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New Zealand's Land and Income Tax Act 1954 contains unique incentives for companies engaged in mining certain specified minerals or petroleum. Sections 152 and 153 provide for the taxable income of such companies to be based not on profits made but on dividends paid to shareholders. A significant saving in tax results, particularly where profits are not distributed: but the Act attempts to ensure that undistributed profits are used for further mineral exploration and development. To encourage investment in the mining industry, persons taking up shares in a company mining for the specified minerals or petroleum are entitled to a one-third deduction in respect of monies paid on the shares and used by the company for its purposes; and company shareholders may make loans to the company and write-off such loans for tax purposes to an amount of up to half their taxable income. Maximum utilisation of the tax incentives calls for careful consideration as to whether a mining or petroleum company should be financed by way of loan capital or share capital.

Jan 1, 1971

Jan 1, 1899

By Margaret Armstrong, Chris Roth

One advantage of kriging is that it provides both an estimate of the block or point grade, and an indication of the local precision via the kriging variance. If one assumes that the estimation errors are normally distributed, then confidence intervals for the grades can be calculated. But in mining, grades are rarely normally distributed; in general, they are skew. This is particularly true for precious metals. In this paper we study confidence intervals for variables with non-normal distributions. Using a non linear geostatistical technique, the grades are transformed into their normally distributed equivalents. Confidence intervals are obtained for these normal variables, and back transformed to give the corresponding confidence intervals for the grades, for either points or blocks. This approach is applied to gold data from the Witwatersrand basin in South Africa.

Jan 1, 1996

By K. V. S. Sastry, S. C. Panigraphy, D. W. Fuerstenau

The batch balling behavior of hematite, magnetite and limestone was found to depend markedly on the grinding method used for feed preparation. Wet ground materials require higher moisture for balling than do dry ground materials. Further, as the fineness of the wet-ground material is increased, the overall rate of agglomeration decreases, whereas the opposite is true for dry-ground materials. In contrast, the resulting pellet size distributions are not affected by the nature of the feed material preparation. These differences and similarities in the agglomeration behavior between wet and dry ground materials may result from the hydrophilic/hydrophobic nature of the surfaces, the formation of pre-agglomerates during dry comminution, and possible variations in the packing density of particles in the agglomerates.

Jan 1, 1978

By Yelloji M. K. Rao, P. Somasundaran

Reagents of biological origin are becoming more and more important in the field of metallurgy, especially in the areas of mineral processing and hydrometallurgy. The advantage of lower operating cost over physical and chemical processes and the capacity to operate with low grade ores make the microbial processes further attractive. In this paper, the role of microbes directly as a reagent and microbially produced reagents or secreted metabolites in mineral processing and hydrometallurgy will be discussed. Adhesion of microbes to surfaces is known to alter the hydrophobicity of minerals. Applications include surface modification to impart hydrophobicity or hydrophilicity on sulfide or non-sulfide minerals and dissolution of precious metals. Microbes can also perform the role of flocculating agents. Biosorption of toxic and heavy metal ions by microbes are finding application in treating tailing ponds. Mechanisms associated with the use for microbially produced reagents are discussed along with some recent results.

Jan 1, 1994

By R. J. Sweigard, R. V. Ramani

Estimated costs and revenues can be used in evaluating postmining land use alternatives. However, postmining land use decisions have to be made in an environment complicated by several additional factors. These factors, including cultural, natural, and managerial issues, are not as easily quantified as costs and revenues but may be more important determinants. There fore, some approach is needed to attach relative weight to the various factors. The concept of fuzzy sets assembled into a structured hierarchy facilitates analysis of the relative value of individual factors and their impact on each alternative under consideration. In this paper, a method is presented that employs fuzzy set analysis to evaluate postmining land use plans on the basis of these nonquantitative factors.

Jan 1, 1988

By H. N. Mills

The glass industry is a major user of many industrial minerals in the manufacture of its product. It is the intent of this chapter to: (1) acquaint the reader with the glass industry by including a few production statistics, and then (2) cover the various aspects of the major raw materials used to make glass. Some of the items covered are: type of materials, their function in glass, their composition, cost, and the relative quantity used in glass vs. totals produced. In addition, a discussion of glass raw material specifications, some byproduct materials used in glassmaking, and comments on future prospects related to the environment, technology, and growth are included. The matter of glass compositions, properties, and batches is considered beyond the scope of this chapter which deals only with raw materials. For more details on the particular minerals and rocks, the reader is referred to the commodity chapters in this book.

Jan 1, 1975

By J. S. Stachulak

Installation of a computerized mine monitoring and control system in two planned construction phases began in 1983. Phase one consisted of providing a central monitoring station located on surface for monitoring underground CO detection in Frood Mine's heated area. The implementation of this project annualized labour savings of $200,000. The cost of installation of an early fire warning system was $100,000. There are several CO sensor monitoring carbon monoxide trends through mine heated areas. To obtain an early warning, it is not good enough to know that a fire has started, but it is also necessary to know where the fire is located.

Jan 1, 1989

By Romeo U. Pagador

After privatization in 1999, PASAR Corporation initiated a plant modernization program to optimize the performance of the smelter by increasing plant availability. This initiative required operational adjustments to the converting and anode furnace procedures, to support the higher throughput in the flash furnace, while continuing to meet government environmental regulations. The major shift in production direction was to eliminate the 30-35 day maintenance shutdown every two years, and replace it with a 15-day shutdown. This paper discusses the changes implemented in the converter and anode operation that have resulted in an increase of 10% in flash furnace throughput, an 18% increase in blister output, to 170 tonnes per cycle, and a converter campaign tonnage increase of 10%. Since privatization, PASAR has instituted a series of ?management of change? programs that have facilitated an industrial cultural change needed to achieve the company?s vision, mission and strategic goals.

Jan 1, 2005

By Mario L. Villa

Oil activities and the petroleum industry in general have suffered severely in this country as a result of present war conditions. War has imposed a very heavy and unpleasant burden on the shoulders of those whose duty it is to keep .Argentina supplied with the necessary oil to meet industry's growing demands. Since 1940, imports of manufactured products from Europe and the United States have fallen to a minimum, making it necessary to manufacture as many of them as possible locally. This has brought about the establishment of many new industries and the enlargement of already existing plants, creating new demands for fuel that drain heavily the country's stocks, which already were overtaxed because of the diminished supply imported. To cope with this problem, a plan for an intensification of oil-field activities was drawn up by Yacimientos Petroliferos Fiscales (Argentine Government Oil Fields) which included the drilling of many new

Jan 1, 1943

By A. Eiders

THE year 1874 marks a decided advance in the metallurgy of the West, in two directions. On the one hand, the technical management has been very materially improved, and on the other, the production has been largely increased over that of the previous year. The technical improvements of greatest importance are the introduction of condensation-chambers, or flues, at several works, and the further treatment of the lead matte produced in the ore smelting. These two are of general importance, and although by no means introduced at the majority of works, their adoption at the few where their great importance has begun to be understood will no doubt bring about their universal introduction. To these may be added a third step. forward, which for some localities is vital enough, though for others it must still remain doubtful whether it is to be regarded as an improvement or not. This is the introduction, at several

Jan 1, 1875

By Geoffrey Purcell

Although the extractive metallurgist has not yet tackled the problem of getting blood out of a stone, he must, when faced with the mini- metal values of today's ores, believe that this ultimate miracle will soon be expected of him. Even assuming that some plausible professor at one of the few remaining minerals industry schools could persuade the National Science Foundation to sponsor such a sanguine research project, the funds might have to go begging for want of a graduate metallurgist. Falling enrollment in fields devoted to nonrenewable mineral resources, long a matter of grave concern to educators, is now recognized as a problem of great national consequence urgently needing a solution. While the law of supply and demand might eventually be expected to right the imbalance of engineers, time is not on our side and action to correct the shortage is required now.

Jan 1, 1970

By Otto E. Jr Crenwelge, Timothy A. Peterson

We have developed a site-specific method for analysis, prediction, and control of ground vibrations induced by overburden blasting operations in surface coal mines. Field tests conducted at R&F Coal Company have verified our approach for obtaining signatures of the overburden vibration characteristics at locations of interest near the mine, selecting the optimum excitation frequency for minimizing vibrations, measuring and synthesizing multiple-charge excitation signals for minimizing vibration amplitude and duration and controlling frequency, accurately predicting the multiple-charge vibration response in both the time and frequency domains, and accurately controlling the blast detonation to achieve the predicted vibration control. Initial field studies also indicate that by minimizing the vibrational energy radiated from the blast zone, and by optimizing the number of charges detonated per delay period as allowed by this technique, more effective use of the explosive energy is obtained within the blast zone itself for improving overburden fragmentation, swell, and cast. In all of the phases of this technique, including actual blast detonation, personal computer hardware and software have been verified for use in either field or office environments.

Jan 1, 1986

By A. Eilers

The year 1874 marks a decided advance in the metallurgy of the West, in two directions. On the one hand, the technical management has been very materially improved, and on the other, the production has been largely increased over that of the previous year. The technical improvements of greatest importance are the introduction of condensation-chambers, or flues, at several works, and the further treatment of the lead matte produced in the ore smelting. These two are of general importance, and although by no means introduced at the majority of works, their adoption at the few where their great importance has begun to be understood will no doubt bring about their universal introduction. To these may be added a third step forward, which for some localities is vital enough, though for others it must still remain doubtful whether it is to be regarded as an improvement or not. This is the introduction, at several

By P. G. Van Der Walt

This paper deals with the reticulation of deslimed tailings from surface to the stope face underground. Reference is made to the experience gained at the pilot plants operating on four of the gold mines administered by Gold Fields of South Africa, as well as at the full-scale system at East Driefontein which was commissioned recently. Mine-wide backfill systems are currently being installed on five other mines administered by Gold Fields. These six full-scale systems are capable of handling more than 270 000 tons of backfill solids per month. The type of reticulation system chosen, the selection of flowrates and the composition of the slurry, as well as the selection of the appropriate pipes and ancillary equipment are discussed. Both theoretical and practical aspects are taken into consideration. Other aspects covered include the design of underground storage dams and communication systems.

Jan 1, 1988

The sixth annual conference of the Mineral Economics and Management Society (MEMS) was held Feb. 27 through March 1 in Boulder, CO. This year's event was attended by more than 100 academic, industrial, government and other professionals interested in mineral economics and materials management. With about 250 members worldwide, this not-for-profit society seeks to promote scientific and economic analysis of current relevant issues. This year's program was sponsored by Alcan, Bateman Engineering, Cyprus Amax Minerals, J.P Morgan, Knight Piesold LLC and Newmont Gold. The conference's technical program consisted of six sessions. These included "Financial tools for a changing world," "Access to minerals," "Comparing North and South America," "Environmental issues in today's world" and "Transporting minerals." The program was concluded with a panel discussion titled "National minerals policies in Asia." In addition, a student papers session was held, in which students were given the opportunity to compete for a $1,000 award. The following is a brief review of the technical pro¬gram.

Jan 1, 1997

By B. K. Mozumdar

This paper describes the development and application of a dynamic simulation model of ground movement in an underground mine. Ground movement and related stress distributions with or without stowing are computed as the mining face advances. Pressure profiles plotted for different face positions indicate the presence of a front abutment with a maximum value of four times the original ground pressure but no back abutment in the gob. The surface strain is considerably reduced with increase in packing density in the gob up to a certain value. Beyond this value, the reduction in the strain is minimal, indicating an economic level of packing. As a result of model experiments with different physical systems and geological parameters, it has been concluded that when one of the coordinates for the subsidence and the strain curves is made dimensionless in terms of the critical width, the relationship will hold true for all physical situations. This was in agreement with the NCB observations for different panel lengths.

Jan 1, 1977

By Cen Guoji

The foundation of bored pouring concrete pile have been adopted in the bridge engineering of China since early in the sixties. They demonstrated tremendous technical advantage and achieved notable economic benefit. With improvement of bridge technique including construction technique work equipment, design theory, examination in quality and applicable range etc, the pile diameter became bigger and the foundation changed from shallow to deep-water. This paper examples Jiujiang Bridge of Guangdong in China, which is single-tower cable-staged bridge, total length of 1675m, and expouds adopted successfully the foundation of variable section large bored pile (upper part d=3m, central part d=2. 4m and lower part d=2m) on the conditions of complicated technique that the load is tremendous (it require specially to resist 12000 kN ship impact) and the piles have free length 30m. The paper will be to describle design project and construction practice of pile foundation with variable section, and to compare schemes of equal section pile and pile in sinking-well.

Jan 1, 1991

By Helen Leung, Colin R. Phillips

The performance of personal alpha dosimeters in mixed radon daughter and thoron daughter atmospheres in Ontario uranium mines is described together with monitoring developments which enable the radon daughter working level to be determined separately. The theoretical bases for continuous and integrated working level measurements based on individual and gross counts are presented in terms of the weighting factor for combining the thoron daughter working level with the radon daughter working level, and in terms of the in-growth time of the air. Implications for the determination of working level in the presence of thoron daughters are discussed.

Jan 1, 1981

By Phil Hulse

The Atlanta mine is located in east-central Nevada, approximately 360 km (225 miles) from Las Vegas. It lies in Lincoln County, 116 km (72 miles) south of Ely and 80 km (50 miles) northeast of Pioche. The property is currently operated by the Standard Slag Co. under a joint venture agreement with Bobcat Properties Inc, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Operations began in May 1975, and the mill is currently processing 109 000 to 122 500 t/y (120,000 to 135,000 stpy) of gold- and silver-bearing ore. Open-pit mining takes place in a breccia zone that occurs between Ordovician limestones and dolomites on the footwall and Tertiary rhyolites on the hanging wall. The quartz breccia ore is among the most abrasive in the world-shovel teeth must be replaced every week, 19-mm-thick (3/4-in.) steel chutes last about a month.

Jan 9, 1978