Search Documents

By Neng-Wen Yu, Shau-Jun Zhu, Ji-He Wei

The desulfurization process by powder injection and blowing in the RH refining of molten steel and its mechanism have been considered and analyzed. Based on the two-resistance mass transfer theory and the mass balance of sulfur in the system, a kinetic model for the process has been developed. The related parameters of the model, including the mass transfer coefficients and the effective amount of powder in the molten steel being treated for desulfurization, have been more reasonably determined. Modeling and predictions of the process of injecting and blowing the lime-based powder flux under assumed operating modes with the different initial contents of sulfur and amounts of powder injected and blown in a RH degasser of 300 t capacity have been carried out using the model. The relevant circulation rate of the liquid steel and the powder injection and blowing rate were taken to be 100 t/min and 150 kg/min, respectively. The initial contents of sulfur in the liquid steel to be treated and the amounts of powder injection and blowing were respectively assumed to be 0.007, 0.006, 0.005, 0.004, 0.003, 0.002 mass-% and 10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3 kg/t-steel. The total treatment time for desulfurization under each mode was set up at 24 min, equivalent to eight circulation cycles of the liquid steel to be treated. The results indicated that the predictions made with this model are in good agreement with some data of the industrial experiments and practice. Injecting and blowing the lime-based powder flux with the composition of 85 mass-% lime (CaO) + 15 mass-% fluorspar (CaF2) of 3-5 kg/t-steel, it is possible to decrease the sulfur content in the molten steel to ultralow level below (5-10)x10·4 mass-% from (60-80)x 10·4 mass-%. The total treatment time needed will appropriately be 12-20 min. Intensifying the powder injection and blowing operation and increasing the circulation rate of the liquid steel may effectively' raise the rate of the process in RH refining. The model may be expected to offer some useful information and a reliable basis for determining the reasonable process parameters and help in optimizing the technology of desulfurization by powder injection and blowing in the RH refining of molten steel.

Jan 1, 2000

By Juliane Medeiros Ferraz

Este estudo tem como objetivo apresentar as etapas, os desafios e melhorias na implantação da área da logística da Companhia Siderúrgica do Pecém (CSP) na primeira Zona de Processamento de Exportação (ZPE) do país que está localizada no estado do Ceará e tem a siderúrgica CSP como a primeira empresa a se instalar nessa área de livre comércio com o exterior. Nesse contexto a logística tem um papel importante e fundamental no planejamento e controle minucioso dos fluxos de entrada e saída de materiais e produtos cumprindo todas as legislações federais e estaduais de uma ZPE. O estudo é realizado através da análise dos conceitos logísticos de uma siderúrgica e das normas e portarias que regem uma ZPE. Os resultados alcançados estão pautados nas sugestões e alterações das disposições legais e na integração entre os sistemas controlados pela Receita Federal com o sistema da CSP. O estudo tem como conclusão que todas as melhorias que foram propostas e alcançadas nessa implantação pioneira, proporcionaram maior eficiência e agilidade nos processos de controle aduaneiro da ZPE voltados para uma siderúrgica, mantendo continuamente a interação entre todas as entidades legais sem impactar a dinâmica operacional da siderúrgica, agregando grande valor para a CSP.

Aug 17, 2017

By Heath E, van Calsteren P, Turner S, McDermott F

U-Th isotope studies of recent volcanic rocks may be used to evaluate the depths and rates of melt generation beneath mid- ocean ridges and ocean islands. Island arc rocks exhibit a similar range in Th isotopes to that seen in both MORB and OIB, but while those with high (230Th/232Th) tend to have excess 238U, many of those with low (230Th/232Th) are in isotope equilibrium. The excess 238U is attributed to the preferential mobilisation of U in hydrous fluids from the subducted slab within the last 100,000 years, whereas the low Th isotope ratios in the higher-K arcs are primarily due to the introduction of subducted sediment. Preliminary results from mineral separates from lavas on Soufriere on the island of St. Vincent indicate that some of the minerals crystallised up to 50,000 years prior to eruption.

Jan 1, 1995

By C. L. Jiang

The selective depression of pyrite obtained from Kentucky No.9 seam in coal flotation with various kinds of inorganic and organic chemicals was systematically examined. Most of the organic chemicals tested showed little selectivity in pyrite depression. It was found that both orthophosphate and pyrophosphate were effective for the selective depression of coal pyrite in coal flotation using fuel oil as a collector. At substantially low concentrations of pyrophosphate, the flotation of coal pyrite was completely depressed over a wide pH range, while the coal flotation remained unaffected. The mechanism of the selective depression of pyrite by phosphates has been explained with the help of thermodynamic calculations of iron-phosphate-water systems and zeta potential measurements. It was shown that pyrophosphate reacts strongly with iron ions of pyrite to form stable hydrophilic iron pyrophosphate complexes on pyrite surfaces.

Jan 1, 1998

By W. W. Norton

The gradually increasing proportion of sulphide ores which lead smelters of to-day are called upon to handle has caused the roasting problem to become one of ever greater importance. Mines have increased in depth, methods of concentration have improved, competition in the purchase of ores has become more keen and it has been clear that new and modern methods of eliminating sulphur must receive a large share of attention. We may look back a score of years or so and recall the old hand roasters, some of which turned out a finely divided roasted product, and others fashioned with a "fuse-box" wherein the roasted ore was slagged. Then came mechanical furnaces of several types, the Bruckner cylinder, the Brown-O'Harra, the Ropp, and others, all designed to cut out the cumbersome hand labor of the old reverberatories. Roasting costs were thereupon reduced and tonnages stimulated to a gratifying extent. However, it seems to have been early recognized that this very feature of a greater amount of roasted sulphide ore as compared with oxide ore brought with it a train of difficulties at the blast furnaces. The mechanically roasted ore was fine physically, the blast furnaces were choked and the troubles of the smelterman were not at an end. Then the Huntington-Heberlein pot system of roasting appeared upon the scene, and later on the Dwight-Lloyd machines were invented, and inasmuch as both of these processes were designed not only to roast the ore but to agglomerate it as well, it was apparent that distinct steps in advance had been achieved. At the Murray plant, modern up-to-date roasting practice is fully exemplified and there are now in successful operation roasting furnaces or devices of several sorts: namely, Godfrey revolving-hearth furnaces, Wedge multiple-hearth mechanical roasters, Dwight-Lloyd sintering machines, and Huntington-Heberlein pots. Godfrey and Wedge furnaces will properly handle material high in sulphur, say ores with 25, 30, and 35 per cent. of that element; D. & L. machines and H. & H. pots will positively not treat efficiently ores or mixtures containing anywhere near the sulphur content mentioned, but are confined to charges containing in the neighborhood of 15 or 18 per cent. In passing, it may also be explained that, so far as the knowledge of the writer goes, Godfrey and Wedge furnaces do not economically eliminate sulphur to an extent

Jan 1, 1915

By S Hapugoda, J R. Manuel, M J. Peterson, A Poliakov, E Donskoi

################

Aug 12, 2013

By Sandeep Kumar Asarapalli, Sunil Kumar Bisoyi, Bhatu Kumar Pal

Spontaneous heating of coal is one of the major concerns in the coal mining industry. Hundreds of millions of tons of coal are lost each year because of spontaneous heating. If necessary arrangements are made, many fires due to spontaneous heating may be avoided. Therefore, protective measures have become essential to prevent coal from spontaneous combustion. A large amount of coal reserve can be saved by the assessment, suppression, and prediction of spontaneous heating of coal, which also helps in betterment and efficient coal production. The use of chemical retardants can act as inhibitors for the liability of coal toward spontaneous heating by increasing its ignition temperature, thereby, increasing its incubation period. The coal-chemical mixture can be used for whitewashing the exposed coal in galleries as it creates a layer between coal and oxygen in the atmosphere, delaying the oxidation process and ultimately inhibiting the spontaneous heating liability of coal. This work examines the effect of chemicals such as sodium chloride, calcium carbonate, potassium iodide, sodium nitrate, and potassium chloride on the spontaneous heating of a coal sample. Thereby, it suggests a better chemical for inhibiting the liability of coal toward spontaneous heating. The experimentation involves flammability temperature (FT), crossing point temperature (CPT), and differential thermal analysis (DTA). The ignition and oxidation temperatures were found from the above experimental methods for Lingaraj open-cast coal mine samples, with and without adding chemicals. The results are cross-checked and verified through DTA. Correlation analysis was carried out among the results obtained from CPT, DTA, and FT, and better chemical retardants that effectively inhibit coal’s tendency toward spontaneous heating were suggested.

Dec 23, 2023

By M. Moats

Copper electrowinning operations have dramatically improved their ability to produce high quality copper at low costs over the past several decades. Even so, some fundamental knowledge is still lacking that could allow operations to run even more efficiently. For example, a rule of thumb exists that estimates a current efficiency loss of 2-3% per gram per liter of iron in the electrolyte. While several laboratory studies have been performed that demonstrate this rule of thumb is likely true, no definitive relationship exists. In this paper, the first steps in developing a definitive relationship are presented. The effective diffusivity of ferric ions in synthetic copper electrowinning solutions was measured using chronoamperometry and the Cottrell equation. The effective diffusivity of ferric ion was determined as a function of electrolyte concentration and temperature. Synthetic electrolytes were then used in laboratory-scaled copper electrowinning experiments, where relationships between current efficiency and solution composition were found to exist under stagnant conditions. Key words: Copper electrowinning, Current efficiency, Chronoamperometry, Ferric ions

Jan 1, 2009

By C. A. Stickels

In a recent paper, Held1 showed that rolling conditions can have a marked effect on the volume fraction of surface texture produced in low-carbon steel. This variation in rolling texture is reflected in the recrys-tallization texture and affects the plastic properties of the annealed sheet. The fact that roll friction can influence the surface deformation texture in iron and steel has been known for some time;'= but the magnitude of the effect has never been shown quite so clearly before. The analogous effect during wire drawing has been recognized for many year.4 Dillamore and Roberts5 examined surface textures in warm- and cold-rolled aluminum and copper. They found that when a surface texture was present it could be described as the interior texture rotated about the transverse sheet direction. The angle of rotation was a function of the type of lubrication, the amount of reduction per pass, and the temperature of rolling. The purpose of the present note is to show that surface textures in cold-rolled iron can also be described as interior textures rotated about the transverse sheet direction. Vacuum-melted electrolytic iron* was straight- rolled 90 pct at room temperature in a two-high rolling mill with 5-in.-diam rolls. Two rolling procedures were used: a) no lubrication with reductions of about 0.035 in. per pass, and b) heavy lubrication with lano-line and reductions of about 0.002 in. per pass. The final sheet thickness was 0.030 in. (110) pole figures were determined by transmission through specimens taken from the sheet surface and sheet midplane. The surface texture of the sheet cold-rolled according to procedure a is shown in Fig. l.* The shapes of the low-intensity contour lines indicate that the texture can be described as a partial fiber texture with a (110) fiber axis normal to the sheet. The approximate range of orientstions present is (011)[211] — (0ll)[100] — (011)[211]. This range of orientations is what one would obtain by rotating the interior texture 90 deg about the transverse sheet direction. The intensity of (110) and (222) reflections from planes parallel to the surface was measured after removing metal from the surface by chemical polishing. The surface texture here was confined to the outer

Jan 1, 1968

By Fathi Habashi

The year 1987 marked the centennial of the beginning of modern hydrometallurgy. On October 19, 1887 British Patent No. 14174 entitled Process of Obtaining Gold and Silver from Ores was issued*. The discovery was made by John Steward MacArthur (Fig. 1), a chemist-metallurgist, supported and assisted by Robert and William Forrest, two brothers practicing medicine in Glasgow. The discovery was made in the basement of their clinic. The process, which became known as the cyanidation process in reference to the alkali cyanide reagent used, immediately received industrial success in New Zealand in 1889 and in South Africa in 1890t. It displaced the chlorination method which had been in use. In 1903 MacArthur was awarded the first Medal of the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy in London1131 - The cyanidation process was responsible for the doubling of gold production in the world in the two decades which followed its first application (Fig. 2). To the modern metallurgist, it may be surprising to think of MacArthur coming across an obscure reagent such as an alkali cyanide as a leaching agent for gold ores. It is the purpose of this paper to discuss the background and the factors that led to this invention, the development of the understanding of the process, and the application of modern technology.

Jan 1, 1999

By J. A. Eisele

The Bureau of Mines is investigating the recovery of alumina from domestic nonbauxitic resources, including anorthosite. The United States has large reserves of anorthosite, but its aluminum content is less than 50 pct soluble in acid, unless a source of fluoride is added to the acid. A flowsheet that includes leaching with HCl and fluoride followed by crystallization of AlC13.6H20 from the pregnant liquor by HCl gas injection was designed. Approximately 90 pct of the aluminum values were recovered from the anorthosite when a ratio of 0.14 mole of fluorine per mole of aluminum was used. Sodium chloride is cocrystallized with the A1C13.6H20 but is removed by water washing of the Al203 product. A material balance is given based on results of laboratory studies of the unit operations.

Jan 1, 1983

By Niels Verbaan, Ralph Fitch, Charlotte Forstner, David Dreisinger

A process has been developed to extract gold, silver, indium, gallium, lead, copper, zinc, and other metals from a large resource using an oxidizing acid chloride heap leaching technology. The ore is crushed and/or ground to improve reactivity and then contacted with a solution containing NaCl-HCl-NaOCl. The value metals are leached into solution as chloro-complexes. The leachate is treated in a series of separation and recovery processes to produce separate saleable or disposable products. The paper will provide a summary of process development and application to a silver-indium ore from Bolivia. The possible application of the process to other ore types will be presented for discussion.

Jan 1, 2015

By S. Qian

Galvanic corrosion is a potentially major concern associated with the application of stainless steel reinforcement which is in direct (electrical) contact with carbon steel reinforcement in concrete structures. Judicious use of stainless steel rebar in both new construction and rehabilitation of older structures is a viable, cost-effective option for extending service life and reducing maintenance costs. Questions, however, had arisen about the possibility of increased corrosion due to galvanic effects. This paper investigates the galvanic-coupling behaviours of three different types of stainless steel and carbon steel. Tests were performed both in electrochemical cells and with specimens in concrete inside an environmental chamber. The results show that oxygen reduction on stainless steel is the rate-determining factor for galvanic coupling of these two metals. It is much lower than that of passive carbon steel. As a result, the galvanic coupling of stainless steel with carbon steel will not increase the risk of corrosion of carbon steel reinforcement.

Jan 1, 2005

By J. A. Mielczarski

An infrared external reflection spectroscopy (ERS) technique has been developed to study the structure of the adsorbed layer of ethyl xanthate formed on copper and natural chalcocite (Cu2S) electrodes. The infrared technique provides information concerning the identity and the orientation of the adsorbed species at monolayer and submonolayer coverages. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) studies have also been conducted to monitor changes at the surface. The results show that the first oxidation peak on the voltammograms for copper and the first and second oxidation peaks on the voltammograms for chalcocite electrodes are not characteristic of a chemisorbed xanthate species, which is contrary to what has been reported by other investigators previously. As evidenced by the XPS spectra, there was an increase in sulfur relative to copper on the copper and chalcocite surfaces over the potential region where these oxidation processes occur. The spectroscopic results (ERS, XPS) indicate that the second and third (on copper) and the third and fourth (on chalcocite) oxidation processes recorded on the voltammograms are due to cuprous ethyl xanthate adsorption. The orientation of the adsorbed molecules of xanthate was observed to change with increasing surface coverage. Therefore, it has been concluded that xanthate can modify the copper and chalcocite surface in two different ways. At lower potentials, xanthate is a source of sulfur for the formation of a sulfur-rich surface. At higher potentials, an adsorption layer of cuprous ethyl xanthate is formed. Contact angle measurements show that both of these processes of xanthate surface modification lead to an increase in the hydrophobicity of the substrates.

Jan 1, 1990

By Coulter L. J

THE method of stope surveying as practised at the Mount Lyell Company's mines has been evolved out of the exigencies created by special conditions. It presents some novel features, and has proved effective for all requirements. All stope measurement work is brought under one complete system, to which office methods are standardized. Before proceeding to deal with the subject a brief description of the physical characteristics of the ore-bodies of each mine and the method of stoping will serve to show, cause ,for departure from ordinary survey practice.NORTH LYELL MINEThe ore-bodies of this mine occur on or near the conglomerate schist contact, and, being probably the result of replacements of both rocks, they rarely present any definite walls. It is usual for the payable material to merge into the respective countryrocks, and the limit of the occurrence is defined rather by assay value than by any distinct natural boundaries. The general configuration of these ore-bodies, therefore, is highly erratic both in horizontal and vertical section, so that, in order to obtain an accurate record of any occurrence, the measurement of the actual contour at short vertical intervals is essential.Stoping is carried out on a modification of the "rill." system, perhaps more properly described as "arched back" or "dome" stoping. Mullock rises are placed in as convenient positions as the erratic configuration of each ore-body will allow, and aroundthese rises the back is kept well arched, both longitudinally and transversely. The larger stopes are divided into arbitrary sections in which ore-breaking and mullocking are carried out in rotation, so that the whole of the excavation is seldom open for measuring at anyone particular time. Stacking or square-setting on the...

Jan 1, 1915

By E. Miller, K. L. Komarek, M. Ettenberg

The activity of aluminum in solid Co-A1 alloys has been measured by an isopiestic technique between 850° and 1200°C from 45 to 80 at. pct Al. The activity shows a Precipitous decrease around the stoichzornetric composition of CoAl. Free energies of mixing have been calculated over a limited composition range. Considering an antistructure-vacancy defect mechanism, the degree of intrinsic disorder, a , in CoAl was related to the alunminum activity. Excellent agreement between the calculated and experimental activity curves was obtained for a = 1.25 x 10-4. ThERMODYNAMIC properties of solid aluminum-transition metal alloy are being studied in an investigation of disordering in ordered compounds. In a continuing series of investigations, activities of solid Fe-1,' Ni-A1, kd r-A13 alloys have been measured. From the results for Fe-A1 and Ni-A1, the degree of intrinsic disorder for the equiatomic compounds was calculated2 using equations derived by Wagner and chottk. From the results for Cr-A1 the degree of intrinsic disorder was calculated from equations derived by Orr.' In this paper, the results of the study of Co-A1 alloys are described. Published activity data in the Co-A1 system has been limited to liquid alloys at 1600°C.° A heat capacity study7 of stoichiometric CoAl indicated that a second-order phase transformation occurs at 790° C, attributed to an order-disorder reaction. Oelsen and Middel,' employing the calorimetric mixing of pure liquid metals, obtained heats of formation for compositions from 6 to 90 at. pct Co. Heats of formation for 50 and 78 at. pct Co alloys have also been measured by acid solution calrimetr. The Co-A1 phase diagram, as compiled by Hansen and Anderko,lo is in good agreement with more recent X-ray evidence. The method for measuring activities of aluminum in this study is essentially that employed in the studies of the Fe-1,' i-Al, and r-A13 systems. This isopiestic method entails placing cobalt specimens, in a temperature gradient, in a sealed alumina system containing a pure liquid aluminum source of fixed vapor pressure. The specimens are equilibrated, cooled to room temperature, and their final compositions determined. From the measured temperature of the specimens and the known vapor pressure of pure aluminum the activities of aluminum in the alloy can be calculated. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE The cobalt was 3-mil-thick sheet of 99.9 pct purity (herritt Gordon Mines Ltd., anada). The major impurities were 0.1 pct Ni, 0.014 pct C, 0.018 pct Fe, 0.004 pct S, and 0.005 pct Cu. The aluminum metal had a purity of 99.99 pct (Aluminum Corp. of America) and all alumina parts were 99.7 pct A1,O3 (Triangle RR Grade, Morganite Refractories, Inc.) with major impurities 0.05 pct SiOz, 0.1 pct Fe203, 0.2 pct NazO, and 0.05 pCt K20. Runs 1 to 3 were made with annular cobalt specimens (12 mm ID by 21 mm OD) punched from the sheet. The specimens were deburred and degreased in carbon tetrachloride and in acetone. The samples, each weighing about 150 mg, were then positioned along an alumina rod, a in. OD by 14 in. long, separated by alumina spacers, i in. ID by | in. OD by & in. long. The lower end of the rod was placed in a hole drilled in the center of an 80-g aluminum cylinder. This assembly was put into an alumina crucible, 1+ in. ID by 13 in. OD by 3+ in. high, and the position of each sample was measured to within 50.5 mm relative to the bottom of the crucible. An alumina tube, 28.5 mm ID by 35.5 mm OD by 14 in. long, closed at the top, was slipped over the whole assembly, so that it fitted snugly into the bottom crucible. The entire reaction assembly was tied with molybdenum wire and lowered into a mullite tube, closed at the bottom. A quartz thermocouple tube, closed at one end, containing a t/Pt-10 pct Rh thermocouple, calibrated according to the specifications of the National Bureau of standards,'' was placed along the reaction assembly inside the mullite tube. The temperature of each specimen could be determined by gradually raising the thermocouple and measuring the temperature gradient along the reaction assembly. The combined error in temperature measurement and sample position resulted in a total error of Q°C in the recorded temperature of each sample. The mullite tube was sealed at the top by a water-cooled brass head, connected to a conventional glass vacuum system. The aluminum reservoir is heated to its melting point sealing the alumina system containing the samples. During this process the pressure is maintained below 0.01 li Hg. During subsequent heating to establish the proper temperature gradient and throughout the entire run the pressure is maintained below 2 1 Hg by means of a two-stage mechanical pump. Equilibration runs lasted from 4 to 6 weeks and were terminated by air cooling. The temperature of the liquid aluminum reservoir was brought below its melting point in less than 20 min. For runs 4 and 5, alloy buttons with 49 and 69 at. pct A1 were prepared from the initial high-purity metals by arc melting under purified argon. The alloy buttons were comminuted to powder with an alumina mortar and pestle until the powder passed through a 400-mesh screen, particle size 0.0014 in. Portions of this powder weighing between 50 and 200 mg were placed in small alumina trays, 25 by 15 by 5 mm, which were then

Jan 1, 1969

By David X. Zhang

This paper describes the results of using shear flocculation and flotation known as aggregative flotation technique for the enrichment of coal-derived char produced from mild gasification process. Aggregative flotation is a separation process which involves the use of suitable aggregating liquid under the action of high shear forces to render hydrophobic surface of coal-derived char particles to aggregate in an aqueous slurry. The fine carbonaceous particles are aggregated into larger floes while the impurities remain hydrophilic. In subsequent flotation process, the char aggregates are then separated from mineral matters by aeration in the flotation cell. The floatability of char aggregates and removal of mineral matters from chars are studied in a lab scale flotation column cell. The effect of various operating parameters on the aggregative flotation responses is presented. Emulsification of aggregating liquid using high intensity agitation and ultrasonic energy provides excellent aggregating liquid dispersion and increases selectivity for char aggregation. In subsequent flotation process, it results in significantly increasing the flotation rate of char aggregates. The microscopic examinations of bubble attachment to coal-derived char particles under various aggregating liquid dispersion levels were conducted by induction time measurement. The distributions of hydrophobicity of char particles and char aggregates prepared under various aggregating liquid dispersion techniques were measured by film flotation. The char particles prepared under high intensity emulsification attach at significantly faster rates to air bubble and with lower mean critical wetting surface tension than that of char with direct aggregating liquid addition. An interrelationship of increasing in flotation rate/combustible recovery with decreasing in induction time, mean critical wetting surface tension and dispersion of hydrophobicity on the char particles and char aggregates were obtained.

Jan 1, 1992

By Nengxiong Xu

The WTZ coal mine is located adjacent to an auxiliary dam in P. R. China. The mining-induced ground movements are calculated using a 3-D numerical procedure based on the finite difference method (FDM) to judge whether the extraction of the coal seam will have a negative impact on the dam. First, the values of the rock mass mechanical parameters in the numerical model are estimated using the available literature that relates intact rock and discontinuity properties to rock mass parameters. Then, based on available surface subsidence monitoring data for an area in WTZ mine, the main mechanical parameters of coal and rock masses are calibrated by a back analysis procedure that combines an experimental design technique with numerical simulations. Then the reliability of these rock mass parameters is verified. Finally, according to the planned mining sequence, predictions of mining induced surface subsidence are computed in steps, and the boundary of the ground movement area of each step is determined. The nearest distance from the boundary of the surface movement area to the edge of the dam foundation was found to be about 1347 m. The maximum surface subsidence within the mining area turned out to be 2.7 m, and the maximum settlement point was found to be close to west-south corner of A2 mined area. These findings led to the conclusion that the coal seam mining would not cause dam damage.

Jan 1, 2013

By R. Stefanko, Y. J. Wang, H. R. Hardy, R. Y. Kim

Since 1964, the Dept. of Mining at The Pennsylvania State University has been carrying out extensive studies associated with the phenomena of microseismic activity and inelastic behavior in geologic materials. Briefly, the program to date has involved the following stages 1) Study of the microseismic noise and energy rates for selected geologic materials under incremental, uniaxial tension.1,2 2) Investigation of the frequency spectra of microseismic activity of selected geologic materials under incremental, uniaxial tension.3,4 3) Investigation of the time-dependent inelastic deformation of geologic materials and the analysis of such deformation in terms of mechanical models.5, 6 4) Simultaneous study of microseismic activity and time-dependent inelastic deformation in geologic materials under incremental, uniaxial compression.7,8 Details of the research involved in stage 4 of the program constitute the subject of this chapter. It should be noted that the majority of the experimental data quoted in this chapter forms part of a thesis to be presented by one of the authors (Kim) in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Ph.D. degree in mining engineering at The Pennsylvania State University. During the last two or three years, a number of important papers have been published which deal primarily with the fundamental structure and mechanical behavior of geologic materials. Recent papers 9,10 have provided research workers in the rock mechanics field with a meaningful overall picture of rock as a structural material. The concept that many

Jan 1, 1970

By Chappell B

Backfill in the form of mine waste tailings has inherent problems associated with attaining adequate strengths upon placement. Fines are usually removed to ensure adequate drainage, which lowers the cohesive strength of the fill, leaving the fines to he placed in a tailings darn. Electro-drainage and electro-chemical grouting is examined to investigate its effects on densification and shear strength within a silty clay tailing having low permeability and shear strength. Two separate grouting mechanisms are observed for the iron and silica grouts used. Electro- osmosis is associated with iron grout that deposits within the tailing matrix under a converging pH gradient, and increases the permeability of the tailing. This process initiates cation exchange and causes cementing of the granular contact points between the clays. Electro-phoresis causes sodium silicate solution to deposit silica grout in the voids of the tailings. The resultant effect of these mechanisms results in an increase in cohesion, leaving the void ratio of the iron grouted tailings as it was but significantly reducing the void ratio of the silica grouted tailings.

Jan 1, 1998