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By V. Castranova, L. Wu, K. Van Dyke, J. Gutierrez, V. Vallayathan

Since it has been demonstrated that silica caused phagocytic cells to activate lipoxygenase metabolism of unsaturated fatty acids we thought selective inhibition of this metabolic pathway might be helpful in treatment of silicosis. It is known that lipoxygenase metabolism plays a role in the pathogenesis of a variety of inflammatory and hypersensitivity conditions. Further, it is believed that the alveolar phagocytic cells which engulf silica begin the inflammatory cycle which produces the metabolic products, cytokines and growth factors which causes fibrosis in the lung. There have been indications that drugs which inhibit lipoxygenase can inhibit fibrosis from other causes. Previously, we developed a method which detects the activity of lipoxygenase metabolism by measuring free radical oxidation via light production or chemiluminescence (CL). We decided to apply this method to phagocytic cells that would be found in the lung in the presence of silica with and without newly developed inhibitors of the lipoxygenase reaction. We used drugs which inhibit lipoxygenase directly including AA861 (TAKEDA), A63162 (Abbott), and an inhibitor that scavenges free radicals produced from the lipoxygenase reaction, nordihydroguairetic acid. In addition we used an indirect inhibitor, tetrandrine. We found drug inhibition of silica activated CL from alveolar macrophages, neutrophils and human leukemia (HL-60) cells differentiated with DMSO. Nordihydroguairetic acid 2x10-5M produced almost complete inhibition in all three cell types. In human leukemia cells (HL-60) A63162 and tetrandrine were equally inhibitory at 42% while in human neutrophils A63162 and tetrandrine were less active 22 and 10% respectively. In macrophages A63162 and AA861 were less than 50% inhibitory to cellular CL at 2xl0-5M. Direct assay of tetrandrine (2x10-5M) with sodium arachidonate and soybean lipoxygenase reveals no inhibition. All antilipoxygenase drugs regardless of mechanism were inhibitory to cellular chemiluminescence from all three types of phagocytic cells. These drugs alone or in mixtures could prove useful in treatment of silicosis.

Jan 1, 1991

By A. W. Khair, S. S. Peng

Background The mine is located in Ebensburg, Cambria County, PA. Cambria County is located within the Allegheny Mountain section of the Appalachian Plateau Province. The geologic structures in the mine area included folds, faults, joints and cleats in the coal. These geologic structures seem to have genetic relationships with the Allegheny Front (lannacchione and Puglio, 1979). The mine's geologic structures have been influenced mainly by Ebensburg Anticline and Wilmore Syncline (Watson, 1979). Current longwall panels lay along the western limb of the Wilmore Syncline oriented south 30° west. Surface topographic relief in the area is less than 152 m (500 ft) and overburden thickness varies from 183 to 244 m (600 ft to 800 ft). The coal seam in the mine is part of the Lower Kittanning Formation. The thickness of the B-seam is the subject of discussion. It varies from 1.2 to 1.5 m (48 to 60 in.) and consists of two parts. The lower part is 1.1 to 1.2 m (44 to 48 in.) of soft coal and the remainder is bony coal. The coal seam dips slightly from 0° to 6° to the east-south direction. Panel entries are driven 61 m (200 ft) wide, consisting of three 5.5 m (18 ft) wide entries and two pillars 24.4 x 30.5 m (80 x 100 ft) centers. The mine has a history of cutter roof problems in the entries (Fig. 1) that has delayed the advance rate of entry development considerably and the cost of maintaining those entries is very high due to the requirement of very heavy artificial supports (Fig. 2). Due to excessive convergence in the headgate, installation of additional support and often resetting of steel beam, to provide enough clearance, in these entries imposed additional delay during the retreat of the longwall face, as the shearer cuts coal adjacent to the headgate and shield support at the headgate needs to advance under the steel beams (Fig. 3). Methodology Extensive underground observation indicated that roof cutter [ ]

Jan 1, 1992

By Yoginder P. Chugh

It is well known that weak floor conditions in central Illinois affect pillar and mine opening stability. The floor interaction with coal pillars and immediate mine roof are being studied using two dimensional (plane-strain) elastic-plastic finite element models. The effects of varying soft floor thickness, coal seam- thickness, width of mine openings and strength parameters of coal and mine floor are being evaluated. The finite element models developed by Agbabian Associates and Dahl were utilized in this study.

Jan 1, 1982

By H. D. Sharma

INTRODUCTION Uranium mill tailings, by-products from the mining and milling of uranium oxide contain all decay products of uranium-238, uranium-235 and all the Th-232. The ore containing all daughter products of the parents U-238, U-235 and Th-232 is ground to approximately 50% under 200 mesh particle size and after extraction of uranium, the residue, described as tailings, is discharged into natural depressions confined by dams. These deposition sites are referred to as tailings ponds. Tailings ponds are located in two mining districts, Bancroft and Elliot Lake in the Province of Ontario, Canada. Some parts of tailings ponds are dry up to a depth of several meters, whereas other parts have a water table very close to the surface and still others are covered with water. The extent to which the daughters of uranium isotopes are in equilibrium with the parents U-238 and U-235 is dependent on the age of the deposit in which uranium occurs and the extent to which the decay products are removed by geochemical processes. In the mining district of Bancroft, the deposit is known to be approximately 1 billion years old, whereas in Elliot Lake, the deposit is considered to be approximately 2 billion years old. The ratio of radiogenic lead isotopes Pb-206 and Pb-207, can provide some estimates concerning the age of the deposits. If the tailings are not affected by geochemical processes, the tailings would contain all the daughters of the 4n+2 and 4n+3 series in equilibrium concentrations. The equilibrium activities of some members of the 4n+2 series are calculated in Table 1. [ ] The amount of radiogenic stable lead isotopes depends on the age of the ore deposits. If the deposit in each district is of the same age, a definite relationship is expected with respect to the activity of Pb-210 and the radiogenic stable isotopes. Approximately 33 million tons of the tailings have been deposited in the early 1960's, approximately 20 years ago. During this period of storage, the segregation of uranium daughters, like radium, the diffusion of gaseous product, Rn-222, and removal of precursors by geochemical processes, can cause dis-equilibrium. Earlier work concerned with the uptake of Ra-226 and Pb-210 by plants (Kalin and Sharma, 1981), indicated that the concentrations of Pb-210,in samples of the tailings taken, were lower than the expected equilibrium. The diffusion of radon from a variety of matrices has been studied (Tanner, 1964). It has been shown that the diffusion coefficient is dependent on the particle size in which its precursor is present, the moisture content and the surface conditions. The direct measurement of radon concentrations in the environment near the ponds is dependent on the metereological conditions. Kramer, Schroeder and Evans, 1964, have examined the variations in the concentration of radon near the ground level with respect to atmospheric variables, such as changes in barometric pressure, precipitation, wind velocities, thermal atmospheric instability. It is difficult to relate the total release of radon from the ponds to the atmosphere over an extended period. Our measurements of Pb-210 and total lead on tailings samples taken from 16 sites indicate that the ratios of the activity of Pb-210 to the mass of total lead can provide parameters which are helpful in the estimation of the total amount of radon and its decay products diffusing from the tailings ponds. In this paper, we present the results of measurements of activities of Ra-226, Pb-210 and total lead in samples from various ponds situated in both mining districts. The measurements were confined to samples taken at 0-25 cm depth from the surface.

Jan 1, 1981

By B. Pesic

Northwest Alloys, a wholly owned subsidiary of Alcoa, produces magnesium from dolomite by reduction with ferro silicon and aluminum. This process produces alkaline by-products in quantities that allow their consideration for use as commercial by-products. Two such products are dicalcium silicate slag, Di-Cal, and magnesium oxide condensate, MgO. The alkaline properties of these materials offer acid neutralizing capability comparable to the traditionally used lime, therefore, warranting a study for their use in applications where the neutralization of acidic waters or process solutions is required, such as treatment of mine waters. In this ongoing study, three mine waters (Bunker Hill Mine, Berkeley Pit, and Blackbird Mine) were selected for treatment with Di-Cal and MgO. Lime was used as the background control. The solid precipitates were subsequently contacted with pure water at four different pH conditions for stability testing of prepared metal precipitates (expanded TCLP). It was found that neutralization with Di-Cal results in precipitates which are of equivalent to superior stability than those from lime treatment.

Jan 1, 1999

By Markus Thewes, Mario Galli

"INTRODUCTIONProject-related studies showed that lab tests are a helpful tool for the planning of EPB tunneling and soil conditioning in cohesionless soils. This type of ground commonly represents the extended application range for EPB shields, which demands for a treatment with additives. Considering soil conditioning with foam, so far, approaches exist for the investigation of the foam quality and of the conditioning behavior of soils (e.g. (EFNARC GUIDELINES 2001 2003)), but not any standards for testing procedures related to soil conditioning. State-of-the-art research on the topic is and was conducted for example in Bochum (Germany) cf. (Budach 2012; Maidl 1995), in Lyon (France) cf. (Quebaud et al. 1998), in Oxford and Cambridge (Great Britain) cf. (Borghi 2006; Peña Duarte 2007), in Delft (Netherlands) cf. (Bezuijen and Schaminée 2001), in Turin (Italy) cf. (Borio 2010; Peila et al. 2013; Vinai 2006), and in Aachen (Germany) cf. (Vennekötter 2012). Additionally, applied science is reported by the tunneling practice and suppliers of conditioning agents. Although the research focus in all these and further studies varied, similar test methods and test series were applied. A standardization of essential properties and testing methods (setup and procedures) however did not take place. The results from laboratory testing can only function as index values for practice because in the studies, production and application of the conditioning agents mainly takes place under atmospheric conditions. Nevertheless, the tests enable basic understanding of feasibility as well as processes and interactions going on during soil conditioning. For recommendations for standardized and reproducible testing see (Budach 2012; Budach and Thewes 2015).The most extensive investigations on the flow behavior of soil-foam mixtures have been performed by using the slump test from concrete engineering, cf. (DIN EN 12350-2 2009-08), which originally is applied on evaluating the workability of fresh concrete. Although this test does not describe the actual flow behavior, it rather represents an index on the workability, very much experience exists with this test method. Besides others, the workability – or flow behavior – of the EPB support medium certainly is a major factor of influence on the properties of the material in the excavation chamber and thus, for effective tunneling with EPB shields, cf. (Galli and Thewes 2014). For a summary of various investigations on the workability of conditioned soils using the slump test and resulting recommended slump ranges see (Budach 2012; Vinai 2006). Thereof, slumps between 10 and 20 cm have been reported as suitable workability for EPB applications. However, there is actually not much known about the real flow behavior of soil-foam mixtures related to rheological properties such as the viscosity (?) or potential yield stresses (t0). These physical values are necessary for a realistic determination of face pressure, for the design of required torques, and for an evaluation of the material flow at different locations in the excavation chamber, in the screw conveyor or on the conveyor belt. To generate a linear pressure distribution at the tunnel face, as it is assumed a priori, a low-viscosity fluid is favorable, whereas in the screw conveyor, a high-viscous fluid is needed for a controlled pressure decrease. On the conveyor belt, yield stress plays an important role preventing deliquescence and spilling from the belt. Attempts in characterizing the actual flowing of soil-foam mixtures have so far only been made by few researchers, the application of rheometry is rare."

Jan 1, 2016

By M. A. Reyes, L. Yan

"Heat and humidity buildup within refuge alternatives (RAs) may expose occupants to physiological hazards such as heat stress. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) regulations require RAs in underground coal mines to provide a life-sustaining environment for miners trapped underground when escape is impossible. RAs are required to sustain life for 96 hours while maintaining an apparent temperature (AT) below 95°F (35°C). NIOSH tested a 10-person tent-type RA, a 23-person tent-type RA, and a 6-person metal-type RA in NIOSH underground coal mine facilities to investigate the thermal environment over a 96-hour period. The test results showed that mine air and mine strata temperatures surrounding an RA occupied by simulated miners increased over the 96-hour test period. The test results suggest that RA manufacturers should consider this increase in temperatures when calculating and evaluating RA components during surface and laboratory tests. The findings can equip stakeholders with additional considerations for calculating heat and humidity temperature profiles for RAs not tested in situ. INTRODUCTION RAs are designed to provide a life-sustaining environment for miners who cannot escape after a mine disaster. One of the major considerations for integrating RAs in mine environments is the thermal environment inside the RA and the impact that the surrounding mine conditions have on the temperature and humidity buildup. Previous research has observed that the metabolic heat of the occupants and the heat released by the CO2 scrubbing systems will cause the RA interior air temperature to increase. In addition to the increase in temperature, an occupant’s respiration and perspiration, as well as the chemical reaction of the scrubbing chemicals with CO2, will contribute to an increase in humidity within the RA. The resulting internal thermal conditions, if not controlled, can subject miners to conditions that can lead to heat exhaustion, heat stroke, or even death depending on the duration and magnitude of exposure. Apparent temperature (AT) is a temperature-humidity metric for the perceived temperature caused by the combined effects of air temperature, relative humidity (RH), and wind speed. It is used to assess the perception of indoor temperatures when workplaces are not sufficiently heated, cooled, or insulated to provide comfortable or healthy conditions. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) regulations require that RAs must be designed to ensure that the internal AT does not exceed 95°F (35°C) when the RA is fully occupied."

Jan 1, 2018

By Klaus Rieker

"Since the mid-19th century the River Emscher in the German Ruhr District has been used for disposing of wastewater. In the early 1990s, it was decided to replace the existing open wastewater system with a sewer system and to restore the River Emscher to its natural state. The major Emscher conversion project is divided into a large number of individual schemes, with construction phase 30 being the largest. By applying the pipe jacking method, interlinking tunnels with section lengths in excess of 1,100 m are constructed. USAGE OF THE EMSCHER OVER TIME The 85-km long river Emscher flows right through the Ruhr District. It has its source to the east of Dortmund and flows into the river Rhine near Dinslaken (Figure 1).The Emscher has been used to dispose of wastewater since industrialization began about 200 years ago. Intensive coal mining over the years led to considerable subsidence causing stagnant sewer areas which in turn led to typhus and other deceases. Thus in 1899, the Emschergenossenschaft was founded to create an efficient interceptor system for a catchment area of 865 km² through lining, raising and Emschergenossenschaft decided to free the waterways of the Emscher system from sewage and to improve them in ecological terms by 2020. A budget of 4.5 billion euros was earmarked for this purpose.The construction of sewer conduits began in order to no longer transfer the wastewater into the Emscher. The currently ongoing construction of the “Emscher Interceptor” - the main sewer - represents the heart of the Emscher conversion project. The interceptor will run along the river over a length of 51 km. Three pumping stations are required to confine the sewer’s depth to elevations between 15 and a maximum of 40 m below the surface. Since early 2012, the Emscher has been free from wastewater east of the Dortmund-Deusen clarification plant. There are two further clarification plants situated along the Emscher, which treat the still contaminated river water down-stream. Once the Emscher Interceptor is in operation, they will receive wastewater solely from the tunnel system."

Jan 1, 2016

By Kadri Dagdelen

The classification of selective mining units (SMU) and the assignment of grades to those classified SMU are very important in open pit mining, especially for precious metal mining. When the classification is done, the true values of the SMU grades are unknown. These unknown SMU grades are mostly estimated analyzing the geologic data and blast hole assays. To classify the SMU's based on the estimate of SMU grade, without considering uncertainty associated with unknown SMU grade, yields incorrect decision in sending material to appropriate destination. In this paper, a method is developed to classify SMU's considering the uncertainty associated with unknown SMU grades. By using this method, traditional estimate of SMU grade is replaced with conditional probability distribution of SMU grade. The decisions about the destination of a given SMU are performed by minimizing the loss due to misclassification. Also, the asymmetric loss function by penalizing the overestimation and the underestimation unequally is used in assigning grades to classified SMU's. A case study is carried out to apply the traditional ore control techniques and proposed method in classification of SMU's and the assignment of the grades in a hypothetical gold mine.

Jan 1, 1999

By Brenda J. Wolfe

Following successful laboratory and pilot plant investigation of dewatering characteristics of molybdenum concentrate produced by a Chilean copper/moly producer, two (2) DENVER SALA 500 Series Tube Press Filters were installed in 1994 to handle the total production volume. Moisture requirements in the filter cake have been consistently met, eliminating the need for thermal drying after filtration. Operating data and Tube Press Filter are described herein.

Jan 1, 1995

By J. P. Wilson

The Tessenderlo-Kerley Leach process has been shown to be effective in the removal of residual copper from molybdenite concentrates. Concentrates of varying mineralogy, including those containing relatively large amounts of chalcopyrite, have been successfully leached on laboratory and pilot plant scales. The lixiviant system is ammonia and ammonium bisulfite with air / oxygen addition. An abrasive is added which greatly enhances the kinetics, and it is subsequently screened out and reused. The dissolved copper is easily recovered using existing technology. Extraction profiles, reagent consumptions, and mineralogical data are presented.

Jan 1, 1999

By Boghani. A. B.

A computer program has been developed to simulate evacuation of a mine in various configurations. The simulation input variables include characteristics of the mine, expressed, in the form of a network of passages, properties of hoists and hoisting strategies, initial miner positions, ventilation and compressed air velocities, stench warning system and self rescuer capabilities. The simulation can be carried out for cases in which there is no fire, i. e. , fire drill simulation, or for cases in which there is a fire at any arbitrary location. The fire is assumed to generate gases which impede movement of miners in the gaseous region. However, the thermal effects of the fire are not considered. The simulation output include the evacuation time for each miner, movement of the hoists, propagation of smoke through the mine passages and smoke exposure of the miners. Several illustrative simulations have been carried out to verify validity of the program and to demonstrate its capabilities. The computer program has been able to predict evacuation time, within 5 percent, for an actual fire drill. It is believed that this program can be used to evaluate evacuation performance of a mine, identify problem areas and demonstrate improvements due to the recommended corrective actions.

Jan 1, 1977

By B. J. Scheiner

A ferrous chloride-oxygen leaching system was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Mines as a means of re-covering copper and silver from a sulfide concentrate that had been pretreated to remove a majority of the antimony. The pretreated concentrate contained Cu, Ag, Pb, Zn, Sb, and As. Parameters affecting metal extraction, such as temperature, pressure, amount of ferrous chloride, and initial hydrogen ion concentration, were studied. Copper extraction of 98 pct was achieved by leaching 4 hours at 40 pounds per?square inch gage (psig) and 1000 ?C. Copper was recovered from leach solutions by cementation with iron, and the resulting ferrous chloride was recycled. Leaching the residue with cyanide followed by electrowinning recovered 99.7 pct of the silver. Iron, Sb, As, Pb, and S reported to the tails.

Jan 1, 1978

By P. Henderson, M. E. Morris, W. A. Johnson, F. D’Alessandro, D. Wilton

"The objective of this research is to develop and apply computer models to evaluate the potential lightning impacts on underground coal-mining. These models can then be utilised to assist in the design of effective controls. This project will provide a significantly improved level of knowledge and control over current lightning abatement techniques. The findings may also be applied to open cut and coal preparation situations. Computer modelling identified that by isolating cased boreholes from underground conductive media such as roof mesh, and placing spacings between roof mesh the risk of an ignition can be reduced by more than a factor of ten. These controls should be applied in conjunction with minimising the potential for a flammable atmosphere to exist underground and ensuring that there is no transmission medium for the lightning to reach the atmosphere. INTRODUCTION The objective of this research was to develop and apply computer models to evaluate the potential lightning impacts on underground coal-mining. These models could then be utilised to assist in the design of effective controls. If successful this project would provide a significantly improved level of knowledge and control over current lightning abatement techniques. The direct potential for harm from lightning has long been recognised for the surface facilities of coal mines. However recent events at Blakefield South in NSW on January 5 2011 (DTI, 2011) and at Sago mine in the USA in 2006 (MSHA, 2007) have suggested that there is potential for lightning to cause significant damage to the underground workings of a coal mine. A very detailed analysis carried out by as part of the MSHA investigation into the SAGO disaster by Sandia Laboratories identified at least ten other incidents over the past thirteen years where lightning had probably caused the ignition of a sealed goaf area of a mine (SANDIA, 2011). In addition there is a long history of lightning related incidents in South African coal mines (Geldenhuys, 1985). Fortunately in those cases no lives were lost. The event at Blakefield South has suggested that there may be the potential for ignition to occur in an active longwall goaf. The potential for a lightning strike to ignite a flammable atmosphere in an underground coal mine has been demonstrated from the past experience both here and overseas. It requires three things: • Lightning • A mechanism to convey the lightning underground to the flammable atmosphere • A flammable atmosphere."

Jan 1, 2016

Copper cathode and Uranium Oxide production at WMC (Olympic Dam Corporation) Pty. Ltd. involves processing leach liquors through a copper solvent extraction plant followed by a uranium solvent extraction plant. This paper discusses the processing problems, metallurgical testwork and circuit changes made due to contamination of amine in the oxime circuit and vice versa.

Jan 1, 1996

By D. Kruse, M. Sanaei

"3D finite element models of the Segmentally Lined Shaft (SLS) structure are simulated as means of numerical analyses of the system’s structural behavior. Top-down constructed rings, comprised of precast concrete segments, create a large diameter, relatively shallow underground space that can be utilized for various applications. To further investigate the effects of soil conditions and different loadings on the shaft structure, the FE model was run under various boundary conditions. Simulations include a) effects of various soil layers on the SLS, including a circumferential boundary of modified ground, b) effects of various soil layers on the SLS without any ground modification, c) Seismic analysis of the SLS with ground modification and d) Seismic analysis of the SLS without any ground modification. Comparing the analyses outcomes emphasizes the significance of the inclusion of the ground modification boundary in the structural performance of the SLS. INTRODUCTION TO SLS Underground structures are classically built rectangular in shape, which normally requires a two-step construction process beginning with installation of temporary shoring to support earth loads during the excavation, followed by the construction of the permanent structure. Attractive and practical alternatives are circular shafts referred to as segmentally lined shafts (SLS). The structure consists of a stacked series of rings formed from an assemblage of precast concrete segments. Top-down constructed systems of large diameter, relatively shallow SLS structures provide both temporary earth support during excavation and permanent structural support for many civil and building applications. The circular shafts sustain the lateral earth pressure mainly through hoop-stress mechanism, resulting in improved stability and structural efficiency. Cylindrical shell structures with large diameter to wall thickness ratios are prone to buckling under external pressure. In typical designs of small diameter shafts and tunnel linings with small diameter to wall thickness ratios, nonlinear buckling analysis (i.e., nonlinear geometric analysis) is usually not considered, since the buckling capacities for those structures are much higher than typical pressures encountered at their design depths. With an economically viable wall thickness, buckling becomes a critical issue, which should be addressed, for circular shafts with very large diameters. In the design and construction of the SLS, the stability of the structure can be improved by modifying the soil surrounding the circumference of the shaft to a limited thickness and to about 10 ft below the finished shaft structure. This thick wall of soil mixed with cement creates a composite integrated structure while serving additional purposes such as ground control and ground water seepage cutoff."

Jan 1, 2016

Horizontal stress is an important factor that contributes to roof failure during a long wall entry development, especially when the immediate roof is weak. In this study, the effects of the three factors, the stress angle between the maximum horizontal stress and entry development, the stress ratio of the maximum to the minimum horizontal stresses, and the sequence of entry development, on the stress distributions in the weak immediate roof of a three-entry system are analyzed using the finite element method, when the horizontal stress is fixed. The results have confirmed that the stress angle has a significant influence on the stress distributions. Generally, the three-entry system is in the worst stress condition when the angle is about 60°_75°. The stress ratio has little effect on the roof stresses. In addition, the sequence of entry development has also little effect on the roof stress for the specific case analyzed.

Jan 1, 1999

By H. Nagel, A. P. Schissler

"INTRODUCTION Anadarko Petroleum Corporation (Anadarko) owns a region of oil shale properties acquired as part of the original Union Pacific Land Grant of the 1800’s in southern Wyoming. These holdings are greater than 2 million acres and occur throughout the Green River Formation in southwestern Wyoming. One area was prioritized for further study by Anadarko Minerals called the Kinney Rim in the Washakie Basin due to low environmental impact, proximity to infrastructure, high ore grade, and low mining cost. The area is a low-overburden oil shale resource that can be developed using surface mining methods, processed by conventional surface retort, and placing waste rock disposal back on the bench for a design capacity of 10,000 barrel per day. The purpose of this papers is to present the results of environmental analysis and timeline, the mine plan, and surface ore processing to offer a resource-ready energy source.Mineral rights for the Kinney Rim area are owned by Anadarko, the United States Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the State of Wyoming. Mining of oil shale for this study targets Anadarko owned mineral resources.GEOLOGY The study area is in the Green River and Washakie Basins in western Wyoming. The host geologic member is the Laney Oil Shale. Figure 2 illustrates the Laney shale within a generalized lithologic cross section.OIL SHALE LEASING The proposed Kinney Rim oil shale mining project is located in an area dominated by a 1 square mile checkerboard landownership pattern with every other section typically administered by Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Anadarko. Surface and mineral ownership is a split estate legal entity. The immediate Kinney Rim mine plan is all on Anadarko sections."

Jan 1, 2015

By Erik Westman, Benjamin Mirabile

"Ongoing research is being conducted to evaluate secondary support performance in longwall ventilation entries. In a three-entry longwall gateroad, secondary supports are applied in the #2 entry to maintain a functional airway for the entirety of second panel mining. This airway represents a pathway for contaminated mine air to travel from the longwall tailgate to the mine bleeder system. The ground response curve concept may be used as a design basis for selection of appropriate secondary support in these ventilation entries. Two types of secondary supports are monitored for load and convergence in this project. These monitored supports are pumpable crib supports and interlocking wood crib supports. To evaluate the effect of support density, two installation patterns are monitored for each support type. Both a single-row, protected airway pattern and double-row, full entry support pattern are monitored for each support type. Load and displacement data is collected for all support patterns as second panel mining retreats past instrumentation sites. Data is collected for approximately 200-feet inby the second panel face or as long as safely possible. Load and convergence data collected will be used to calibrate numerical models that will simulate ground response curves for the #2 entry inby the second panel face.INTRODUCTIONWhen a bleeder ventilation system is used, the #2 entry of a three-entry longwall gateroad system is designed to function as a pathway for contaminated air from a longwall face to the bleeder system during second panel mining. The #2 entry is subject to substantial ground movement and loading during its function as an air course because it is a single entry between two longwall gobs. Secondary support is regularly applied in this entry to maintain air course functionality during second panel mining.Research on performance and design of secondary supports has been conducted extensively over the last 30 years (Barczak and Gearhart, 1993; Barczak and Gearhart, 1994; Mucho, Barczak, and Dolinar, 1999). This research has focused heavily on the application of secondary support in longwall tailgate, with little research on the application of secondary support in bleeders or other ventilation entries (Mirabile and Westman, 2018). Secondary supports in #2 entry are likely to experience similar loading and ground movement as those applied in the tailgate entry. However, the designed lifespan of the mine entry and the definition of acceptable ground conditions differs from mine entries where more extensive research has been conducted."

Jan 1, 2019

By C. Sun

Due to unfavorable geological condition, excessive deformation of mine drifts occurred in a large underground copper and nickel mine. In searching for a solution, a comprehensive underground monitoring program was implemented and the opening convergence and the surrounding rock deformation were monitored. A large number of field data were collected and thoroughly analyzed. The convergence and deformation as function of time and depth were determined and a rock stability index was proposed. Based on the deformation-time and deformation-depth relations, critical deformation times and locations were identified and defined as characteristic values to be used for mine opening and support designs. The characteristic values are critical in the application of two-step supporting system, and the determination of support parameters. The application of the method developed in this study has demonstrated that this practical approach in support design and installation is effective. With the two-step supporting system, a long-term drift stability can be achieved in the mine.

Jan 1, 1998