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By Richard A. Dick

Eight blasts were fired in a 2-1/2-ft bench in the Stewartville member of the Galena Limestone formation in an aggregate quarry near Stewartville, Minn. The shots were dimensionally proportional to production-size bench blasts and were about 5 to 10 percent of full scale. The effects of site, timing of initiation, and burden-to-spacing ratio were studied in a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial experiment, using three boreholes, caw;, containing a 1/2-in charge diameter of high-density ammonia dynamite, in each blast. Detonation velocity measurements indicated that the dynamite detonated satisfactorily in the 1/2-in charge diameter. The effects of the three experimental variables were analyzed by weight for the percentage of oversized material produced and for size distributions determined by screening the entire muckpiles. The bench faces were painted before each shot in an effort to determine the origin of the oversized material. The square pattern (burden and spacing = 15 in) produced finer overall fragmentation and less oversized material than the rectangular pattern (burden = 15 in; spacing = 22-1/2 in). Sites 1 and 2 were about ft apart. Although site 2 produced slightly better overall fragmentation than site 1, the amounts of oversized material produced showed no significant difference. The timing of initiation (instantaneous or delayed) did not significantly influence the overall fragmentation or the amount of oversized material produced.

Jan 1, 1973

By B Saunders, J Carpenter

PanAust’s Phu Kham copper-gold operation (Phu Kham) in Laos is currently limited by throughput in the Semi Autogenous Grinding (SAG) mill. The ability to accurately predict SAG mill throughput (throughput) is therefore critical to accurately forecast copper and gold production. During the fourth quarter of 2016 the proportion of hard unweathered rocks in the mill feed increased, resulting in a period of lower than expected throughput. These low throughput rates prompted a study with the aim of identifying a practical solution for throughput predictions. The study identified an empirical modelling approach based on actual SAG mill throughput rates. The empirical model was then optimised by linear programming to identify the ideal feed blend of unweathered rocks to achieve a maximum SAG mill throughput.Rock strength was the initial focus of the throughput study at Phu Kham because previous studies had identified a strong link between rock strength and throughput. It was determined that there was insufficient valid data to adequately model but sufficient data to qualitatively characterise rock strength. The data identified that the weathering and lithology had a controlling influence on the rock strength. Complicating throughput predictions were operational improvements (changes to blasting and mill settings) implemented in response to the lower than expected throughput. This created uncertainty with the throughput equations. A self-learning empirical modelling method was developed to predict the throughput by incorporating fundamental rock properties with operational practices and improvements. The method is based on the proportion of mill feed with similar weathering and lithology (a proxy for comminution performance) and the actual mill throughput using the SAG mill as the analytical instrument. The modelling method simultaneously incorporated the sum and interaction of unmodelled influences including blasting, crushing and mill settings. The empirical modelling method worked at Phu Kham because the lithology and weathering has an intuitive and observable controlling influence on SAG mill throughput. The modelling method is described along with a worked example of feed blend optimisation using linear programming.CITATION:Carpenter, J and Saunders, B, 2017. Empirical mill throughput modelling and linear programming for blend optimisation at the Phu Kham copper-gold operation, Laos, in Proceedings Tenth International Mining Geology Conference 2017, pp 291–296 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Sep 20, 2017

By T. Scarazzato, J. M. S. Jesus, D. C. R. Espinosa, J. A. S. Tenório

The development of separation process for the wastewater treatment in distinct industrial process have been applied for recover water and inputs. Electrodialysis is an example of separation process that have been studied for electroplating wastewater treatment. The use of ion-exchange membranes and an electric energy allows the selectivity separation of ions in a solution. The 1-hydroxyethane-1,1diphosphonic acid HEDP is an organic acid that is has been applied for the cyanide substitution in electroplating baths, and in this condition the electrodialysis has showed recover potential. The ion-exchange membrane used in an electrodialysis process contain organic sample are exposed for extreme conditions. These conditions can provide degradation structure and loss of permselectivity, which causes unusual membrane properties. The aim of this study is evaluate the influence of CuHEDP complexes in synthetic ion-exchange membranes using electrochemical test.

Mar 1, 2017

By F. B. Foley

A description of tests made by a committee of the Division of Engineering of the National Research Council to determine whether velocity of impact affects the formation of Neumann bands. FOREWORD Not infrequently, in the case of the failure of a metal structure, such as a bridge, tank, airplane, gun carriage, etc., a doubt arises whether the failure was due, among other causes, to the effect of an overburden or of an explosive maliciously or accidentally exploded in contact with it. As few means of discriminating between the effects of these causes have been known and these means were of a rough qualitative character, it was surprising to find in the record of an inquiry into the failure of a structure, the statement that, by observations on the Neumann bands in the structure, it was possible to determine the speed of breakage in the metal and to distinguish between a fracture caused by an explosion and one caused by an ordinary mechanical strain. Such a criterion, if well proved, was of value to the explosives experts of the Bureau of Mines, the Ordnance Department of the United States Army and the Bureau of Ordnance of the United States Navy, but search showed no record of it in the literature nor did any of the metallurgists and metallographers consulted know of any data on which such a criterion could be based having been assembled and critically studied. However, it was universally held that there was promise in the idea and that there existed unique facilities at the Bureau of Mines Experiment Station at Pittsburgh for the preparation, under definitely known conditions, of material for study by metal-lographers, and that material of value might also be obtained from the proving grounds of the Army and Navy. Therefore, with the approval of the Director of the Bureau of Mines and the Chiefs of Ordnance of the War and Navy Departments, the Chairman of the Division of Engineering of the National Research Council, on April 12, 1919, appointed a Committee on the Investigation of Neumann Bands, which has since been engaged in this study and which, after some slight change in its personnel, consists now of the following: Dr. William Campbell, Advisory Metallurgist, Bureau of Ordnance, Navy Department. F. B. Foley, Metallurgist, Bureau of Mines. S P. Howell, Explosives Engineer, Bureau of Mines. Comdr. O. M. Hustvedt, U. S. N., Bureau of Ordnance, Navy Department. Dr. Charles E. Munroe, Chief Explosives Chemist, Bureau of Mines.

Jan 9, 1922

Jan 1, 1929

By E. Knell

COM Energy, Inc., a subsidiary of Occidental Petroleum Corporation, has constructed a 1.6 million hectoliter-per-year COM plant in Jacksonville, Florida. COM will be distributed to customers in the region as a substitute for fuel oil presently burned in boilers and kilns. As the market for COM grows, COM Energy, Inc. expects to build additional units both in this country and overseas. This paper addresses the overall status and technical aspects of the project, focusing on the facilities for COM production and utilization.

Jan 1, 1982

By A. M. Marabini

Flotation of rutile with N-benzoyl-N-phenyl-hydroxylamine (N-BPHA) has been investigated. Initially, floatability tests were performed in a Hallimond tube. The results indicated that rutile was floatable in the pH range from 2 to 4 at N-BPHA concentration between 2x10-3 M and 2x10-2 M. Selectivity against hematite was recognized when operating at pH values below 2. Following the hypothesis of the formation of a surface chelate between N-BPHA and titanium ion, this compound was precipitated from a solution of Ti(SO4) to which N-BPHA was added. I.R. spectrometry oft the rutile before and after treatment with N-BPHA solution confirmed the presence on the rutile surface of the same compound. The absorption isotherm and kinetics were determined by analyzing N-BPHA in solution with an U.V. technique. A hypothesis for the mechanism of adsorption of N-BPHA on rutile is suggested.

Jan 1, 1982

By AKIHIRO YOSHIMURA, HIDEKAZU KATO, KOTA TAKATORI, YASUNARI MATSUNO

Chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) is the most refractory copper mineral when treated in conventional sulfate media leaching systems. This is the first study to examine the use of a dimethyl sulfoxide (CH3SOCH3, DMSO) solution containing copper chloride (CuCl2) for the leaching of chalcopyrite. Leaching experiments for a copper concentrate composed mainly of chalcopyrite were conducted at ambient pressure at 313–413 K. The leaching fractions of Cu, Fe, S, Au, and As were investigated. It was found that 90% of the Cu was extracted in 2 h, and 94% was extracted in 4 h at 373 K, which is competitive with other conventional processes. A DMSO solution containing CuCl2 could selectively dissolve the valuable metals Cu and Au from chalcopyrite, but leave minerals with little economic value such as pyrite (FeS2) and As in the residue. Chalcopyrite is oxidized by cupric ion in proportion to the stoichiometric ratio of Cu in the concentrate to the initial cupric ion in the DMSO solution, which is enhanced by the presence of oxygen below 373 K.

Mar 12, 2021

By H. F. Hebley

In recent years, especially in the last decade, great interest has been shown and many advances have been made in the preparation and cleaning of coal. In the major coal-producing countries, the percentage of tonnage cleaned has been increasing ever since 1924. As separating media, both liquids and gases are used, these generally being water and air respectively. Some systems, instead of obtaining separation by the velocity of the medium in which the coal is cleaned, depend on the density of water mixed with sand, or coal dust and shale, or with chemicals such as calcium chloride. In studying the results of coal-cleaning equipment, it will be observed that the efficiency of the cleaning apparatus lowers as the size of the coal decreases. This inability to obtain any marked improvement in the fines has been partly responsible for the installation of dedusting equipment, to remove the fine sizes from the raw coal prior to cleaning. When considering the possibility of installing dedusting equipment, many factors must be taken into account. Very often, but not always, both the ash and sulfur content of the coal increase as the coal size decreases. When bituminous coal, containing soft powdery fusain, is subjected to a wet washing process, the porous fines of the fusain remain in the small coal or in the wash water and delay the dewatering of the washed coal and increase the difficulty of clarification in settling tanks or thickeners. When a dedusted coal is cleaned by a wet process, the sludge recovered from the settling tank often runs so high in ash that the sludge can be discarded without further treatment and still the loss is small. Where treatment of the sludge is desired, however, froth flotation may be used to advantage if the size of the feed is below 1/10 in. Dust from the deduster can be treated in a similar manner. Fusain, which is usually found in the fine sizes, has often a much larger ash content than other coal. Illustrative of this condition is a table of ash contents for the various petrographic constituents of Illinois coal (No. 5 bed) as given by Mitchell' (Table 1).

Jan 1, 1934

By S. A. Allison, N. P. Finkelstein

After a brief consideration of the properties of zinc sulfide minerals, their flotation characteristics, and their reactions with thiol collectors, the literature on the activation of the minerals by cupric ion, their deactivation by cyanide, and their depression is reviewed in detail. The distinction between deactivation and depression is stressed. The contradictions in the published results and theories are discussed and attempts are made to resolve them. It is concluded that, whereas all aspects of the subject require further investigation, the study of depression is most likely to yield benefits in practice.

Jan 1, 1976

By L. H. Levenson, Charles S. Barrett

Plastic flow in metal crystals and the changes in orientation resulting from it are generally understood to take place by the following fundamental mechanisms: (1) slip on crystallographic planes, (2) homogeneous crystal rotation resulting from the slip, (3) bending of the 1attice between the planes of slip, and, under certain circumstances, (4) twinning. This paper and a preceding one on iron subjected to uniaxial compression1 concern two additional processes that must now be added to this list: (5) the formation of deformation bands, and (6) the bending and rotation of these bands. The present investigation yields a new understanding and definiteness to the common terms so loosely used when speaking of cold-worked metals —('grain fragmentation," "elongated grains," and "deformation twins," "deformation bands," "etch bands," or "X-bands." Bands have been noted on the polished and etched surfaces of cold-worked metals by various investigators for more than 25 years, ‡ yet their nature and their significance have been so little understood that they are not treated in the most comprehensive modern texts on the deformation of crystals. The experiments in this series show that they are one of the fundamental processes in the deformation of metals, of importance in the development of preferred orientations, in work-hardening (since they have the effect of reducing the effective grain size and interfering with slip), and in the recrystallization process. The present experiments were performed on the same stock of material that was used in the earlier compression experiments1—hydrogen-purified mild steel in which the carbon content had been reduced to the limit detectable under the microscope and in which single crystals could be grown by a strain-anneal treatment.2

Jan 1, 1939

By Charles S. Barrett, L. H. Levenson

Plastic flow in metal crystals and the changes in orientation resulting from it are generally understood to take place by the following fundamental mechanisms: (1) slip on crystallographic planes, (2) homogeneous crystal rotation resulting from the slip, (3) bending of the 1attice between the planes of slip, and, under certain circumstances, (4) twinning. This paper and a preceding one on iron subjected to uniaxial compression1 concern two additional processes that must now be added to this list: (5) the formation of deformation bands, and (6) the bending and rotation of these bands. The present investigation yields a new understanding and definiteness to the common terms so loosely used when speaking of cold-worked metals —('grain fragmentation," "elongated grains," and "deformation twins," "deformation bands," "etch bands," or "X-bands." Bands have been noted on the polished and etched surfaces of cold-worked metals by various investigators for more than 25 years, ‡ yet their nature and their significance have been so little understood that they are not treated in the most comprehensive modern texts on the deformation of crystals. The experiments in this series show that they are one of the fundamental processes in the deformation of metals, of importance in the development of preferred orientations, in work-hardening (since they have the effect of reducing the effective grain size and interfering with slip), and in the recrystallization process. The present experiments were performed on the same stock of material that was used in the earlier compression experiments1—hydrogen-purified mild steel in which the carbon content had been reduced to the limit detectable under the microscope and in which single crystals could be grown by a strain-anneal treatment.2

Jan 1, 1939

By M. N. Nabighian

Utilization of x-ray diffraction data for mineral identification has been well documented and accepted as an analytical tool in industrial and research organizations. However, the search for new methods to minimize errors affecting measured reflection intensities is being carried out by all concerned. Recent application of computer capability has greatly reduced the time required in handling data for mineral analysis and has increased the capability of accepting more data for greater precision. The purpose of this communication is (1) to describe the concept of cross-power in XRD analysis, and (2) to show that direct comparison analysis for multiphase systems has improved analytical accuracy when all available x-ray diffraction data are used in conjunction with high speed data processing by computer.

Jan 1, 1972

By Yong Pan, Srivatsan Jayaraman Sridharan, Purushotham Tukkaraja

Block cave mining method poses unique ventilation challenges compared to other underground metal mining methods. This research study focuses on assessing the airflow behavior in regulated airflow distribution systems by developing a 1:100 scaled block cave experimental model and a numerical model. This study also investigated gas flow behavior under various airflow conditions. Based on our findings, we observed that reduction in particle size and porosity of caved materials, decrease in cave footprint, and closure of undercut drifts would increase cave airflow resistance. The increased airflow is found beneficial for gas dilution regardless of its source locations, while the regulated airflow distribution system might deteriorate gas dilution situation when the source is located in the extraction drifts.

May 12, 2022

By Leroy G. Hagenbuch

"IntroductionAn integrated Truck Management Information System (Truck MIS) evolves as seemingly separate functions combined to yield a single homogeneous result / product. The concept of a computer integrated Truck MIS includes truck dispatch, truck maintenance management and truck weighing.A truck management system is only as good as the information / data bases input to it. The concept of an integrated system works best with automated data gathering. Automated data gathering provides timely and normally, the most accurate historical information/data bases. Data bases are, however, historical, which is a problem to be overcome in a computerized truck management information system, especially in regards to a truck dispatch system as loading sites / loading conditions and some dump site conditions continually change. As these changes occur, data base s must change as well, and thus the need for the continual update of data bases that the computer uses for a Truck MIS.For a truck dispatch system to achieve reliability / viability, dispatch decisions need to revolve around real time data gathered in an automated way. Integration of all truck management function s through automated data gathering lead s to the best over-all system.An integrated system is a combination of many different factors and is only as good as each factor / building block put in the system. With the proper building blocks, an integrated Truck MIS is very feasible - an MIS System that includes weighing, time and motion study, truck maintenance and maintenance management, as well as truck dispatch.Truck MISAn integrated Truck MIS provides for truck dispatch as the ultimate end result, a truly automated /integrated truck dispatch system (to function non-operator-dependent). The following comprises its central building blocks:-Time.- Haul Cycle Segments.Truck Status, i.e. Load on truck,- being loaded,- loaded,- unloaded,- in service,- out of service.- Vehicle Location.Loading Equipment Status.- in service,- out of service.Optional- distance travelled in each haul segment.With this data provided on a non-operator dependent basis, it is possible to build good data bases so a computer can make truck dispatch decisions. Knowing what information is needed as the central core to a good Truck MIS, how can this information be automatically gathered and fed into a central control computer?"

Jan 1, 1986

By L. A. Wrigglesworth, A. S. Dadson

The orebodies of the Giant Yellow-knife mine occur in zones of schist, in an assemblage of typical Precambrian greenstones which form part of the Yellowknife Greenstone Belt. One of the most interesting problems at the mine concerns the fold-like attitudes assumed by the schist zones. The internal structure of the zones and orebodies provides much evidence of folding. A logical conclusion would be that the zones represent a single horizon which has been folded and drag-folded in the ordinary course of mountain building. However, surface mapping, and correlation of certain marker horizons, in underground work, indicate a homo-clinal succession of steeply dipping flows. If this concept of the geology is correct, the zones must cross-cut the regional strike at a small angle and, in the over-all aspect, the regional dip at a large angle. A mechanical interpretation of the zone structure is presented as a suggestion for the present until new evidence is found.

Jan 1, 1959

By Felicia F. Peng

One of the serious environmental problems related with the extraction of coal for carbon and energy resources is that upon preparation of coal a large quantity of fine coal has been discarded and/or lost to tailing impoundments. These problems present hazardous conditions to the local community. Also, the precious heating value of energy resources has been wasted and Left unrecovered in the tailing impoundments. Both RCR and SMRC ACTs recognize and mandate an investigation into slurry impoundment problems, including consideration of potential use of those coal fines in the tailing ponds. Bituminous coal producing district 46 encompasses the northern panhandle of West Virginia. The major producing seam in this district is the Pittsburgh coal, 1-7 meters thick. 75 percent of the coal producted in this district is deep mine. This district produces approximately 3 million tons of coal waste materials annually. One of the coal preparation plants in the district which we have visited has been processing Pittsburgh too. 8 seam coal for the past ten years. The characteristic data of the Pittsburgh raw coal is shown in Table 1. The raw coal produced in this district is characterized by its high heating value, high ash and high sulfur contents. The coal preparation plant flowsheet designed and used to process this Pittsburgh raw coal prior to 1979 is shown in Figure 1. It was a partial coal cleaning plant' with 1 092 mt/hr designed capacity, which consisted mainly of a coarse coal cleaning circuit. The rejected fine particles in the size range of -600µm which consisted of vorsiv underflow and cyclone underflow from clean coal streams and spiral classifier overflow from refuse stream were settled down in a thickener with the aid of anionic flocculant prior to being pumped to the tailing ponds for disposal. Figure 2 shows that the same coal preparation plant in Figure 1 was modified to a semi-complete coal cleaning plant and expanded its designed capacity to 1 820 mt/hr, when market of coal fines becomes feasible in 1979. Tabling in the clean coal circuit and thermal dryer in the dewatering circuit were added to the flow sheet. The purpose is to recover more coal fines, reduce more pyritic sulfur and ash contents in coal and also to reduce solid waste material to be stored into the slurry impoundment, giving them a Longer Life. The rejected fine particles fed to the thickener are clean coal fines from two cyclone overflows and the fine refuse from the rufuse cyclone overflow. The clean coal fines presently lost to the tailing impoundments are in the size range of -150 µm and constitute about 5 percent of the overall plant feed. Total amount of tailing waste material accumulated in a tailing impoundment is estimated at 1.3 million metricton for the past ten years.

Jan 1, 1982

By T Berryman, C Adams, L Griesel, C Buxton

The Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines (KCGM) schedule model is used for short- to medium-term planning and scheduling at the Fimiston Open Pit Mine (the Superpit). The model bridges the gap between grade control models, which are generated one to seven days prior to mining, and the annual Resource and Reserve model update that is used for budget and life-of-mine plans. The schedule model uses close-spaced grade control data (up to 20 000 m drilled each month) as well as resource definition drilling to estimate production volumes three to six months ahead of current mining. From this, a rolling 12 week mining and processing schedule is generated on a monthly basis. As the KCGM operation is mill and sulfur constrained, the schedule model needs to be an accurate predictor of ounces as well as tonnes, gold and sulfur grades. The process must also be time efficient in order to meet monthly planning and reporting deadlines. Due to the large amount of new data generated each month, model updates using conventional interpretation and estimation techniques have proven to be impractical and too time consuming. This paper will examine the evolution of the Superpit schedule model process over time, recent improvements and the effect of different model outcomes on short- and medium-term mine planning.CITATION:Griesel, L, Buxton, C, Adams, C and Berryman, T, 2014. The superpit schedule model – A time-efficient data-driven estimation for short- and medium-term planning, in Proceedings Ninth International Mining Geology Conference 2014 , pp 397–410 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Aug 18, 2014

By David R. Maneval

At the turn of the century the keys to industrial success were coal and iron. At that time, Pennsylvania was the ranking mineral producer among the States and close to 90% of the Nations energy output was generated by coal. The growth of this Common-wealth into the greatest industrial State in the nation has been due to the huge resources of easily accessable coal found by the early settlers. It was the development of these deposits that provided the United States with a new source of fuel energy. For nearly a century, the Commonwealth was the chief powerhouse of our nation and the chief source of its industrial blood and bone. In 1928 it was truly said that coal was king in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania that year mined a billion dollars worth of coal. A single train carrying this output would reach more than twice around the world at the latitude of Pennsylvania. Coal formed nearly 67% of the freight of Pennsylvania and was responsible for its four billion dollar iron and steel industry. Coal was the real reason why Pennsylvania although 32nd in size was second and not tenth or fifteenth in wealth, population and industry. Pennsylvania was slow to take-up her heritage as the greatest coal producing State in the union. But the knowledge that coal was present was not slow in accumulating. In fact the Indians were aware of its existence long before the white man arrived. They knew that many of the hills were underlain with black stones that would burn. It is reasonably certain that Arnold Viele, the first white man to cross the mountain in this State saw coal in them in 1692. But awareness was not enough. The population in these days was confined to southeastern corner of the State and the population at this time had little need or interest in the resources further inland. Pennsylvania anthracite was discovered in 1762 but was first regarded only as a curiosity. Commercial productions started in 1820. This stimulated the development of many native industries and extensive canal system and afterwards an elaborate net-work of railroads were constructed at great costs to bring the products of the hard

Jan 1, 1971

By D. G. Chedgy

Environmental improvement efforts are focusing with increasing intensity on pollutants resulting from combustion. The high cost of removing these pollutants at the power station is well documented. Physical coal cleaning has always been and should remain the most economic method of reducing sulfur oxide emission from coal combustion. It is critical in the selection of preparation plant circuitry to consider capital and operating costs, as well as the level of sulfur reduction. This paper describes the technical criteria which must be used for efficient process selection and summarizes the cleaning systems available or in development.

Jan 1, 1990