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By J. M. Applegate, C. L. Morgan

Introduction In the same way that a blueprint communicates informa¬tion about a structure, a systems architecture should provide information that guides the construction and implementation of a computing system. Taking the blueprint analogy a step further, a plot plan can also show where, in the "bigger picture," a particular design fits (if in fact it does) and what a builder needs to know about the environment in which he or she will operate. In the context of business systems, a meaningful architecture should convey the following: • the primary purpose of computer-based systems rela¬tive to particular tasks or operations, • the relationship of the systems to each other and an indication of their interaction and dependencies, • the relationship of the systems relative to the organiza¬tion and its objectives, • indications of where IS/IT resources can best be allo¬cated to support the organization and • the overall context in which new systems and technolo¬gies can be assessed for both their impacts on current systems and on the organization itself. In theory, a well-designed systems architecture should allow an organization to focus its resources on those aspects of its business that matter most, thus, leveraging investments in information technology to a competitive advantage. In addition, the way that a computing systems architecture is represented should be un¬derstandable to non-IT staff, and it should be eas¬ily recognized by the people it supports. This pa¬per attempts to show that a meaningful systems model exists and that its applica¬tion to mining can achieve the desired results. The following discus¬sion is based on the au¬thors interpretation of a concept referred to as the computer integrated manu¬acturing (CIM) model, as developed by Allen-Bradley. An inherent strength of the CIM approach is that the model combines aspects of business-reporting structures with the manufacturing process itself. What results is a systems frame¬work that is aligned with relevant business processes and is, therefore, easier for non-IS/IT personnel to interpret. The successful application of the CIM model can be seen in a large number of both discrete and process-manufacturing facilities throughout the United States. This paper provides a brief overview of the CIM model and then describes how the model can be applied at a conceptual level to the mining industry. Finally, this paper proposes an extension to the CIM model that the authors believe will make it easier to understand and apply. CIM model As shown on Fig. 1, the CIM model begins with the most detailed levels of process equipment and works its way up to the highest level of consolidated financial reporting. Systems at each level are characterized by common attributes, users, time frames, etc., providing a clear picture of their interac¬tion. Further analysis of the relationships between systems and between levels provides insight into the opportunities for integration. Regardless of the industry or processes involved, the CIM model provides a framework in which the characteristics of systems and the data they manage can be predicted based on the nature of the business function they support. In general, as data moves upward from the lower rungs of the CIM model, it changes from de¬scribing the physical na¬ture of a process to describ¬ing its financial aspects (e.g., from productivity to cost). The time frame to which data applies also transitions from a very short duration, perhaps only milliseconds, to financial or regulatory reporting time frames that may span years. In a simi¬

Jan 1, 2000

Since this paper was written, some changes have taken place, materially reducing the cost of iron-making as estimated in the text. These are chiefly reductions in the prices of ore and fuel. The charcoal used is now made in bee-hive ovens, and the price is con-

Jan 1, 1895

By REED H. HYDE

IN these days of low metal prices and difficult marketing conditions, any treatment that will improve the grade of a product is of interest, particularly when the operation involves little or no addition to the total cost and may even result in a marketable by-product. Such a' combination of circumstances exists, in some cases, in the zinc industry, where it has been found that certain impurities can be removed from .the ore during the Dwight-Lloyd sintering operation, previous to reduction to metal. Consequently it is not surprising that zinc smelters having these sintering machines are paying particular attention to this phase of the operation. Loss of zinc as fume is very low under the conditions obtaining in sintering zinc ores, but impurities such as cadmium and lead are more readily fumed off and it is on this fact that the purification is based. As a result of preferential volatilization of these impurities a sintered product' is made from which purer zinc metal or oxide can be produced, while the fume may be collected and treated to recover the impurity metals. To be effective the operation must be carefully conducted, but no special equipment other than that of a well designed Dwight. Lloyd plant is needed.

Jan 1, 1931

By Charles Will Wright

THE economy as well as the living standards of a country depends largely upon adequate supplies of raw materials at reasonable prices. Geological and climatic conditions responsible for the occurrence of commercial minerals and the growth of raw agricultural and forest products are so varied in different parts of the world that no country can be self-sufficient. The world is rapidly shrinking because of improvement in transportation facilities, but populations are steadily increasing and so are the needs for a greater production of raw materials and for their more equitable distribution. Too many barriers between nations prevent free access to the main sources of supply of the raw materials vital to neighboring nations and it is just such barriers that are often the cause of friction and even war. The International Trade Organization is doing a commendable job in helping to. break down barriers and to reduce friction, and we should now find ways to facilitate access to these sources of supply and encourage more efficient and greater production of the raw materials so urgently needed throughout the world. This cannot be done by individual selfish governmental agencies, influenced as they are by politics, nor by socialistic governments attempting to nationalize industries. It can be done efficiently only by the free individual through private enterprise properly protected against adverse governmental action. This protection can be supplied by the World Bank.

Jan 1, 1948

By R. E. Wagner

MISSOURI's famous lead area, in what is known as Southeast Missouri, is locally termed the "Lead Belt." These deposits are in the Bonne Terre dolomite of late Cambrian age which has a thickness of nearly 400 ft. Underlying this is the La Motte sandstone which varies in thickness from 0 to 400 ft. The La Motte beds are deposited directly on the ancient erosion surface of Pre-Cambrian porphyries and granites of probably Algonkian age. The buried igneous peaks extend up into the Bonne Terre in several areas within the Lead Belt. Overlying the Bonne Terre are shales and siliceous dolomites of late Cambrian and early Ordovician age. Within the Lead Belt these have a thickness of from 0 to 500 ft. The district is bounded in general on the southwest by the Sims Mountain fault, on the northwest and north by the Big River fault, and on the

Jan 1, 1947

By Harold M. Smith

The production of oil during the early development of new oil fields is usually accompanied by large quantities of natural gas. Since In most fields gas under pressure is the main source of the energy causing the oil to move throug the sands into the wells and thence to the surface, this coincident production of natural gas will contime as long as present day producing methods are used. Generally the use of this gas is restricted, and markets are not readily available Consequently, a large portion of the gas produced at such times is often wasted by being blown into the air.

Dec 1, 1930

By Riaan Van Wyk, Gys Landman

In today’s mining environment the use of radio communications in the form of two-way radios, cellular phones and even automated mining, form a vital part of the daily operations of a mining site. The radio transmissions that are used are a form of energy and as with all other types of energy it can have an influence on blasting equipment.

Jan 1, 2011

By W. E. Newton

THE following notes are offered primarily to show that industrial minerals or their products have a much more important place in the metallurgical industry than is perhaps generally realized, and with the hope also that some statement by the metallurgical consumer of the relative merits of various materials for particular requirements or services will l;>e of value to the industrial mineral producer. These notes are not in any way presented as complete. Also, some of the statements made may be debatable. The grouping adopted is as follows: (1) Refractories; (2) Fluxes; (3) Construction materials; and ( 4) Miscellaneous applications. Fuels are not dealt with in the present paper. REFRACTORIES GENERAL: Refractories are materials which will withstand high temperatures with-out melting or becoming markedly soft or pasty. While their primary function is to withstand heat, they are usually called upon to resist one or more of the following destructive influences: abrasion, pressure, corrosion by slags or fluxes, and rapid changes in temperature. Refractory materials may be conveniently divided into three classes: (1) Acid refractories-consisting of silica, or containing silica as their chief constituent. They combine more or less readily with metallic oxides, forming silicates, and are hence termed 'acid'. The most important of these are quartz, quartzite, siliceous sand, tripoli, Dinas rock, and ganister. Most fire-clays, although generally considered neutral sub-stances, contain relatively small amounts of free silica and are, to that extent, acid. (2) Neutral refractories-the term is merely relative in most cases, since, at high temperature, many of the refractories that are classed as neutral will react chemically with a strong base, functioning as a weak acid; or, conversely, with a strong acid, functioning as a weak base. Chrome and graphite are the most nearly neutral of all the commonly used refractory materials.

Jan 1, 1936

By Denise Mueller, Axel Preusse

"In 2010, the fracking discussion in Germany caused a number of changes in German law, which came into force in 2016. Especially the production of gas had to be regulated. With the legislation amendment, the “Subsidence-Area Mining Regulation” (in German: Einwirkungsbereichs-Bergverordnung) has been revised, too. The changes expand the compensation of mining damages, especially to the extraction with drilling from the surface and underground storage. Although the “Subsidence-Area Mining Regulation” has been revised, the area of main influence (subsidence of 10 cm) remains to determine a relevant boundary for mining damages. The determination and prediction of this boundary above caverns are presented in this paper. In addition, further elements of ground movements and their relevance to mine damages are analyzed. The usage of the area of main influence to fix a relevant boundary for mining damages does not correspond to the relevant elements of ground movements. A limit for differences in subsidence (tilt) or horizontal changes in length should be preferred to describe the relevance of mining damages on buildings. Furthermore, this paper outlines the the meaning of using the area of main influence to fix a relevant boundary for mining damages. INTRODUCTION The “Federal Mining Act” (in German: Bundesberggesetz, short: BBergG) forms the central legal standard to cover subsidence in Germany. The mining authority refers to the following regulations (Preuße et al., 2015): the “Subsidence-Area Mining Regulation” (in German: Einwirkungsbergverordnung, short: EinwirkungsBergV; since 1982) the “Mine-Surveyor Mining Regulation” (in German: Markscheider-Bergverordnung; short: MarkschBergV) the “Deep-Drilling Regulation”"

Jan 1, 2017

By J. R. D. Gravel, D. A. Poland

"The induration of iron ore pellets has always utilized prefired pellets to protect the pallet cars from the environment of the induration furnace. This paper presents the process used to obtain superior upper sidewalls. These heat resistant castings are used on induration pallet cars, and their life improvements by as much as 400% is a significant step towards the reduction of the prefired (or hearth layer pellets.) The benefit to the industry in the removal of the hearth layer is improved overall productivity. IntroductionThe Iron Ore Company of Canada (IOC) operates with production facilities located in Labrador City, Newfoundland and Sept Iles, Quebec. It has recently been acquired by North Limited, an Australian based resource oriented company. Prior to its acquisition, IOC has examined several methods of operational cost reductions. One of these was an examination of indurrating pallets. Pallets are composed of numerous assemblies and sub-assemblies. The examination of the upper sidewalls began as an intent to increase the operational life of the component. The anticipated net effect was to be a reduction in the overall pallet maintenance cost. All of the components and assemblies have undergone a severe scrutiny. IOC has found that the success of the project has depended upon not only the technical competency of all parties involved, but also upon the ability to share risk, to be innovative, and to find a partner with whom the development can proceed without fear and yet with accountability. IOC has found in Cast Steel Products (CSP) such a partner in the field of pallet development. This paper will undertake to explore the progression into the arena of partnering between IOC and CSP. CSP and IOC met in the fall of 1994. The work of re-engineering the pallets began with an initial order for 36 pallets in March, 1995. The work on the upper sidewalls involved segregation of the effect of alloy development versus physical geometry development. The nature of partnering between the two companies allocated alloy development to IOC and physical geometry development to CSP, yet no advancements were made in either area without the close co-operation or the involvement of both partners."

Jan 1, 1999

By D. K. Sarkar, Jiawei Xiong

"Self-assembled monolayers (SAM) on the aluminum substrates are used as the adhesion promoter between two aluminum substrates when bonded with the adhesive in adhesive bonding technology. Traditional surface analysis tools are not capable of identifying the presence of SAM on a surface; therefore, EIS has been used to determine their presence on the aluminum substrates. In this study SAMs have been deposited on aluminum using the monomer of (3-Glycidyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane (GPTS) organosilane. AA6061 aluminum alloys substrates were chemically cleaned with NaOH and HNO3 to remove the native oxides, followed by immersion in silane solutions. In a second method, SAMs were prepared by applying a spin coating of silane solution to the samples. The prepared SAM coated aluminum samples were analysed by EIS in the three electrode corrosion cell using a diluted alkaline solution. The impedance of the SAM coated aluminum is found be higher than the as-received aluminum. It has been also observed that the open circuit potential (OCP) of the SAM coated aluminum is higher than the as-received aluminum. Both elevated values of the impedance and OCP confirm the presence of SAM on aluminum.INTRODUCTIONSelf-assembly (Schreiber, 2000) is defined as the spontaneous formation of complex hierarchical structures from pre-designed building blocks, typically involving multiple energy scales and multiple degrees of freedom. Generally speaking, SAMs are created by the chemisorption of ""head groups"" onto a substrate from either the vapor or liquid phase followed by a slow organization of ""tail groups"" of a molecule. Typically, head groups are connected to a molecular chain in which the terminal end can be functionalized with groups such as –OH, –NH2, –COOH, or –SH to vary the wetting and interfacial properties (Chauhan et al., 2007; Ulman, 1996; Vashist, Lam, Hrapovic, Male, & Luong, 2014). Though there exist several methods to prepare SAM (Chauhan et al., 2007; Chen, Yang, & Zhang, 2014; Cho, Park, Jon, & Choi, 2007; Igor Luzinov, 2000; Reis, de Melo, & Costa, 2006; Song, Zhai, Wang, & Jiang, 2006; Sugimura, Hozumi, Kameyama, & Takai, 2002; Vashist et al., 2014), the two methods vapor phase (Song et al., 2006; Sugimura et al., 2002) and solution(Chen et al., 2014; Igor Luzinov, 2000) are commonly used. Recently, many articles have been published on the fabrication of superhydrophobic surfaces with SAM technology (Cho et al., 2007; Pan, Shen, Shang, & Xing, 2012; Siddaramanna, Saleema, & Sarkar, 2014; Song et al., 2006). Brassard, Sarkar, and Perron (2011) successfully obtained a superhydrophobic film by applying fluoroalkylsilane via self-assembly on monodispersive silica. SAMs are also reported as good candidates for anti-corrosion and adhesion promotion (Chen et al., 2014; Saleema, Sarkar, Paynter, Gallant, & Eskandarian, 2012). However, papers on the characterization of SAM properties are rarely seen. The most commonly used substrate for SAM is silicon and the method implemented is scanning probe microscopy (SPM) such as atomic force microscope (AFM) (Igor Luzinov, 2000; Moores, 2011; Zhang, 2003, 2005). Igor Luzinov (2000) analyzed the epoxysilane SAMs’ surface morphology and microstructure properties using scanning probe microscopy (SPM) and ellipsometry on single-crystal silicon wafers. SAMs have been used to improve the adhesion bonding of aluminum or plastics but no characteristic data have been presented yet (Saleema et al., 2012; Telegdi, 2007; Wang, Xu, Luo, Wang, & Wang, 2009). Recently, Reis et al.(Reis et al., 2006) have studied SAM of alkane diphosphonate (Gardobond X4661) on Al 5052 alloy samples by EIS in a naturally aerated sodium sulfate solution."

Jan 1, 2016

The first grant of land rights in Australia was pursuant to the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976. That Act has been at the core of the dispute between land rights and miners' rights. The mining industry believes that the Act, in giving a right of veto to Aborigines with respect to exploration and mining on Aboriginal land, has been responsible for a stagnation in exploration amd mining activity in the Northern Territory. In February 1985 the Commonwealth Government released for public comment its preferred model for national land rights legislation. The model has been opposed by the mining industry because it believes, first, that land rights is a matter which should be left to the States and, secondly, that the detailed mechanisms contained in the model constrain the industry in the manner of the Northern Territory legislation. Aboriginal leaders have opposed the model because it does not, in their view, measure up to undertakings given by the Commonwealth Government and, in addition, it provides for amendments to the Northern Territory legislation which are likely to result in the loss of the Aboriginal veto right. Are land rights and miner's rights compatible? The answer is yes provided all parties, including Governments, are prepared to talk and compromise and Governments recognise that the grant of land rights and any control by the Aboriginal people of exploration and mining on their land is not a substitute for raising the living standards of Aborigines as a significant group of disadvantaged Australians.

Jan 1, 1986

By S Sullivan

A recent review of resource reports lodged to statutory bodies found geological models with oversmoothed or unrealistic lithological boundaries, many of which do not represent geological appearance in the field, pit or underground drive. The underlying data is often too complex or messy to be incorporated into the resource model and is thus a simplification of reality, to the detriment of the mining operation and its shareholders. Volumes can be over- or underestimated and subsequent grade predictions can be misplaced, combining to cause over- or understatement in resource reporting to stakeholders and statutory authorities. Domain models can be improved with new modelling techniques such as machine learning. However, with poor data or improper use of machine learning techniques, the conclusions can be just as misleading as with current techniques. Machine learning rarely offers a single ‘right’ outcome, rather a range of possible outcomes from the data provided. But importantly it can take advantage of the full richness of data for more informed models. Machine learning also provides confidence in its predictions so that uncertainty in the resultant models can be quantified and passed through for risk assessment during mine planning and operation. This paper will discuss the factors accentuating complexity in deposit modelling: data diversity, structural controls, chemistry, data volumes, process workflows and external non-geological constraints. A case study illustrates the risk of reducing or ignoring complexity, which can result in an overly simplified geological model.

Mar 22, 2022

By James P. Chivilo, Gregory R. Meeder, Scott J. DiFiore, Matthew H. Johnson

New construction in metropolitan areas has direct impacts on immediate neighbors and abutters. While noise and dust are generally nuisance concerns, demolition, vibrations, excavation, and dewatering can cause structural damage to adjacent structures. Different cities, states, or jurisdictions have different regulations that dictate requirements, roles, or responsibilities for varying parties during construction. The authors will introduce and discuss risks of new construction adjacent to existing structures, and the legal framework in Illinois which requires the owner of the new construction project to provide adequate protections for adjacent existing structures. The authors, who are engineers and attorneys, will discuss technical and legal concerns, and will highlight the importance of early and frequent communication among project participants to manage risks, despite whether or not any local regulations exist to drive the process. RISKS IN ADJACENT CONSTRUCTION New construction in metropolitan areas inherently involves some combination of noise, dust, ground-borne vibrations, earth excavation, and subgrade dewatering. These issues have potential to directly and adversely affect abutters and their property. Noise and dust can be nuisance concerns, while vibrations, excavation, and dewatering can result in damage to abutters’ structures. Noise and dust are unlikely to lead to physical damage to abutters’ property, and can be controlled with limited work hours and good housekeeping practices. Vibrations and excavations, however, if not well understood, planned for, and mitigated, can result in serious damage to abutters’ structures. In turn, this damage introduces additional and often significant costs and schedule delays.

Jan 1, 2019

By J. F. Martin, L. M. Melnick, R. Rapp, R. C. Takacs

Recent studies on the determination of hydrogen in steel have shown that the hot-extraction method for removing hydrogen from a solid sample is preferable to its removal from a molten sample by vacuum fusion or by fusion in vacuum with tin. A number of techniques are available, however, for determining the hydrogen so extracted. They include: thermal conductivity, gas chromatography, pressure measurement before and after catalytic oxidation of the hydrogen to water and removal of the water, and pressure measurement before and after diffusion of the hydrogen through a palladium membrane. These techniques have been evaluated on the basis of initial cost, maintenance, speed and accuracy of analysis, and applicable concentration range. The results of this study showed that the palladium-membrane technique is best suited for routine use. FOR some time investigators have been concerned with the origin, form, and effect of hydrogen in steel. In such stdies', the analysis for hydrogen constitutes one of the most important phases. It is quite apparent that the results for hydrogen concentrations in a given steel are dependent on the method of obtaining the sample, storage of the sample until analysis, preparation of the sample, and analysis of the sample, including all the facets inherent in the calibration and operation of an apparatus for gas analysis. There are a number of means available for determining hydrogen. This is a critical study of some of the more common techniques in use today. In most conventional melting and casting methods, hydrogen concentrations of 4 to 6 parts per million (ppm) in steel are quite common. Because of the undesirable effects of hydrogen on steel there has been increased use of techniques such as vacuum melting,' vacuum casting, and ladle-to-ladle stream degassing, which lower the hydrogen content to levels on the order of 1 to 2 ppm. Therefore, the method used for determining hydrogen in steel must be sensitive and precise. In any analytical procedure for gases in metals there are two distinct operations—the extraction of the gas from the metal and the analysis of the extracted gas. To extract the gas from the steel, three methods have been employed: 1) fusion of the sample with graphite at high temperature; 2) fusion with a flux, such as tin, at a lower temperature; and 3) extraction of the hydrogen from the solid sample at a temperature below the melting point of the steel. Fusion with graphite is the least-acceptable method. The blank in this method is higher and more variable than in either of the other two methods. The hydrogen fraction of the total gas composition usually is between 10 and 50 pct; thus, a larger analytical error is possible. The vacuum-tin fusion4 extraction of hydrogen is probably the most rapid method in use today; the extraction time is usually about 10 min. However, with this system a bake-out of the freshly charged tin for 2 hr is necessary and a change of crucible and a charge of fresh tin are required after each day of operation whether one or thirty samples have been analyzed. In addition, frequent checks of blank rates are required since CO and Na are continually being given up by the steel samples dissolved in the tin bath. The composition of the gas in this method lends itself readily to analysis; although the hydroge concentration may fall to as low as 50 pct, more often it is above 90 pct, thus allowing a more precise analysis (because of less interference from other gases). In 1940 ewell' published the hot-extraction method for extracting hydrogen from the solid sample, comparing analysis for hydrogen extracted at 600°C with similar analysis for the gas extracted at 1700°C by fusion with graphite. Good agreement for hydrogen was obtained between these two methods, provided sufficient time was allowed for extraction at the lower temperature. carsone obtained good results in his comparison of this hot-extraction method with vacuum-tin fusion. Subsequent work by Geller and sun7 and Hill and ohnson' has shown that steel samples should be heated to at least 800°C to effect the release not only of the diffusible hydrogen but also of the "residual" hydrogen that may be present as methane. Since the rate of evolution of hydrogene9l0 depends on such factors as sample size and composition, thermal history, and extent of cold work, a fixed extraction time is not possible. Extraction times of 30 min are normal, but 2 hr are not unusual. Induction or resistance heating may be used in the hot-extraction method. With resistance heating the

Jan 1, 1964

By A. Hayatdavoudi, E. Apande

Introduction Troublesome shales have plagued the petroleum industry for more than 50 years. Unstable boreholes have been experienced when drilled into shale formations; sane have been studied almost at the beginning of rotary drilling. A little progress has been made since then, but much is still to be learned. No simple solution exists so far, but good drilling practices combined with good mud practices have been helpful. It is well known that shales in general have a strong affinity for water, and when water is adsorbed, the stability of the shale section of a well is reduced; cohesive strength will be re- bed, properties will be altered and shale will generally expand and/or crumble. The amount of water a shale will adsorb depends on the characteristics of its clay mineral and the ionic concentration of surrounding fluid. Fluid loss and the resulting hydration of an unstable formation can lead to serious downhole problems. The rate of fluid loss depends greatly on the permeability of the deposited cake. In impermeable formations, however, there is no loss of fluid into the formation. As such, shale, because of its very low porosity and almost no permeability, could be termed impermeable. Yet there is strong evidence that shale surfaces are wetted by an invasion of fluid into the formation through microfractures and jointed planes. It is this wetting that causes the shales to swell and slough into the hole, resulting in problems such as increased mud volume and treating costs, bridges and fill-up, stuck pipe, overgauge hole, poor cement jobs and increased cement requirements, and logging and completion difficulties. Drilling operations have been defeated by severe shale problems, resulting in & hole being plugged and abandoned after several weeks of drilling. Shales are we1l known as being difficult and costly to drill. Numerous fishing jobs have plagued drilling operations, and the cost of reaming tight holes ad weighting up the drilling mud to control shale sloughing has been high. The concept of controlling water loss to stop sloughing was introduced in the 1920's. It was known-then that calcium in fresh water re- strains clay £ran excessive swelling (theory of osmosis) . This reinforced the belief that calcium-based muds such as lime, gypsum and calcium chloride should minimize hydration of clays. Lime muds were then introduced for this purpose and others in the 1930-1940 decade1. They were used for shale inhibition but were not effective. In an attempt to improve them, a special calcium-type mud beam popular during the 1950's. Hole enlargement continued and they too were considered ineffective. During & early 1960qs, papers were published claiming that shale swelling could be prevented by using high concentrations of chemical thinner called Chrane Lignosulfonate1. This began the era of highly treated lignosulfote muds. Unfortunately, the hole enlargement problem continued. During & mid-1960’s, oil based muds were used for the purpose of inhibition of shales. Not until 1966 did Mondshine2 suggest that the water phase be saturated with calcium chloride. The cost of using oil based mud was considered by most operators not worth the additional hole stability. The potassium chloride-polymer muds were also used in many fields in the United States and western Canada. The use of these muds has been claimed to prevent clay swelling by inhibition and encapsulation in sane areas of western Canada. They are also expensive and their ueneral application is still experimental. To reduce filtrate loss when sloughing shale becomes a problem during drilling is a reasonable practice. This study will investigate the use of cationic organic additives to mud to form a protective barrier between the shale - which are primarily composed of clays - and water that will keep water from entering the microfractures and will also prevent them from hydrating. In so doing, an understanding of modern clay chemistry and & dispersive properties of cationic additives in water based systems will be our most valuable tools. This study will also present and solve a mathematical model for simulating cation transport phenomena in fractured shales using the Framdlich equilibrium adsorption isotherm. The studies will analyze wellbore failure and stability as affected by cationic organic material.

Jan 1, 1986

By Young C. Kim

Because of the high cost of obtaining coal washability samples, it has been difficult to obtain washability variograms in the past. As a result. It could not be determined if geostatistical prediction tool known as kriging can be applied to predict in-situ coal washability characteristics.

Jan 1, 1988

By Yu. A. Polozov, V. A. Lagunov, O. Yu. Lushinkova, Yu. I. Svirskiy, Eh. Ya. Kipko, Roy A. Williams

1.1 GENERALIZED METHODS OF SUPPRESSING THE INFLOW OF GROUND WATER DURING THE CONSTRUCTION OF SHAFTS, DRIFTS AND TUNNELS Various methods are used to prevent or minimize the inflow of ground water into underground workings during their excavation. The two most common methods include freezing the saturated rock and grouting using cement, sodium silicate, polyurethane and/or other chemicals. Each of these technologies for combatting the inflow of ground water is effective only under specific hydrogeological conditions. For example, although the freezing of saturated ground is among the more universally adopted methods, it is designed to provide only temporary protection during construction. Before the saturated rock thaws it is necessary to emplace a waterproof liner which is labor intensive, time consuming, and expensive. Consequently, freezing is used only in exceptionally complex hydrogeological conditions, namely in those cases where the water-bearing strata consist of unstable rock or the ground water has an anomalous hydrochemistry. The classical grouting of saturated rock, carried out from the surface or from the face of the underground workings for the purpose of limiting the inflow of ground water during excavation, utilizes both cement and a variety of chemical grouts. Cement grouting has been regarded as the main method of combatting the inflow of ground water in fractured rock throughout the world. In such countries as the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), Canada, the Republic of South Africa and Great Britain, cement grouting is the main method of reducing the inflow of ground water during the excavation of mine openings. In Great Britain and the FRG, cement grouting has been used in 80% of all shaft excavations. In the Republic of South Africa cement grouting has been used in almost 100% of all the shafts that have been constructed. The installation of grout curtains into permeable water- bearing strata significantly reduces their permeability and increases the rock strength. Grouting has the greatest effect in fractured sandstones, certain well indurated shales, fractured granites, fractured quartzites, and karstic limestones or dolomites. The following principal factors must be considered when assessing the expediency of grouting rock with cement: the geometry of the network of fracture openings, the saturated hydraulic conductivity of the fractured rock, the hydraulic head acting on the water in the rock, and the chemical composition of the ground water. On the basis of the geometry of the fractures and the thickness of each hydrostratigraphic unit, the characteristics of the cement grout are selected. As a rule, the cementing of large fractured zones with high ground water velocities is carried out using inert fillers (sand, mill slag, loam, loess, crushed limestone), special types of cement, setting accelerators, and high cement concentrations in water. Calcium chloride, soda ash, sodium silicate, sodium nitrate, amino alcohols, tin bichloride, trisulphate nitrate, and lumnite are used extensively as the setting accelerators for cement grouts. In the FRG and Poland, special cement injection compounds that embody a mixture of cement and active cement metal salts, water additives and binding substances are being used for the cementing of saturated zones with rapid ground water velocities. These reagents accelerate the rate of structure-forming reactions. In spite of the wide variety of additives used for cement grouts, the effectiveness of the method in large fractures below the water table is either poor or it leads to a very large consumption of cement due to the erosion of the grout through the cracks before it hardens. At the present time, a large number of cement types and brands are being produced by various countries. These variations permit cementing to be employed in a variety of geological conditions. However, both pure cement grout and grouts with fillers constitute unstable systems with a high water loss rate. Therefore during the grouting of finely fractured rock the cement grout's premature loss of a large amount of free water causes its consistency to increase, whereupon the grout solidifies. Consequently, it inadequately penetrates into the fine fractures of the stratum. In addition the high water loss rate in the cement grout causes unreacted cement particles to remain, which greatly reduces the grout hardness and the resulting rock strength characteristics are weakened. As a result, the binding properties of the cement are utilized perhaps up to 60%. The remaining portion is left in the grout as a filler. All these conditions significantly decrease the efficiency of the isolation effort both with respect to strength and cost. In order to expand the cement grouting method, re- search is being conducted to improve the quality of cement grout, to increase its range of application with respect to permeability control, to reduce its water loss rate and to increase its capacity to withstand the erosive and corrosive effects of poor quality ground water. For example, mixtures of bentonitic clay, carboxymethyl cellulose, aerated sodium sulfide, sulphated alcohol distillery waste, nitrolignin, gip-

Jan 1, 1993

By N. O. Lotter

The connection between mineralogy and metallurgical performance in a plant was recognised long ago (Gaudin, 1939; Petruk, 1976; Petruk and Hughson, 1977; Cabri, 1981; Petruk and Schnaar, 1981; Kinloch, 1982; Peyerl, 1983, Baum et al 1989 for example). The modern toolbox that we now routinely use for flowsheet development took decades to develop (Lotter et al., 2002; Baum and Lotter, 2004; Lotter, 2011 for example). Many workers contributed considerable time and effort to this overall mission of connecting sampling, mineralogy and mineral processing to integrate the flowsheet development activities. Certain key milestones marked this journey, such as Gy’s treatise on the sampling of particulate materials in 1979, which was later added to by François-Bongarçon, Pitard, Minnitt, and Holmes for example. The development of QEM*SEM by Gottlieb et al. of the MLA by Gu et al. constituted a huge leap forward in accuracy and mineral measurement capacity, as well as a reduction in standard errors of mineral characterisation. The advancement of the microprobe to an automated platform made a significant difference to detailed compositional mineralogy. This led to a strong position from which to draw meaningful processing implications from the mineralogical data. Reproducible flotation testing and reliable plant survey material for characterisation was dealt with by, amongst others, High Confidence Flotation Testing ( Lotter, 1995: Runge, 2010, and Bradshaw, 1997); and Statistical Benchmark Surveying (Lotter, 2005), with earlier prototypes which were steadily improved (Lotter, 1994; Restarick, 1976). The sterling work of Napier-Munn in engaging sound statistical methods with mineral processing led to the successful design and use of methods that could identify and quantify small recovery gains in plant scale trials. This history and present capability are reviewed, including leverage into asset management.

Jan 1, 2018

By M Jones

The past 100 years the mining industry can be characterised by a focus on increasing financial returns often to the detriment of social, human, manufactured and environmental capitals. Despite the sustainable development principles promoted by the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM), the Equator Principles and the African Mining Vision, which should have enhanced project promoters’ ‘licence to operate’ within a host community or nation, the industry has often failed to integrate proven innovations and best practices that enhance sustainability outcomes for mineral resource projects. This failure has led to delays, the abandonment of projects, with value destroyed for promoters, governments, host community and investors.The paper will outline the application of proven innovations, Enterprise Optimisation (EO), and Sustainable Operations (SUSOP®), during the pre-feasibility phase of a project. By determining the value of each capital before and after the application of proven innovations, the presentation will outline how and where value can be created across all five capitals over the life of a project or operation.The paper will demonstrate how the application of proven innovations significantly transforms the value-proposition of a mineral resource project or operation by generating additional value across all of the five capitals, reducing project risk, thus generating value for all stakeholders.CITATION:Jones, M, 2015. Fundamentally transforming the economic and sustainability signature of mining assets, in Proceedings Third International Future Mining Conference, pp 169–180 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Nov 4, 2015