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By R. J. Wesely, A. D. Zunkel, Tracy B. Braun, Philip L. LeHoux

An overview of gold processing operations at Barneys Canyon Mine is presented with particular emphasis on ore agglomerating experience, leaching and metallurgical accounting practices, and carbon column plant operating approach. The mine, located thirty kilometers from downtown Salt Lake City, is just eight kilometers north of the Bingham Canyon copper mine. Mining was initiated in February 1989 and the first gold was poured in September 1989. Through year-end 1992, approximately 7 million tonnes of ore have been processed and 12,000 kg of gold have been produced. Gold recovery is in excess of 85 percent.

Jan 1, 1993

By F. G. Rinker

World demand for metallized iron continues to increase, keeping pace with steelmaking requirements for lower-cost hot metal. Virgin iron ore and in-plant oxide fines can be reduced to direct reduced iron (DRI) and hot-briquetted iron (HBI). Maumee Research & Engineering Inc. (MR&E) developed an improved coal-based process for the cost-effective production of either DRI or HBI. Starting with dry compaction, the process combines the latest technology for material preparation, rotary hearth furnace construction and environmental control. Coarse iron ore fines are blended with pulverized nonmetallurgical coal to produce a highly metallized (>90%) product. This paper presents production and installation cost data based on operating and under-construction iron oxide reduction facilities.

Jan 1, 2002

By Sandra L. Maxfield, Alan Mair

Strategic design of groundwater monitoring programs can increase public confidence in mine management, decrease financial assurance requirements, and minimize environmental budgets. Monitoring of inorganics is challenging because many occur naturally with baseline concentrations fluctuating spatially or temporally. Evaluating monitoring data to distinguish between a hazardous release or a natural fluctuation in baseline concentration can be controversial. In order to develop an effective program, monitoring parameters should be selected which are mobile and stable. Statistical procedures should be customized to address the uniqueness of groundwater systems. Calculated baseline concentrations should minimize the false negative & false positive rate.

Jan 1, 1995

By D. M. Bodily, R. Jin, W. Hu

Four methods to assess the relative floatability of fine coal have been tested: flotation with frother only, salt flotation, timed-release analysis, and flotation with frother and collector. A practical and simple criterion that combines the separation efficiency (capacity factor) and kinetic rate constant (intensity factor) has been suggested. Five coal Samples from Utah were tested. Based on test results, it was concluded that the floatability test with collector and frother is closer to practice, and according to the suggested floatability criterion, coal fines can be classified into four categories of relative floatability: very easy, easy, moderate, and difficult.

Jan 1, 1988

By R. E. Johnson, L. V. Araújo, B. R. Palmer, L. M. Abrantes, G. W. Warren

The behaviour of chalcopyrite - mineral specimens and a Portuguese concentrate - in 2M chloride solutions prepared from hydrochloric acid and sodium chloride, has been characterized by cyclic voltammetry. The study has shown the influence of the potential and of the presence of impurities in the reaction schemes and their relative extent. The dissolution of chalcopyrite concentrate under potentiostatic control has been investigated and found to confirm the effect of the selected potential on the surface modification/rate of dissolution. An attempt has been made to correlate the information obtained with the response of the concentrate electrode to constant current treatments.

Jan 1, 1993

By J. D. Raulerson, R. P. Farias, G. A. Gruber

A flotation process has been developed to successfully treat ore from the Santo Domingo phosphate deposit in Baja California Sur. The ore contained less than 4% P2O5 with quartz, silicates, and carbonates as gangue minerals. Flotation of the low- grade feed in seawater required that the conventional Crago process, comprising direct anionic flotation, deoiling, and inverse cationic flotation, be augmented by an anionic cleaner flotation step, phosphate depression, and a calcite flotation step.

Jan 1, 1988

By Olice C. Carter, B. J. Scheiner

The Bureau of Mines investigated the removal of two toxic/heavy metals (cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb)) from brass foundry wastewater. Polymers, copolymers, guars, and gums were used in conjunction with calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) and magnesium oxide (MgO) to remove the metals from solution. Several polymers were successful in removing Cd and Pb from the wastewater. The concentrations of Cd and Pb were lowered from 19 to 0.01 ppm and from 20 to less than 0.01 ppm, respectively. The methods investigated could easily be adapted to many existing wastewater treatment facilities and/or be used independently.

Jan 1, 1991

By D. D. Banerjee, S. K. Kawatra, T. C. Eisele

A high calcium fluidized-bed combustor ash was shown to be an effective binder for iron ore pellets at dosages of 1 % to 2% of the magnetite concentrate weight. Magnetite pellets that were between 1.1 and 12.7 mm (7/16 and 1/2 in.) in diameter were produced with dry crushing strengths greater than 22.3 N (5.0 lb-force) per pellet, which is comparable to the results produced using conventional bentonite binder. The effectiveness of fly-ash-based binders was considerably improved when calcium chloride was added as an accelerator. The addition of calcium chloride at a rate of 0.1 % to 0.2 % of the total powder weight increased the strength of the dried pellets by as much as 22 % compared to the strength of pellets made using fly-ash without accelerators.

Jan 1, 1999

By K. A. Grace, D. E. Ranta

The application of geology does not cease with the discovery and delineation of a mineral resource, but continues in the calculation of the economic parameters that determine reserves. Reserve determination, reduced to essentials, is the determination of the cost of production of a mineral commodity from a resource. This cost comprises mining, processing, waste disposal, reclamation and marketing costs. Geological input is vital in the calculation of the individual cost parameters from mining to reclamation, and even has same impact on marketing. Geology thus has a critical role in the determination of reserves.

Jan 1, 1992

By Mucella Ersoy, Nese Celebi

Management Information System (MIS), is a system using formalised procedures to provide management with appropriate information to make timely and effective decisions. Before developing MIS, first functions of the organisation should be defined and grouped into subsystems. After determining the information required and produced by each system and interaction between subsystems, the related data resources should be structured into a series of databases and files. In this study, the MIS developed for Soma Open Pit Mines, Turkey is described in this respect. First, analyses of the existing system including user requirements and scope of the system are given. Then the designed information system, its subsystems, interaction between subsystems and system structure are presented in detail.

Jan 1, 2002

By James M. Prudden, Jon C. Sprague

Valdez Creek Mining Co. properties consist of multiple intersecting paleo-placer channels containing appreciable quantities of coarse gold. Reverse circulation drilling, combined with geophysics, is used for both exploration and development reserve determination. Classical drill-blast-load-haul open pit mining techniques used for the 22,000 cubic yard per day production schedule required modification to compensate for arctic winter operating conditions. High wall stability problems within the glacial sediment overburden necessitated developing multiple dewatering methods and variable pit slope designs to eliminate unstable pit wall conditions. Processing mine run fluvial gravels utilized a classical winter protected screening plant-sluice box recovery system enjoying high metallurgical recoveries and zero discharge tailings disposal.

Jan 1, 1987

By M. J. Mrugala

Typically the conventional pillar design methods consider the behavior of the pillar alone. In such analysis the contribution of the associated roof and pillar is not considered. The focus of this paper is a study of pillar behavior in the context of interaction between a different rock material sequence in the associated roof and floor. The finite difference element code FLAC (1)is used to perform modeling of pillar response to various stratigraphic sequences.

Jan 1, 2003

By E. Yuksel

Noted as one of the 20 major economies of the world, Turkey is a semi-arid plateau between the Eurasian and the African continents. With its surface area of 780 thousand sq km, it supports a population of 70 million people. While the mining history of Turkey can be traced back as far as 7 000 B.C., mining currently generates only 2% of Turkey’s gross national product. Turkey has 77 of the 90 principal minerals that are mined world-wide. Currently, some 5 000 mine occurrences including copper, lead, zinc, iron, gold-silver, chromite, sepiolite, mercury, and coal deposits, soda ash, marble, zeolite, feldspar, magnesite deposits, as well as the world’s largest known borate deposits, have been discovered and partially explored.

Jan 1, 2004

By Ronald S. Conti, Harry Dobroski

Re1iabl e monitoring a1ong an underground mine belt line is of great concern because of combustibles, electrical apparatus, and friction. Belt entries are strategically located where a fire can have rapid and disastrous consequences. This paper reviews conventional distributed temperature sensing systems based on resistive, thermistor, and thermocouple effects. These are shown to provide limited benefits. A new system tested by the U.S. Bureau of Mines based on fiber optics and time domain reflectrometry, promises much better temperature and spatial resolution, faster response, inexpensive cable, longer distance, and comprehensive data analysis. Test results in a small, controlled, in-mine fire are given.

Jan 1, 1992

By S. B. Gaidhani, V. A. Mandlekar, R. L. Sonolikar

Column flotation technique is applied for the depression of the magnetic material by the application of an axial magnetic field from chalcopyrite ore. It is observed that an increase in the intensity of magnetic field from 0 to 316.8 oersteds decreased the magnetic content in the froth from 25 to 2 %. . This might be due to retention of magnetic material in the magnetizable zone and the diffusion of nonmagnetics through it. The effect of air velocity increased the magnetic content in the froth and total froth content also. At low gas velocity the tiny bubbles are formed whereas at high gas velocity these coalesce into big bubbles and slugs formed breaks the magnetizable zone. This study opens a new field called 'Magneto-flotation'.

Jan 1, 1988

By R. J. Sweigard, M. Rohatgi

Differential settlement on reclaimed land presents a particular problem when the land is to be used for row crops. The poorly drained depressions caused by differential settlement restrict crop yield, resulting in additional costs to alleviate the problem. Potentially more serious is the threat of failing to meet target yields due to settlement-related reductions. Because the mechanism by which the problem occurs is not well understood, a physical model study was conducted to investigate the importance of several factors. The importance was considered of such factors as the relative amounts of rock and unconsolidated overburden in the undisturbed condition and the size distribution of rock fragments. But the analysis concentrated on the causes of settlement in the reconstructed soil layer above the rock spoil.

Jan 1, 1991

By Stefan Gerl, Werner Stahl

Steam pressure filtration combines mechanical and thermal processes in one filtration device. Steam condensation at the cold layers of the filter cake, build a condensation front, which even removes the capillary water from the porous filter cake. Depending on the choice of parameters it is possible to achieve a very low residual moisture content. The influence of the parameters on the dewatering results was systematically examined on a bench-scale apparatus. This paper explains the physical fundamentals, the influence of the cake dewatering parameters, and one possible method of applying the process to a disk filter device as well.

Jan 1, 1995

By B. K. Mishra, R. K. Rajamani

This paper focuses on the use of a numerical tool known as the discrete element method (DEM) to study the motion of ball charge in ball mills. DEM is employed to simulate the motion of individual balls. While doing so, the effect of liner design on the grinding performance of the mill is studied. Two important, factors, such as the configuration of the liner and the geometry of the lifting surfaces, are correlated with the overall mill performance. An attempt is made to show the effectiveness of the lifter bars in transmitting power from the mill shell to the interior of the mill, with particular emphasis on large diameter mills.

Jan 1, 1994

By J. Andrew Leach, Robert T. Tape, Thomas G. Harper

A practical approach to elope stability design of heap leaches up to 90 m (300 ft) high is presented based on recent experiences with heaps throughout the Western U.S. Shear strength parameters for foundations, ore and liner systems are considered, with particular attention given to frictional contacts between geomembranes and clay or geotextiles. Stability of both ore and containment dikes is discussed including the effects of seismicity, staged dike construction, progressive heap development and in-heap solution levels. Design criteria and methods of analyses are presented along with techniques for improving stability.

Jan 1, 1987

By Tanya Arsh, Thomas P. Kwiatkowski, Heather Marsh, Barry Doyle

The Big Walnut Sanitary Trunk Sewer Extension Project consists of two segments, the first a 10' excavated diameter tunnel in rock through the gas producing Ohio Shale formation and the second will be microtunneled through unconsolidated water-bearing deposits. Relatively large quantities of methane gas have been encountered in the Ohio Shale. In the softground segment, the sands and gravels contain large water storage capacity and contain shallow residential wells. This paper will present an evaluation of potential gas inflows in the rock tunnel, design considerations for contract documents preparation to inform bidders as to the volumes of gases which may been countered and design options for construction of an impermeable shaft excavation support system to insure residential wells remain in service.

Jan 1, 2001