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By Hisataka Sakakibara

Although the pathophysiology of vibration-induced white finger (VWF) is still under discussion, evidence has been accumulated to understand the underlying mechanism. VWF is pathophysiologically characterized by an enhanced vasospastic response to cold, which can result from an imbalance between vasoconstriction and vasodilation in the digital arteries in response to cold (i.e., vasoconstriction-dominant). The imbalance is supposed to be due to faults in vascular vessels and sympathetically mediated vascular tone. Enhanced vasospastic response to cold Narrowing of arterial lumen with medial smooth muscle hypertrophy. Possible functional factors for enhanced vasoconstriction • Increased sympathetic nervous activity to cold (e.g., norepinephrine) • Increased release of endothelin-1 (ET-1; an endothelial-dependent vasoconstrictor) from the endothelium • Increased reactivity of alpha2-adrenoreceptors to cold Possible functional factors for decreased vasodilation • Decreased release of nitric oxide (NO; an endothelial-dependent vasodilator) from the endothelium • Decreased release of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP; a vasodilatory neuropeptide) from sensory afferents The question is how their interrelations or imbalances among them are Vibration and arterial damage The next question is, how does hand-arm vibration exposure induce such pathophysiological changes in VWF patients? Recent morphological evidence from animal experiments shows that vibration acceleration stress (including shear stress) and smooth muscle contraction contribute to arterial damage of smooth muscle and endothelial cells. The vibration-induced arterial damage is frequency-amplitude-dependent.

Jan 6, 2006

By Joseph P. Gildner, Michael S. Kucker, Robert A. Robinson

Considerable controversy seems to exist over the extent and nature of information that should be provided in design-build type contracts. Much of this controversy may relate to the types of owners, ranging from private industry to state and federal agencies that are implementing design-build. Philosophies for the development of geotechnical information ranges from no information to a thorough investigation approaching that needed for final design. Several recent projects, such as the Channel Tunnel in Europe, Whittier Tunnel in Alaska, Tren Urbano in Puerto Rico, and Sound Transit in Seattle have taken varying approaches to providing and interpreting geotechnical information for bidders. The pros and cons of these various methods are discussed and assessed.

Jan 1, 2001

By R. A. Jankowsi, S. K. Ruggieri

Airborne respirable dust levels on longwalls can be reduced if operators approach the dust control problem in a logical and fundamental manner. This can be accomplished through the proper application and continued use of effective dust control techniques. The Bureau of Mines is currently assessing the effectiveness of longwall dust control techniques in use today to provide mine operators with guidelines for selecting the most appropriate control technology. This paper presents a fundamental approach to the problem of shearer dust control. Three dust control techniques to be discussed are: deep cutting/increased pick penetration for reducing the amount of respirable dust generated; drum water sprays/improved water supply system to suppress the amount of airborne respirable dust; and improved external water spray system, the "shearer-clearer," to push the dust close to the face. The techniques have been evaluated in field trials and have been shown to be both practical and effective in applications to control shearer generated dust.

Jan 6, 1985

By Nils A. Eilertsen

This Bureau of Mines report describes the unit cost procedure for estimating direct development costs within a cave block in an undercut block caving mine. Costs of supervision, labor, equipment, and supplies are combined to build a unit cost for each type and size of mine development opening in the block. These costs are then combined to estimate the direct cost for developing a ton of ore. Operating data from several domestic metal mines are combined with a hypothetical mining system to illustrate the costing procedure.

Jan 1, 1975

By G. J. Olson

This paper describes the microbiology basics underlying heap and tank biooxidation of metal sulfide ores and concentrates. The primary organisms are identified and described along with the reactions they catalyze and their growth requirements. Also described is the interaction between ore leaching bacteria and the leaching environment in terms of solution chemistry, temperature, and mineral precipitation. Specific factors and agents that stimulate or inhibit growth and activity of ore bioleaching will be identified. Some of these factors are organism-specific and others are generic for microorganisms that grow under acidic conditions. Current knowledge of the limits of bioleaching in terms of dissolved ions in leach solutions, pH, and temperature will be summarized.

Jan 1, 2003

By James P. Sloss

MOST students that plan to enter the mining profession attempt to obtain some kind of practical experience before graduation. Six or seven years ago it was an easy matter for undergraduates to find employment during the summer vacation and return to school in the fall filled with enthusiasm to dig deeper into the theoretical field. However, during the past few years it has become extremely difficult for an inexperienced undergraduate to obtain even a menial job in mining. This was the situation which presented itself to the author and his partner, T. M. Patten several months before school closed in May, 1934. At that time, Mr. Patten's training consisted of two years study in Mining, and mine included three years' study in Mining Geology at the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy. With this technical training and no practical experience, we conceived the idea that custom assaying in some of the western mining districts should be a lucrative business. We thought that the renewed interest in prospecting for gold and the opening of new mines should provide more assay work, and believed that we might secure it if we were on the spot where the assaying was needed. We realized that it would be out of the question for us to obtain the necessary equipment with which to establish an assay office. Even if such an office were established we had a maximum of but three months during which to operate. So we determined to build some kind of inexpensive equipment that could be placed in an automobile, or trailer, and be moved from one camp to another. We then began to study the theoretical aspects of assaying and started experimental work with the equipment that we proposed to build.

Jan 1, 1935

Today?s Topics ? Data to decision value chain ? Practical Considerations ? Example ? Before / After DSS ? Quick Decision Support Demo Practical Considerations ? More data is not necessarily better ? Organization and process silos ? Good vs. ?optimal?, but impractical Solutions

May 1, 2008

By S. K. Singh, J. Shepherd

"Feather edging"- a major source of injury and fatal accidents in Australia, South Africa and USA, refers to a phenomenon where the roof, at the goaf edge, falls as a thin wafer of rock often suddenly, over-riding conventional timber breakerlines. It may run down and affect adversely a working bord at distances of 15 metres or more from the goaf edge. Feather edging typically occurs in relatively massive, strong roof strata such as sandstone or conglomerate. This paper presents the results of a mine trial where a concentrated row of fully grouted bolts were able to resist the feather edging in the first comprehensive, monitored trial in an Australian pillar ('total') extraction coal mine.

Jan 1, 1999

By John R. Goode

"This paper reviews options for the separation of a mixture of rare earth elements (REE) into its component elements. Earlier separations used selective chemistry such as double salt precipitation and reductive/oxidative processes – methods that still have a place in the industry. Fractional crystallization was developed for more complete separations of adjacent REE. The latter method was replaced by ion exchange (IX), which was in turn replaced by solvent extraction (SX). Two main SX chemistries are in use, solvation and cation exchangers, with several variants (mixed solvents, ionic liquids, etc.) now under investigation. SX plant configurations have evolved including advanced techniques like “hyperlinking”, novel saponification methods, and alternative stripping techniques. The classic mixer-settler is the most commonly employed device although centrifugal contactors have been pilot-tested. Non-dispersive SX options including microfluidic devices and membrane-assisted SX techniques are being developed and could revolutionize the SX option. Other REE separation techniques now being studied include Molecular Recognition Technology (MRT), Free Flow Electrophoresis (FFE), newer IX systems, and electrolytic processes. Additionally, the classical crystallization and selective precipitation methods and newer bacteria-mediated processes, chloride volatilization, high performance liquid chromatography, and magnetic separation systems have been studied. This paper reviews the options and concludes that conventional SX is the technology of choice but viable alternatives could be demonstrated and acceptable within a couple of years.INTRODUCTIONThe chemical properties of the individual REE are very similar which is why REE minerals and ore deposits almost invariably contain a mixture of all fifteen REE, i.e., La to Lu plus Y. That said, the distribution of REE in a given deposit is frequently dominated by the light REE (LREE, i.e., La to Nd). Examples include the Bayan Obo, Mianning, Lynas Mt. Weld, and Molycorp Mountain Pass deposits where heavy REE (HREE – Sm to Lu and Y) typically account for well under 5% of the REE content. The LREE operations produce some HREE but the main sources of these important elements are the ionic clay deposits of Southern China. Importantly, all of the REE recovery operations referenced above, except for cerianite-bearing ionic clay deposits, initially produce a mixed REE precipitate or calcine with a REE distribution similar to that in the ore (Goode, 2016). However, the consumers of the REE, the manufacturers of magnets, phosphors, catalysts, optical glass, etc., require separated products with purities generally ranging from 99% to as high as 99.9999% depending on the element in question and the end use. Hence there is a need to separate the individual REE one from the other. This paper is intended to review the options."

Jan 1, 2016

Discussion of the paper of EDGAR L. NEWHOUSE, presented at the Salt Lake meeting, August, 1914, and printed in Bulletin: No. 92, August, 1914, pp. 1801 to. 1806. G. C. RIDDELL, East Helena, Mont.-As nearly as I can recall at the present moment, there are only four or five large plants on the continent where the lead on charge is carried in the neighborhood of 40 per cent. These are at Herculaneum, Collinsville, and Federal, Ill.; Trail, B.. C.; and East Helena, Mont. Our object at the latter point is to smelt a maximum amount of Coeur d'Alêne lead sulphides in as compact and self-fluxing a charge as possible, and to this end we are now smelting a mixture that at times carries up to 42 per cent. lead. The monotony of producing the 7,000 tons of bullion shipped each month to. the Omaha and Chicago refineries is relieved somewhat by the fact that the 15,000 tons monthly of Coeur d'Alêne ores that are com-ing to us carry enough zinc to provide the one-half slag used with from 6.5 to 7.5 per cent. zinc clay after day. During the month of March, 1914, three lead furnaces in continous operation, each 136 in. long, averaged 249 tons per furnace clay, exclusive of coke and slag shells, which is smelting at the rate of 5.5 tons per square foot of tuyère area. The

Jan 11, 1914

By D. K. Deardorff

The hafnium-vanadium phase diagram was constructed within an estimated accuracy of ± 10° C and ± 2 wt pct composition. Alloys for investigation were melted under an atmosphere of purified helium by nonconsumable tungsten-electrode arc melting on a water-cooled copper hearth. Melting points were determined by optical pyrometer, and the remaining phase relationships were investigated by metallography, thermal analysis, and X-ray diffraction. The existence of a face-centered cubic intermetallic compound HfV2 (a = 7.38 A) was confirmed. A eutectic reaction occurred at 20 wt pct vanadium and 1,395° C to yield HfV2 and 8 solid solution. HfV2 melted incongruently by a peritectic reaction at 1,480° C, and the 3 solid solution decomposed eutectoidally at 1,165° C and 6 wt pct vanadium to yield HfV2 and a solid solution. The eutectoid, the eutectic, and the peritectic isotherms extended from 1 to 36.3 wt pct vanadium, from 8 to 36.3 wt pct vanadium, and from 26 to 89.5 wt pct vanadium, respectively. Terminal solid solubilities of hafnium in vanadium at 1,300° C and of vanadium in hafnium at 1,100° C determined to be about 3 and 1 wt pct, respectively.

Jan 1, 1965

By B. Cousins

Flotation reagents are critical to the optimum performance of flotation circuits. How a flotation reagent performs within the first few cells of a flotation train is a key indicator of how well it will perform throughout the entire circuit. A method to compare reagent performance was recently developed by Ashland Water Technologies. The procedure involves collecting a timed sample of concentrate from each cell and then measuring the volume of the settled solids. An estimate of the percentage of concentrate collected from each cell can then be mathematically determined, providing an understanding of the recovery changes in each cell. Data from trials at a coal flotation circuit are used to demonstrate the method's validity.

Feb 27, 2013

The market for titanium feedstocks (ilmenite, rutile,synthetic rutile and slag) is driven primarily by offtake from the titanium dioxide (TiO2) pigment industry. The pigment sector depends on the performance of the global economy. Titanium sponge is the first stage of titanium metal manufacture. It constitutes a minor component (3 percent) of overall demand for titanium feed-stocks. Production and consumption TiO2 pigment consumption in 2004 was estimated to be 4.63 Mt (5.1 million st), up 7.6 percent from 2003. It was driven by strong demand in most regions. In the United States, apparent TiO2 pigment consumption rebounded by 5.4 percent (highest growth rate since 1997) to an estimated 1.12 Mt (1.23 million st), following the decrease in demand during 2003. Chinese TiO2 pigment consumption continued its strong upward trend, increasing by 10 percent to 598 kt (659,000 st) in 2004.

Jan 1, 2005

By H. Seguin, J. A. Le Gac, S. Bernhard, P. R. ZETTWOOG

The "Service de Protection Technique"of the "Institut de Protection et de Sûreté Nucléaire" was asked by the Commission of European Communities to conduct measurement campaigns which would make it possible to evaluate, on an experimental basis, the collective risk to miners exposed to radon in underground, non-uranium mines located in countries within the European Community. 1. METHODOLOGY USED TO CONDUCT THE CAMPAIGNS This campaign is original in that direct measurements of the individual monthly exposure to potential [a]-energy from short-lived radon daughters are made using personal [a]-dosimeters described previously (1). We call this type of dosimetry "personal dosimetry". The workers who wear the personal [a]-dosimeters were selected taking into account the various categories of workers and their work assignments in the various areas of the mine. Another way of finding out the occupational exposure of these miners consists in making numerous measurements of the radon concentration at the various work places, taking into account the time spent at each place by each worker. This procedure is too complex for an evaluation of the collective risk as requested by the Commission of European Communities and was therefore rejected. Additional data was gathered during these measurements campaigns using the following techniques (table 1). [ ] (1) Current [a]-dosimetry as practiced in France - SPT international report N° 234 - February, 1981 - P. ZETTWOOG The mines were chosen to include a larger variety of types of ore, of geological situations, and of mining methods. 2. RESULTS OF THE RADON DATA-GATHERING CAMPAIGNS 2.1 – [Uranium content of the surrounding rocks and ore] The samples taken during the campaigns make it possible to establish the U content in the rocks of the mines selected. These values, from 2 to 15 ppm, are slightly higher than those usually found (2 to 5 ppm) (table 2). [ ]

Jan 1, 1981

By J. A. Markovits

Coal has been hydrogenated in Germany on a lather extensive scale for the past 20 years, but the process is new to the United States. Although pressures up to 15,000 pounds per square inch have been employed on commercial scale in the synthesis of anhydrous ammonia, and there is evidence that valves, tubing, and equipment have been developed recently up to 30,000 p.s.i. working pressure at moderately elevated temperatures for limited industrial production of plastics, such pressure ranges are unusual in American industry, and equipment designed for them is not commonly available. In the Coal Hydrogenation Demonstration Plant at Louisiana, Mo., 10,000 p.s.i. operating pressures are combined with temperatures up to 1,000° F., and the materials to be processed under these conditions range from gases to mixtures of viscous liquids containing high percentages of abrasive solid particles. These service conditions presented unusual engineering problems requiring thorough investigation, Limited financial resources arid rigid time schedules inherent in the synthetic liquid fuels act often forced decisions before the best answer to a problem could be developed. Sometimes the ideal technical solution proved to be beyond the financial limitations of the demonstration-plant program.

Jan 1, 1949

The overall objective of this study is to gather operational data from selected surface coal mining systems in the United States, and to assess the potential production and economic capacity of the systems. The study includes: four mines, each using a different mining technique and different equipment. One mine was selected from each of the major coal fields: Midwestern, eastern,, northwestern, and southwestern. The Midwestern Mine is located in the Central Plains and produced 1.45 million tons of raw coal during the study year The Midwestern Mine uses the area mining or box-cut technique. A large in-pit shovel and a bucket wheel excavator are used to remove the overburden. Coal is removed by a loading shovel and transported to the dumping point by large off--highway trucks.

Jan 1, 1975

By G. Brackebusch, S. J. Jung

Backfilling techniques are widely used in large-scale underground mines. Massive pillars, which have been left in place for stability, limit mining activity. Backfilling allows safe recovery of the ore remaining in pillars and assures long term stability. In deep mines expected high stress can be relieved with the backfill. Initially, waste rock was used to fill the openings with mixed results. The need to improve safety and reduce costs has prompted the industry to investigate alternatives. Hydraulic filling with Portland cement added has shown considerable promise, but little has been done to define the parameters of design effective system. The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between backfill and mining components that can be used to effectively design a best-case hydraulic backfill.

Jan 1, 2000

By S. F., French

IN reviewing the design of the ore haulage system for the Morenci project, the reader should bear in mind that the railroad and its equpiment cannot be considered as an independent railroad provided only for the purpose of transporting ore from one point to another, but as an integral part of the operation which begins at the electric shovels loading ore at the mine, and ends where the ore, after having been crushed in the primary crushing plant, is deposited in the bins at the secondary crushing plant. Obviously then, the problem consisted of designing a system that would function to the best possible advantage in complete co-ordination with the other units.

Jan 1, 1942

By M. Karmis

The algorithms for the mathematical modeling to predict productivity of underground room-and-pillar mining systems are well known and documented. These algorithms consider the time-varying relationships between mining equipment for a given geometry of operations as well as other constraints. This paper presents WebConSim, a newly developed, Web-based, user-friendly computer simulation tool for the Windows environment. The simulator is easily customized for use by field engineers, planning engineers, and management and will help mine operators plan the optimum mining sequence for different mine geometries and equipment layouts. Program output includes production data and equipment utilization indices, as well as time driven event chains that can be used for virtual reality presentations.

Jan 1, 2001

By Harvey Parker

This is part two of an article on the prominent role that the United States and its industry leaders have played on the International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association (ITA), which represents the underground construction and underground space industries worldwide. The U.S. is officially represented in ITA by UCA of SME. (Part one is in T&UC, June 2007, pp 39-42) Tunnel advances in 1960s and 1970s The 1960s and 1970s were active and productive times for the U.S. tunneling industry. During that time, federal programs, sponsored by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), the Office of High Speed Ground Transportation (OHSGT) and the Advanced Research Projects Administration (ARPA), stimulated tunnel research and development. Also, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and SME collaborated to create the Underground Construction Research Council (UCRC) and the Rapid Excavation and Tunneling Conference (RETC) series.

Jan 1, 2007