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By John C. Machisak

INJURY EXPERIENCE AND EMPLOYMENT DATA on all stone quarries and associated plants in the United States are presented in this publication for the calendar year 1959. Such related operations as the manufacture of cement and lime and rock dressing are included. Data on clay and sand and gravel operations are not included and will be found in other Bureau publications on injuries and employment. The Bureau is authorized to make requests for such data and the information voluntarily submitted by the operators contributes to the promotion of safety in the quarrying industry. Every effort has been made to make this canvass as complete as possible. Data for production workers and office employees at the quarry site are included.

Jan 1, 1963

By W. J. Wenger

Oil fields in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming have produced 731 million barrels of petroleum through 1959. Production in 1959 was 32 million barrels, the highest production since 1924. The record production was in 1923, when the Basin produced 38 million barrels of oil and the Salt Creek field, then at its peak, produced 35 million barrels. In this report, the characteristics of crude oils found in the Basin are used as a basis for determining the best re-fining uses for the oils and for predicting the characteristics of oils that may be discovered in the Basin in the future. Analyses of 108 oils sampled over a period of 30 years are presented Crude oils of two major types are produced from the Powder River Basin. One has a low sulfur content and occurs in younger formations, and the other has a high sulfur content and occurs in older formations. The oils with low sulfur contents are generally light colored and waxy, and may be either paraffinic or naphthenic. The oils with high sulfur contents are usually dark colored and asphaltic; only their low boiling fractions are paraffinic. Alteration appears to account for the anomalous properties of some oils found at shallow depths. Shapes and slopes of correlation index curves classify the oils into the same two groups as their sulfur contents, with gently sloping curves representing the low-sulfur oils and steep curves representing high-sulfur, asphaltic oils,

Jan 1, 1961

The Precambrian Eastern Creek Volcanics comprises spilitic basalts with interbedded sediments and tuffs which were extruded and deposited during Middle Proterozoic time. The rocks have undergone low-grade regional metamorphism.The Eastern Creek Volcanics are approximately 17,000 ft thick and have been divided into four units.The rocks were laid down in a geosynclinal basin elongate to the north. The main structural features are the northerly trending Mount Isa and Gorge Creek-Quilalar fault systems.Major east-west faults cause repetition of the sequence.Copper and uranium mineralization is known within the formation. Copper mineralization is confined to quartz-filled shears anp basalts. Nothing of economic importance has been found in the area though ore deposits have been found elsewhere in this type of environment.

Jan 1, 1968

By Nathan C. Rockwood

THE title of this paper, I understand, was suggested by professional mining engineers as an opportunity for someone to pose problems rather than to offer solutions for them, but the paper will merely attempt to pose some of the production problems of the mineral aggregates industry in such manner as to create professional interest in their solution by the mining engineer, geologist, geochemist and the metallurgical engineer versed in mineral-dressing technique. DEFINITION OF MINERAL AGGREGATES "Mineral aggregates" may be defined as fragments of any rock or mineral used to supply bulk or volume or substance for a given purpose. For example, mineral aggregates are used in portland-cement concrete to provide bulk with the expenditure of the least feasible amount of cement binder. Mineral aggregates are used without portland cement or bituminous binder in highway and railway roadbeds to provide substance, to carry loads. Mineral aggregates are used in filters for water and sewage, to provide substance for the liquid to trickle through. These are only a few typical uses of mineral aggregates. For all these uses, strength, toughness, resistance to abrasion, and durability are usually prime requisites; so, while theoretically mineral aggregates may be of any mineral composition, what really is desired is a mineral composition as nearly inert under the conditions of use as anything of earthly origin can be. EXPLORATION AND POSSIBILITIES OF DEVELOPMENT The distribution of deposits of mineral aggregate is universal, since almost any part of the earth's crust can be used; even the top soil is sometimes used in stabilized surfacing for highways or airport runways. Nevertheless there is ample opportunity for exercise of the talents of the mining engineer and the geologist in finding the particular deposit that will be most economical to develop, keeping in mind such considerations as: (1) quality and mineralogical characteristics of the material; (2) size and permanency of the market; (3) final cost of opening and development of the deposit; (4) selection of location of plant; (5) methods and costs of distribution of the product in comparison with both present and possible future competition; (6) selection of the proper type of operating equipment; (7) estimation of probable waste products and their disposal. These are typical but there are other considerations also. Because profit margins are far smaller than in any comparable mining operation, it is all the more logical to assume that a higher degree of expert knowledge is desirable to make a success of a mineral-aggregates business. The industry has much engineering talent in its operating branch, but it lacks, to a considerable

Jan 1, 1943

By Zhang Baoshan

In this paper, the forced features and dynamic behaviors of stone-column composite foundation are concisely related. The characteristics of Rayleigh wave method is summarised. This method is proposed in which, the stress ratio of the stone-column to the surrounding soil and the bear­ing capacity of the composite foundation are determined. Through the engineering cases, it is shown that, checking and evaluating the composite foundation in this method, is feasible, with high speed and low cost.

Jan 1, 1991

By Lancucki C. J, Nickson N. M

X-ray diffraction and differential thermal methods were used to determine the mineralogy of some clays used by the heavy clay industry in the Adelaide area. A detailed analysis was made of the mineralogy and particle size distribution of eighteen samples from beds in two pits in the Recent sediments in the Adelaide plains, of six white clays developed from the weathering of the Adelaide series of sediments, and of four Recent alluvial clays from a pit in the Mount Lofty ranges south of Adelaide. Structural clay products in the Adelaide area are manufactured from mixtures of these clays, so the mineralogy and particle size distribution was determined of eighteen clay mixtures used to make red bricks, cream bricks, facing bricks, pipes and tiles.Knowledge of this mineralogy is important in understanding the ceramic behaviour of the clays.INTRODUCTIONIn this investigation an account is given of the clay mineralogy and particle size distribution of some ceramic clays from the Adelaide area. The clays are used in the manufacture of structura,l clay products and the results to 'be described are part of an overall 'plan of study covering the heavy industrial clays and shales of Australia. Previous work has been published (Cole and Carthew, 1953; Ferguson, 1954; Ferguson and Hosking, 1955; Cole and Nielsen, 1958/59).In this work no attempt has been made to examine clays from all pits engaged in supplying materials for the structural clay industry. However, in 1954 the senior author collected detailed samples from two pits working in Recent alluvial clays in the Allenby·Gardens and Beverley areas near...

Jan 1, 1963

By H. E. Bartlett

In the operation of some flotation plants treating platinum ores it was found that there were imbalances between the inputs and outputs. The inputs and outputs were sampled as slurries and it was determined that the imbalances arose from biases in the sampling, despite the samplers having been designed according to well-established rules. The launders feeding the sample cutters, and the sample cutters themselves were redesigned using finite element analysis to model the flows. A new set of design rules were formulated. The application of a Components of Variance Analysis, to determine the variance of primary and secondary sampling and of analysis in the lab for a concentrate is presented to illustrate the need for frequent sampling of process streams.

Jan 1, 2002

By Niels Kofoed

Upon completion of the 6,200 m (20,340 lineal ft; lft) North Tunnel drive for the Portland East Side Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Tunnel project in Portland, OR, the slurry tunnel boring machine (TBM) had to be returned from the Port Center shaft at Swan Island to the Opera shaft at the main mining site for the 2,700 m (8,860 lft) South Tunnel drive. At the Port Center shaft, the main 513-t (565-st) TBM and TBM tailshield were hoisted out of the shaft in two pieces using four 200-t (220-st) strand jacks mounted on a 635-t (700-st) hydraulic boom gantry system supported by Emmert International?s custom gantry tracks designed to span the shaft. After lifting the TBM components out of the shaft, the gantry system loaded the TBM components onto two Goldhofer platform trailers, which then transported the TBM and tailshield to a barge using a roll-on/roll-off method.

Jan 1, 2011

By Mario Mauro

The article illustrates the Hydromill technology, as applied in urban sites, and its advantages in terms of quality of the end product, mitigation of the construction impact, and optimization of the logistics at the site. Also highlighted are the main features of the excavation equipment and slurry treatment plant. Two recent urban applications of this technology in Europe are briefly described, together with the forthcoming application to the Central Artery/Tunnel Project in Boston. Introduction The Hydromill technology has been used extensively in Europe in the last decade for slurry wall construction in urban environments. In Italy, this technology has been applied by Ing. Giovanni Rodio & C., Impresa Costruzioni Speciali S.p.A. in two large projects. The first project is the construction of Stations Darsena and San Giorgio of the first metro line in Genova. The second project is the "Cut-and Cover" tunnel for the railway link in Torino. Hydromill technology will be used for the construction of the Soldier Pile Tremie Concrete walls of the Boston Central Artery Tunnel Project, contract C14C2, Utility Relocation at Fulton Street.

Jan 1, 1994

By M. M. Makhofane

Anhydrous zirconium tetrafluoride can be used as a precursor for the manufacturing of nuclear-grade zirconium metal. This can be done by fluorinating plasma-dissociated zircon with ammonium bifluoride in a batch reactor. This paper describes the batch process. It was proved that anhydrous zirconium tetrafluoride can be manufactured by this route as confirmed by X-ray diffraction. The process shows potential for scaling up to the kilogram scale and possibly the tonnage scale.

Jan 1, 2012

By Peter Wells, Laxman M. Amaratuga, Todd M. Kanhai

"Certain mining methods (eg. Cut-and-fill) result in the contamination of run-of-mine ore with shotcrete. This shotcrete remains mixed with the ore throughout processing. Experimentation performed by Falconbridge Limited revealed that underground contamination of ore by shotcrete (eg. as little as 1% by weight) has led to ill-effects on the nickel recoveries from the flotation process in the mill. The nickel recoveries of contaminated samples were lower than tests without the shotcrete Contamination.To optimize flotation circuits it is important to know why the contamination has created these effects and also to find a method to abate or remove them. Laboratory testing showed that the age of the shotcrete was a factor in it’s effect on nickel recoveries. Younger aged shotcrete gave nickel recoveries lower than baseline nickel recoveries with no contamination. Older shotcrete gave nickel recoveries similar to the baseline.Literature on other cementitious material contaminations on ore revealed that a possible means of remediating this problem is the use of acid in the flotation. The initial pH in the flotation pulp was designed to be pH 9.2, but with the young shotcrete contamination the pH was in the neighbourhood of 10.5. Acid addition may act as a means of lowering the pH to the optimal operational value. Laboratory test work showed that acid addition brought nickel recoveries closer to the baseline."

Jan 1, 2000

By Lee Ann Gardner

This U.S. Bureau of Mines publication presents a case study of the processes used in permitting the Nome Offshore Placer Project, a gold mining project offshore Nome, Alaska which operated from 1985 through 1990. The mining project, developed by Western Gold Exploration and Mining Company, Limited Partnership (WestGold), used the BIMA, which was at the time the largest bucketline mining vessel in the world, to dredge gold from the ocean floor. This case study reviews the permitting process from the regulators' and industry's perspectives, as well as characterizing the efficiencies and inefficiencies associated with this case. The Federal, State and local laws applicable to the Nome Offshore Placer Project are identified, agency jurisdiction and interagency relationships are explored, and the chronology of the permitting process is examined. The regulatory authorities for both environmental monitoring and post-mining monitoring are delineated. Significant milestones affecting the project and required regulatory submittals are also included. The case study of the Nome Offshore Placer Project is detailed with respect to agency involvement and coordination, approaches to permitting from both the regulators' and developer's perspective, environmental issues, and permit stipulations which were unique to the project. The advantages and disadvantages of these topics are discussed.

Jan 1, 1992

Waitemata Tectonic Event(25 Ma ago) created a subduction system from the northeast of Northland, causing: (1) the emplacement of the Northland Allochthon (24-23 Ma) which provided argillaceous limestone and serpentine to Northland, and minor copper to both there and East Cape (located off Northland then); and (2) Northland volcanism (from 22 Ma), which lacked economic mineralisation. The Kiwitahi Tectonic Event (1714 Ma) caused: (1) a realignment of volcanism - from coastal western Northland, to west of the Hauraki Plains (Kiwitahi); (2) a start to the migration southwards from Northland of (a) the Alpine Fault System towards Marlborough today, (b) subduction towards Cook Strait, and (c) volcanism towards Taranaki-to-Bay of Plenty (initially through Coromandel, Kiwitahi, and offshore west coast); and (3) a start to rhyolitic volcanism & associated hydrothermal activity. The latter caused epithermal mineralisation, providing in Coromandel the best known North Island metalliferous deposits. Andesitic volcanism has been active in both of these two contrasting, subequal belts since 22 Ma. Rhyolitic volcanism and hydrothermal activity was wholly restricted to the eastern Marshall Belt, with an abrupt limit to economic mineralisation at the Volcanic Divide (within Hauraki Plains) and a major change there to basaltic volcanism of the western Searle Belt. The Kaimai Tectonic Event (5-1.5 Ma) caused: (1) a temporary reversal in volcanic migration in the Searle Belt, and a duplication of rhyolitic & hydrothermal activity at Waihi (Marshall Belt); (2) the rotational rifting of both the Central Volcanic Region (by 30¦) and the Hauraki Rift (10¦), causing major curvature of the North Island and New Zealand, and the transfer of the offshore subduction system from Coromandel to East Coast; and (3) an effective end to Coromandel mineralisation. Post-Kaimai Volcanism (1.5-0 Ma) included: (1) andesitic volcanism in the Searle Belt, yielding the western coastal titanomagnetite deposits; and (2) andesitic, and rhyolitic & hydrothermal activity in the Marshall Belt - the latter providing geothermal energy, sulphur, and pumice/perlite deposits. Post-Subduction (Intraplate) Volcanism (10-0 Ma) developed in a steadily expanding northwest region of relative tectonic quiescence, as subduction and its volcanism migrated southwards. Intraplate volcanism was predominantly basaltic, providing excellent aggregate; but less common rhyolitic & hydrothermal activity provided geothermal potential and mercury at Ngawha and at Puhipuhi, and halloysitic clays of extreme brightness elsewhere in Northland. This volcanism has reached as far SE as Mayor Island, providing an early New Zealand mineral resource - obsidian.

Jan 1, 1997

Innovative Technology for Optimised Thickening Sedimentation

Sep 13, 2010

By Guo Xueyi

The method of Substance Flow Analysis (abbreviated as SFA) provides a helpful tool for the study of the industrial metabolism of a certain metal within a regional level. In this work the flow of lead in China, 2006, was traced within the STAF model, and the situation of production, consumption and recycling of lead resources in China were introduced. The SFA is performed on lead flows during its one year life cycle in detail. As one of the biggest producer and consumer of lead in the world, China is facing a problem depletion of lead resources. How to increase the resource efficiency is a significant issue for lead industry of China. Based on the result, several suggestions were proposed in the paper, aiming to contribute important reference information for the industrial metabolism and resource management and recycling of lead industry in China.

Jan 1, 2009

By C J. Adams, H J. Campbell, A J. Tulloch, I J. Graham

New Zealand can be regarded as a rifted part of mineral-prospective eastern Australia. Geologically credible comparisons between selected trans-Tasman and SW Pacific geological provinces and units, especially those that contain significant mineralisation in Australia, can help provide a useful exploration framework for New Zealand. As part of a six-year Mineral Wealth of NZ and its EEZ (MWE) research programme, we have targeted selected geological units in eastern Australia for comparison and contrast with their potential New Zealand counterparts. In future years, the programme will focus on geological units in New Caledonia.

Jan 1, 2005

By Constance Holmes

President Lien presented Mrs. Holmes with the first of speaker appreciation gifts presented by his firm Amax Coal West, Inc. These were books by Rand-McNally entitled The Executive Golfer Guide. Following the coffee break, Clark Moseley presented the first annual Institute Safety Achievement Awards for the safest mines in the eight member state region. The awards were based on: 1. Total man-hours 2. Total number of lost time accidents 3. Incidence rate 4. Number of S&S violations 5. Description of safety program 6. Safety awards received 7. Health and safety training efforts 8. Safety Policies 9. Does the operation take employee suggestions and implement them? 10. Letter(s) of commendation from agencies individuals The awards were judged by the senior/graduate level class of Mine Safety & Health at the Colorado School of Mines under the supervision of professor Edward Hollop. The two handsome traveling trophies were awarded to and accepted by: Surface: Big Sky Mine. Colstrip, Montana Gordon Brannon, Manager of Safety Underground: Skyline Mine, Scofield, Utah Dave Hales. Safety Supervisor and Doug Johnson, General Production [ ]

Jan 1, 1998

OWING to the gradual depletion of the hitherto plentiful supply of firewood in the immediate vieinity of Queenstown and Gormanston, which caused a steady increase in the cost of fuel for domestic purposes, the Mount Lyell Company took steps several years ago to make available as a substitute electric current from its Lake Margaret hydro-electric supply. In order to make this practicable it was necessary that the cost of electric power for heating purposes should compare favourably with the cost, of fuel, and the installation of domestic appliances brought within reach of the average householder, and efforts have been continuously directed towards this end since the year 1928.WATER HEATERSThe installation of electrical apparatus in local dwellings began with hot-water services, the heating elements being the types then procurable on the market and adapted to meet requirements.These, however, did not prove satisfactory, but the study of their bilure resulted in a type being developed locally which has overcome all difficulties. The first type of water heater evolved was an outside circulation one the element of which consisted of an iron pipe through which the water passed, insulated with micanite and wound with nichrome wire, the latter being covered with alundun cement to keep it in position and prevent oxidation. This was insulated on its outside surface with a layer of asbestos flour, and connected to the hot-water container as shown in Fig. 1. It was found, however, that the iron pipe had a short life, due to a certain amount of acidity in the water, and a copper pipe was substituted which proved very durable. Some heaters with this improved type of element are still operating after six years of use. The resistance wire is run at a very low current density, which ensures durability.

Jan 1, 1927

With the employment of a system of ore pillars to support the hanging wall during the mining operations at the North Mine, it was found that, when the stopes were worked out and the pillars remained intact, the main footwall drives developed an undulating longitudinal section due to the shrinkage of the filling in the worked out stopes.These depressions collected water, which made the footwall drives very wet under foot, and everitually worked its way into the pillar workings and the levels below.Water was also finding its way into the shafts because of the silting-up of the level drainage systems and, as both the shafts are down-cast, this tended to increase the humidity of the air entering the mine.To overcome these troubles it was decided to try a system of siphons as a method of subsidiary drainage.SYSTEM AT PRESENT IN USE.All drainage water is collected as near to its source as possible, run into a sump in an adjacent low lying part of the level, and continuously removed from these sumps by a siphon system.Each level has its own system. Water is collected from the sumps by a 1-in. pipe and delivered to a pipe running the length of the level along the back of the footwall drive. At the shaft the pipe is increased to...

Jan 1, 1938

By Gary E. Sherman

To aid the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in their Resource Development Navigation Study, the U.S. Bureau of Mines (Bureau) examined the potential for mineral development near ten Alaska port sites. This report presents the results for the following four sites: Balboa Bay, Beluga, Lost River, and Point MacKenzie. There are 579 known deposits within the area considered for these ports. The majority of the deposits are located within a highway/railroad corridor examined for the Point MacKenzie port site. Based on the current level of knowledge, coal deposits near the Beluga and Point MacKenzie port sites are most likely to be developed in the near future. This conclusion is based on the fact that coal projects in these areas are actively being pursued for development. The mineral wealth surrounding the four port sites is substantial. Mine models were used to examine the potential for mining tin, gold, silver, copper, and molybdenum. The models were based on published reserve and grade data and therefore do not include proprietary company data which, if available, would likely change the analysis results. Of the models examined, the tin placer mine model developed for the Lost River port site proved to be closest to being economic.

Jan 1, 2011