technique for retail development sites. CMC are a sustainable and cost-effective ground improvement technology that transmit load from the foundation to a lower bearing stratum through a composite CMC/soil matrix. The CMC installation is also an attractive option from an environmental perspective because it utilizes reverse flight augers, which displace the soil laterally. This installation technique achieves two goals: it densifies the soil around the CMC, which improves load transfer into the element and avoids spoil and its disposal. Through the introduction of two cases histories, we will present the key benefits of the CMC technology. Each case history will clearly illustrate how a CMC solution can reduce the overall cost of a project when compared to a more traditional type of deep foundations. They will also show how the use of CMCs has benefits that relate to the overall sustainability of the project. While CMCs are an attractive financial and sustainable option, they have also demonstrated that the performance of the system is comparable to that of deep pile foundations. Because CMCs are a relatively new technology many potential users are not aware of its benefits. While we discuss the use of CMCs to support buildings in this paper, CMCs also have been used for a variety of other applications including foundations for tanks, mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls, and embankments

Jan 1, 2011

By Francisco Sena Leite, Pedro Brito, Gean Frank, PhD Soeiro de Carvalho, Jose, Vinicius Miranda

The consequences of rock blasting with explosives are directly related to the accuracy of drilling and, because they have an effect on fragmentation and ground level, they should be controlled to ensure a problem free production, increase work safety and reduce environment impact. Safety control is one of the most important processes in detonation, since it can compromise the worker security on site and, eventually, neighboring communities. Due to the technology advancements, it is possible to build a hole deviation control device with “of the shelf” parts, and for that reason the authors decided to evaluate the possibility of measuring hole deviation by creating a portable prototype using an electronic sensor capable of measuring the acceleration on objects, that is, to measure the own acceleration of a system, known as "accelerometer" and a micro-controller to handle and treat data. The main idea behind this paper is to validate the power of the Euler method, given the stepping limitations of the sensor and micro controller in order to reproduce of the hole shape. A case study was carried out, comparing the measurements of borehole deviations made by a traditional equipment and the prototype. A mobile application was also created in order to recover and treat and display the data to the user. For validation of the prototype, several holes were measured using the two devices. A residue analysis was used to validate the data obtained. After analyzing and confirming the effectiveness of the new equipment, the normality tests prove a symmetric distribution with null expected residual mean and minimum variance. Consequently, the accuracy of the prototype is evidenced. Thus, the authors aspire to emphasize the potential of using these sensors allied to a traditional numerical method for analysis of hole deviation.

Jan 1, 2019

Using DEM to Model Industrial Banana Screens

Sep 13, 2010

By Dan A. Brown

The following paper was written by Dr. Dan A. Brown, P.E. Brown is an Associate Professor at Auburn University's Department of Civil Engineering. The paper was originally presented at a FHWA's Transportation Research Board meeting and is presented here with the author's consent. Construction and design of drilled shaft foundations in hard pinnacle limestone requires flexibility from all parties involved due to the variability of the subsurface conditions. This article describes some strategies which have been found useful in the Birmingham, Alabama area. The importance of well trained and experienced field personnel in these conditions is noted. It is also vital that engineers understand the construction challenges so as to provide both quality assurance and cost effectiveness in design and in the specifications.

Jan 1, 1991

By Fabio do Prado Verderano

A partir de corpos de prova de uma chapa de aço baixa liga NBR 6656 grau LNE 26, realizou-se a caracterização microestrutural, levantamento do perfil de dureza ao longo da espessura da chapa, ensaios de tração monotônicos, cíclicos de fadiga e análises fractográficas. Concluiu-se que, nas extremidades da espessura da amostra, o valor da dureza é maior, indicando que quando a chapa foi laminada as superfícies em contato com os rolos de laminação sofreram encruamento, aumentando a dureza nessa região. A microestrutura encontrada e o grau das inclusões presentes na amostra são compatíveis para o material, bem como as propriedades mecânicas monotônicas, que estão de acordo com a especificação. Por meio de ensaios de fadiga de baixo ciclo, encontrou-se uma boa correlação entre as propriedades monotônicas e cíclicas do material para a proposição da equação de Basquin, considerando-se dados seguros, quando utilizado os primeiros vinte ciclos do ensaio de fadiga para estabilização de cada corpo de prova. Verificando-se a seção transversal da fratura do corpo de prova, observa-se que o mecanismo de falha do material ocorreu a partir do aparecimento de trincas na interface ferrita-cementita com propagação transgranular até a fratura final.

Aug 17, 2017